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This blog wants your story.  The premise is simple:

What is the ONE THING that you have learned from life that you would like to share with the world?

That's it.  Write it and send it.  You just might change a life!  Thanks.

Jack@peopletested.com

Do You Need A Financial Advisor or Can You Do It Alone?

Examining where you are financially and putting together a Financial Preparedness plan requires a bit of time and effort. Inevitably, the question pops up as to whether to do this on your own or to work with a financial advisor.

The short answer is yes, either way. The long answer is if you choose to go it alone, make sure you have reliable sources of information.           

I’ve had the luxury of being an advisor and an individual investor.  What I’ve learned over the years is that there are pros and cons to working with an advisor or doing it on your own.  As I’ve said, every person needs to do what provides them with the most comfort.

The intent of this section is to provide you some insights to help you make the decision of how to proceed on pursuing your plan.  The reality is that most of the work will need to be done on your own anyway.  Gathering information, retrieving statements and thinking about your situation are all things that you will do.  You’ll also need to review your situation on a yearly basis.  These things shouldn’t be delegated to someone else.             

So let’s look at what you need to consider when deciding to choose or not to choose an outside resource to help you formulate a plan for your finances.

Some of the pros of working with a Financial Advisor are:

• A good one is priceless, and the cost will be easily made up in advice and convenience. They will spend the time to understand you and your financial needs and work toward your goals. A good advisor will be interested in you for the long term, not for short-term gain.  Remember that an advisor is running a business and a good one will understand that a long-term successful relationship with you will be mutually beneficial. 
• They’re on top of the latest trends and products. In light of the latest mortgage backed securities disaster, this can be a pro or a con but I’ll list it as a pro here.  It’s important that you understand that an advisor provides advice; you make the decisions. Therefore, choosing an advisor doesn’t mean that you neglect your need to stay educated about investing and the current markets.  Your knowledge of investments and finances should grow as you work with your advisor.  Believe me, the good advisors value an educated discussion with a client!
• They can save you time and worry. Retirement planning should be a major part of their job and a good advisor knows how to do it. For some of us, they save us the worry of whether or not we have the right information and are using it correctly. For many people this is a great source of comfort. Talking to a professional informs us and gives us the choices we need to make the right decisions.

Some of the cons of working with a Financial Advisor (FA) are:

• Cost. While not always true, when you consider the fees and expenses of investments and investment accounts, the cost of working with a financial advisor can be higher than going it alone. Always be sure to understand what all the fees and expenses are and how your advisor gets compensated. 
• Bad advice. Really, this can happen as easily online or on the golf course as with a professional. A good rule of thumb is always to step back and understand the risks and alternatives when someone makes recommendations or provides advice about what you should do with your finances.  That goes for family as well as advisors.  Always remember that you are in control.  It’s your money.  In the end, they’re your decisions.  Not someone else’s.
• Incentives. Financial advisors make their money by investing yours. Their incentive is to get your money working so they get paid. You should consider the type of investor that you are, but I believe that should be wary of commission only brokers. Instead consider flat fee or those that get paid on a small percentage basis. The thinking here is that they either have no incentive to “churn and burn” or have a direct incentive to make you more money because they get a small percentage of it.
• Selling you what you don’t need. See above. If the advisor has not talked to you about risk and clarified the type of investors you are before they make an investment recommendation, you need to walk away from that conversation.  Also, watch out for big insurance or package deals that you have trouble understanding. Chances are the Financial Advisor doesn’t understand them either but gets a big chunk for selling them, possibly up to 7%. Ask them how they get compensated for an investment.  They’ll even respect you more for asking.
• Good financial advisors retire too. Be sure that you’ve discussed your advisor’s “career plans” and any “succession plans” they may have for their business or when they decide to retire, you’ll be stuck with the task of finding another ace FA again.  

           The fact is you can do it either way. Some people feel better having someone help make their retirement plan for them, and others want to stay firmly in control. The rest of us lay somewhere in between and need to weigh the pros and cons of whether to hire someone to help us out or not.


How to pick a Financial Advisor?
If you choose to work with someone rather than going it alone, it leads to the question of how to pick a financial advisor, Certified Financial Planner™, or other financial professional. Like finding the right doctor or dentist, making the wrong choice could be damaging to your (financial) health. It’s best to proceed cautiously and ask a lot of questions before signing on with anyone.

• Referrals. This is often the best way to find any professional, whether it be your mechanic, your brain surgeon, or even your hair stylist. Ask your friends and family but don’t stop there. They may “like” the person just fine, but always do more due diligence on your own. This is your financial health, after all.  It’s YOUR advisor, not your friend’s!
• Interview several. Give yourself choices. Get second, third, and fourth opinions.  Let them know that you’re interviewing several other advisors to find the most appropriate one for you.
• Google them. One of the advantages of the internet is you can find out about people. Do it. You might be amazed at what you dig up. Check out their standing with the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD). This is the regulatory body for stockbrokers and financial advisors.   
• Ask them how they get paid. The reputable advisors will be happy to answer this question and as I said, they’ll respect you as a client for doing so.  If they don’t answer you or you don’t like or understand their answer, move on to the next advisor interview. 
• How are they licensed? Can they sell mutual funds, stocks, bonds, insurance? Are they limited in any way?  It’s wise to work with an advisor who can provide you the most options as investments selected should be based on the needs of the client, not limited by what the advisor can or can’t offer.
• Consider the firm they work for. Big names like Merrill Lynch and Morgan Stanley can be high quality but they can be expensive. If the financial advisor you’re considering is working as an independent they still have a trading and product platform they work within. Ask them who the company is and then research it.  Google the firm and ensure that they are not only legitimate but don’t have any pending judgments against them.
• Ask them what their service level commitments and communication policies are. How often will they contact you? Do they conduct annual reviews? Quarterly reviews?  What happens when problems occur?  Who can you call and how quickly will they respond to your concerns?
• Do they have specific designations? Many FAs have letters after their names. Unfortunately, these “qualifications” often mean only that the firm they work for had set up an easy class so they could get these letters and impress clients. Major firms are especially notorious for this. Many reputable advisors have gained the Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP©) designation. The training to get this designation is intense and thorough. It indicates that the advisor has been through training that is focused on all aspects of financial planning including estate and retirement planning. A growing designation in the industry is that of the CFA (Chartered Financial Advisor).  This indicates that the advisor is extremely knowledgeable about investment selection and understanding the micro and macro factors impacting the markets.  Either of these designations should be view as a plus when considering advisors.

COMING SOON : SAFE 4 RETIREMENT : THE 4 KEYS TO A SAFE RETIREMENT

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What is 'The Four Percent Solution'?

In the book, 'A Safe Retirement : The 4 Keys to a Safe Retirement'  I discuss ways in which you can determine how much money you will need on an annual basis during retirement. However, it is also fundamental to look at this important question from the opposing end. How much money are you allowed to spend without running out before you reach the pearly gates?

Of equal interest is how much are you allowed to spend and not build up an enormous surplus that you’re not able to enjoy yourselves?

Much thought has gone into these questions and into finding the exact sweet spot of allowing the highest possible income with microscopic risk of outliving your money.

            Here I’ll cover one such formula that has become a recent topic of debate and interest among people looking for that “magic” rate of withdrawal.  In my research with retirees, over and over I hear how people are animate about not touching the principal that generates their retirement income.  Certainly, this should be a goal and is critical to you staying on track with your plan as we’ll soon discuss.

            But is there a way in which people can take income and still ensure that their principal will remain constant?  Certainly we can buy CDs or original issue bonds (and hold until maturity) for this to occur.  However, the reality is that this approach not only yields low rates on CDs and it’s very difficult to gain a bond at the exact value that you’ll be able to redeem it at without fluctuations in price over this time.  Plus for most of us, our investment portfolio will be the major source of retirement income and that portfolio should be made of various holdings and asset classes (stocks, bonds, mutual funds, etc.) 

            So the question becomes ‘how much should I withdraw from my portfolio to gain an income while ensuring protection of my principal?’: 7%?  5%?  This is an interesting question when you’re seeking a percentage rather than an amount.  Even with a large portfolio, if you look at percentages rather than amounts for your yearly income, a single percentage change can impact your ability to maintain your principal.

            So, what is the right number?

            Fortunately we have professors, analysts and economists who are much smarter than me who study this stuff.  I'll discuss one approach that is gaining interest and attention: the 4% solution.  This is an approach that says that withdrawing 4% from your investments will provide lifetime income and you’ll never outlive your assets. 

           

     The Trinity Study -

            In 1998 a group of finance professors at Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas published a paper studying the optimal percentage annual withdrawal from a retirement portfolio. They based their study on various portfolio asset allocation compositions between stocks and bonds. (I discuss asset allocation more in the following chapter, How to Maintain Your Retirement.) They considered the following portfolios where stocks are the S&P 500 and bonds are high-grade and from the United States:

•  100% stocks
•  100% bonds
• 25% stocks, 75% bonds
• 50% each of stocks and bonds
• 75% stocks, 25% bonds

The interesting part of the study was that in any of the asset mixes, a withdrawal rate of 4% protected 100% of your principal.  What is also interesting is that a conservative mix of 25% stick and 75% bonds would allow for protection of principal and the ability to withdraw 6% of your portfolio.

            Below is a link to a chart from the study showing the decline in the portfolios over thirty years.

(http://www.bogleheads.org/wiki/Safe_Withdrawal_Rates)

           

            However, to fully recognize the viability of this study in an individual’s portfolio as a driver of income, it’s necessary to consider and include inflation into the mix.  The more appropriate chart is provided below which takes into consideration yearly inflation and when this is included the 4% figure becomes even more pronounced.

Source: Sustainable Withdrawal Rates From Your Retirement Portfolio Philip L. Cooley,Carl M. Hubbard2 and Daniel T. Walz


    The numbers in the main body of the chart refer to the percentage likelihood of reaching the goal of not running out of retirement funds. When inflation is included (and it must be to be valid), we see that the greatest likelihood of not having to tap into principal occurs with a portfolio of 75% stocks and 25% bonds.
    Taken in the wrong light, this graph can be unsettling for the conservative retiree. Should you have your entire portfolio in stocks through good times and bad or you’ll end up in the street? No, but if you’re looking at a 30 time horizon and are not interested in tapping into your principal, you’ll need more stocks than perhaps would be recommended for the retired investor. And by stocks I don’t mean those selling for two cents a share and promising 1000% return in just a few short days. I mean a highly diversified portfolio of blue chip companies.
    The following are the conclusions from the study as pointed out from the online wiki on the study:
“The study produced a number of conclusions, including:

• Withdrawal periods longer than 15 years dramatically reduced the probability of success at withdrawal rates exceeding five percent. 
• Bonds increase the success rate for lower to mid level withdrawal rates, but most retirees would benefit with at least a 50 percent allocation to stocks. 
• Retirees who desire inflation-adjusted withdrawals must anticipate a substantially reduced withdrawal rate from the initial portfolio. 
• Stock-dominated portfolios using a 3 to 4 percent withdrawal rate may create rich heirs at the expense of the retiree's current standard of living. 
• For a payout of 15 years or less, a withdrawal rate of 8 to 9 percent from a stock-dominated portfolio appears sustainable.”

    The Trinity Study actually found that a heavily stock laden portfolio of $100,000—tapped at 4% over thirty years, and assuming the rate was not adjusted for inflation—created a $700,000 portfolio at the end of the time frame. Wow. But based on historic market returns this is absolutely feasible.
    I think for most retirees and those considering retirement there is value in evaluating the 4% solution.  When the study “backtracked” with historic data, the numbers in the chart bare out the following comment:

“One scenario backtested in the Trinity study suggests that a retiree with a suitably allocated $1 million portfolio could withdraw $40,000 the first year, give herself a cost-of-living adjustment every year afterwards, and have a 98% chance of the portfolio lasting at least 30 years.” 

Sharpe’s Point - 

            Now before you run out and decide that the 4% solution is what you’re going to do, understand that it isn’t without debate. Nobel Prize winner William Sharpe (creator of the ‘Sharpe Ratio’) disagreed somewhat with the findings of the Trinity Study. He felt it was too rigid and risked building up an unspent surplus. If the goal is to leave a significant inheritance that’s one thing, but if, instead, maximizing the potential of a retirement portfolio is what’s wanted then 4% might not be the best avenue.

            He also cautioned that the solution would encourage fixed spending habits that can prove problematic in down markets.

            “’If a retiree adopts a 4% rule, he will waste money by purchasing surpluses, will overpay for his spending distribution, and may be saddled with an inferior spending plan,’ wrote Sharpe and colleagues Jason Scott, managing director of the Retiree Research Center at Financial Engines, and John Watson, a fellow at Financial Engines.”

            Sharpe’s idea then was that the real solution was regular monitoring and tailoring of the portfolio to find the optimal amount.

I couldn’t agree more, and it’s important to evaluate all of the information on this approach (we include web links to the content mentioned here and other resources for your research in the Resources Area).  If you work with an advisor ask them about this approach.  When looking at the research, it seems that 4% is a great place to start but this doesn’t mean that we can neglect the ongoing and important questions that only you, as the investor, must answer.

What’s the anticipated time horizon of the portfolio? The longer the anticipated lifespan, the lower the percentage withdrawal. It’s common sense. If you’re looking at thirty years or more, 3% might be a better figure.

In contrast, if you’re retiring older, and perhaps not in good health, a shorter lifespan can be factored in and therefore a larger percentage of the funds can be spent each year. Although, again, not written in stone, with an anticipated payout period of fifteen years or less, 8% or so could be tested as a permissible withdrawal rate.

Prudence and the Annual Review -

            It would appear the best course of action, as is so often the case, is to take these studies for what they are; guidelines. Considering a 4% annual withdrawal rate is an excellent starting point.

            Review the math yourself, or with your Financial Advisor if that’s your case, and see if it works for your situation.

Be prudent.

If timing the synchronicity of the end of the lifespans of both yourself and your portfolio isn’t exactly possible (is it ever?) then which is the worse evil; running out of money or leaving a bit extra for your loved ones? I know my answer.

The authors of the Trinity Study wrote:

“The word planning is emphasized because of the great uncertainties in the stock and bond markets. Mid-course corrections likely will be required, with the actual dollar amounts withdrawn adjusted downward or upward relative to the plan. The investor needs to keep in mind that selection of a withdrawal rate is not a matter of contract but rather a matter of planning.”

            Planning and regular reassessments are indeed the additional aspects to rounding out the 4% solution.

            I cover the importance of the annual review in more depth in my book, 'A Safe Retirement ; The 4 Keys to a Safe Retirement', but understand that regular reviews of your portfolio and overall retirement lifestyle needs are a key aspect to maintaining your Safe Retirement. Approach your annual budget from the aspect of how much can you spend. Start with 4% and see where it takes you; many financial planners report using this number with success. And then reassess each year at your designated annual review to make sure this number is still working for you.            

            Prudence is a lovely lady, make sure she’s part of your Safe Retirement and you’ll be living your dream for the rest of your lives. 

Caregivers : Give Yourself a Break

“To the family—that dear octopus from whose tentacles we never quite escape, nor, in our inmost hearts, ever quite wish to.”

-       Dodie Smith, Dear Octopus

Caretaking can be an emotionally powerful experience. The well being and comfort of someone you love is in your hands and you want to do the best job possible. You are helping that person stay out of a nursing home, to recover from a debilitating disease, or to go through the process of dying itself. Your role is invaluable and you may never fully understand the appreciation and gratitude felt by the person you’re looking after.

            However, you also need to take care of yourself. A recent study by Gallup shows that 16% of the American workforce is also a caretaker for someone. Of that group, the vast majority, 65%, are between the ages of forty-five and sixty-four with the next largest group, 22%, between the ages of thirty and forty-four. (source)

            What the study revealed was that whichever age group you belong to if you’re a caretaker chances are your health is suffering too. High blood pressure and reoccurring physical pain are two of the main culprits. Caregivers reported that not only did they have new health issues, but they also suffered from lower energy and productivity. The numbers showed this prevented them from participating in their normal day-to-day activities and they often didn’t feel well rested. Does any of that sound familiar?  

            And yet caretaking doesn’t only take a physical toll, but emotional and mental ones as well. You’re not just helping someone get dressed and bathed, standing up from a chair or sofa, or any of their myriad other day-to-day activities. You’re also taking on the responsibility of helping someone who’s experiencing the effects of old age to the extent they can’t fully look after themselves.

            You are in charge of medicines and must be alert for changes in symptoms or needs. You’re involved in their moods, which may include disillusionment and depression, and for making sure they’re socially active. As if life isn’t hard enough as it is, you’re now taking on someone else’s problems; but it’s someone you love and feel responsible for.

According to the Minnesota Department of Human Services, taking a break from your caretaker role is “the most important thing a caregiver can do to sustain the ability and desire to care for an individual.”

(http://americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=1007)

What prevents many of us from giving ourselves the time and care we need is a feeling of responsibility for the loved one. We believe we’re somehow failing if we aren’t there. We tell ourselves it’s such an important role, how can we let this person down? We might feel we’re the only one who understands the person well enough to give the proper care. Some other person might go through the motions but miss the special details and compassion that only we know how to give.

The key here is to get out of your own way. You aren’t the only person that can give appropriate care and if you don’t look after yourself you won’t be able to do any caretaking at all. You don’t want to get worn down, either physically or emotionally and lose your motivation or ability to look after the person you love.

Your own life and well being are crucial to your job as a caretaker. Pay attention to yourself. Give yourself time to live your own life. When friends call to get together and you’re constantly saying no, eventually they stop calling. They’ll assume you’re busy and stop bothering you. Your world can diminish and with that bring in a host of ramifications. Some caretakers become angry or resentful. All this can be prevented. The first step is to let other people in.   

“The miracle is this—the more we share, the more we have.”

-       Leonard Nimoy

From the upcoming book, A Safe Retirement : The 4 Keys to a Safe Retirement

Meditating at Fifty

There are many things you need to do when the doctor tells you that you need to lower your blood pressure.  I was lucky that it was not enough of a problem that I needed medication, not yet!  For me, diet and exercise were the easiest solutions.  I began each and of course they yielded good results.  But I wanted to incorporate something that I had wanted to do for years: meditation.

I had heard all of the good things about meditation.  Peace of mind.  Relaxation.  Lowers stress and blood pressure.  It all sounded good but I have a job and a family.  How the heck would I fit it in to my schedule?  How do I get started?  Oh and at 51, I wondered if a gray hair like me could actually do it.

Well, after a few months of doing it, the good news is that my blood pressure has been lowered (along with my weight-due to diet and exercise) and I’m finding that I’m better able to deal with the ups and downs that life throws at me each and every day.  I must say that I credit my outlook on the meditation.

The good news is not only that it works, but that any one can do it.  For those who consider themselves “too old” for meditation (as I did), the reality is that you may actually be the most appropriate age for it.

How to get started?  This is actually easier that I thought.  You don’t need a yoga mat.  You don’t need to sit in a lotus position.  You don’t need chimes, bells, an altar or incense.  If you’ve got a chair, you can do this.

I found that the best thing for me was a 99 cents ap for my iPhone called “Simply Being”  (http://www.meditationoasis.com/smartphone-apps/iphone-ipod-touch-ipad-apps/).  This ap allows you to start with a five minute meditation and work up to a 10 or 15 minute meditation.  It provides nature sounds, music and a comforting voice guiding you through the meditation.  It couldn’t be easier and the results will be immediate.

If you don’t have an iPhone, don’t fret.   All you need is to set aside 5 or 10 minutes of quiet time in a comfortable spot.  It may help to use a kitchen timer to alert you when your time is up. 

Simply sit peacefully.  Close your eyes.  What works for me is to then count my breaths.  This works for me and but it may not be the most effective option for you (you can find many solutions and ideas on the internet through Googling ‘meditation’). 

The key becomes to concentrate on what you’re doing now.  Thoughts will come to you.  The important thing is to let them but don’t dwell on them.  Let them go.  I promise they’ll come back after your meditation (they may not be as important then). 

Enjoy the peace and quiet.  It’s your time to do nothing.  When you end your meditation, you’ll be amazed at how refreshing doing nothing is.  (try this before you get started:  http://www.donothingfor2minutes.com/ )

I think the interesting thing about meditation that I’ve learned is that it can be accomplished in so many ways.  If you’re religious, you can say prayers and that constitutes meditation.  If you love nature, meditation can be enjoying the sounds of the woods and spending time looking at trees.  It’s whatever works for you but the results will include not only improved health but a better sense of enjoying the small pleasures of life.

And at this point in our lives, it’s the perfect time to stop, be silent and enjoy the wonders that life provides us.  They’re all around you.  Meditation makes you appreciate the world outside of you by calming the world inside of you.  Try it!  You’ll like it!

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Being Single and Senior

United States Census Bureau data shows the majority of us will end up being senior and single for at least part of our Safe Retirement. The 2009 census numbers state that of those aged sixty-five and older 29% are widowed and 9.6% are divorced. Four percent have never been married which means over 40% of those over sixty-five are living on their own and as people age this percentage increases.

Single and Senior - 

            Given the statistics I quoted above, being single for at least part of our retirement is a reality we might as well get ready to enjoy. After all, what’s the alternative? This is your life and with a little planning and effort these years will be the best yet.

            When you think about it, you aren’t ever really alone in life. You have family and friends and neighbors, and even strangers. People are all around you going through the process of life just like you are. By losing your spouse you aren’t any more alone than you ever were, you simply don’t have that person to be with anymore. You need other good friends. I’ll get into dating and finding a new love in the next section, here I want to discuss good habits and ideas for how to get the best out of being single and senior. Most of these are reiterations of what I’ve discussed in past chapters but they’re worth revisiting in this context.

            The best thing you can do for yourself as you age is to stay active and positive. Period. If you find yourself single and wonder how you’re going to get used to it, much less be happy again, get out of the house. Call up a friend, go to church, volunteer, take a kite flying class, it doesn’t matter what, just do it. This is how you will learn to thrive and it’s especially important if you’ve just lost your spouse.

            It may be difficult at first but you need to be disciplined. The more active you become, the easier it’ll be. Pretty soon life starts to take on an energy of its own and before you know it you’re back to enjoying life even though you’re single.

            Remember that you need to communicate about important matters with your family and heirs. If something happens to you and you don’t have a spouse or significant other to take care of things, who will? Do you want your kids sifting through piles of papers and sticky notes trying to find the password to your email?

            Keep a list of important information and let someone know where it is and what it contains. Consider the following:

Ø  Passwords for email accounts

Ø  Safety deposit box location

Ø  Power of attorney, both medical and legal

Ø  Estate planning documents including a living will and what type of funeral you want

Ø  Bank and brokerage accounts

Ø  Names and phone numbers of your closest friends

Ø  Instructions for what to do with your pet if you’re unable to look after it any longer

Also, as we get older it’s good to have someone to talk to about decisions we’re thinking of making. Seniors are sometimes the target of fraud and if you’re considering making a new investment, especially a large one, be sure and get a second opinion.

Get a second opinion on any major medical issue and make sure you involve someone else. This isn’t so they can tell you what to do, although if you value their opinion in these types of matters that’s fine, rather it’s so someone else will understand what choices you had and why you did what you did. It may never matter, but one day it might.

Discuss with your children what you want them to have after you die and make sure you put it in writing in your will.

The nut of it is, if you’re single make sure you involve other people in the important decisions and directions of your life. Then, get out and have fun!

THIS IS AN EXCERPT FROM THE UPCOMING BOOK, SAFE 4 RETIREMENT : THE 4 KEYS TO A SAFE RETIREMENT - FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @SAFE4RETIREMENT AND ON FACEBOOK


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Pursue Your Passion

“Hold fast to dreams

For if dreams die,

Life is a broken winged bird

That cannot fly.”

-       Langston Hughes

For many, retirement over the past couple of decades has morphed into a dynamic dream-realizing landscape. No longer is it considered to be the end of a career and therefore life; now it’s a beginning, an opportunity to reinvent yourself and rediscover long lost pursuits and passions. Along with lengthening life spans come renewed chances to explore areas long forgotten.

Some retirees mix leisure activities with targeted business endeavors, often for the intellectual stimulus far more than any monetary benefit. In this sense it’s interesting how goals change. What we pursued in our youth—status, money, new mates; in other words, outward signs of success—now takes a back seat to a different set of priorities. When we get in line with what’s of real value to us, our energy can be redirected toward this new set of inner goals. Those that fulfill a deeper sense of self and purpose in the world we live in. The key is to recognize and let go of the old goals and values and to let in the new ones. To be true to our authentic selves which we now have the time to express and explore.

In order to weather the storms life flings at us as we age, it’s absolutely vital to understand and pursue what gives real meaning to our lives. We can be waylaid by health, family, economic recession—you name it and life can throw it at you. By doing what gives us a deep seated feeling of worthwhileness, it’s that much harder to dent the positive attitude and happiness that inevitably follows.

Consider the following in your route to pursuing your passion:

Ø  Face your fears, whether of criticism, poverty, old age, whatever.

Ø  Seek out people who are already doing what you want to do.

Ø  Ignore and avoid negative people.

Ø  Get rid of extra stuff in your life. It just clutters up what’s really important to you.

Ø  Stay away from people who drain your energy.

Ø  Exercise, meditate or pray, eat right, and get enough sleep—in other words, feel good.

Ø  Write down your goals.

Ø  Get the people you love on board with your pursuits.

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Resume Writing Skills - Resumes That Work

A very good friend of mine, Judith Lindenberger, is an expert on mentoring and preparing individuals for effective job placement. As more and more retirees move towards jobs in retirement and second careers, it's good advice to keep your resume writing skills up to speed, even for those in "retirement". It's my pleasure to include her advice on my blog.

Resumes That Work
by Judith Lindenberger

If you are looking for a job, writing a resume is one of the first steps you need to take. The goal of a resume is to get you in the door with prospective employers. And, you have about 30 seconds to grab the reader's attention.

As the former Manager of Staffing for a Fortune 500 company, certified career counselor, and board member of several nonprofit organizations, I have reviewed thousands of resumes. Based upon my experience, here are ten tricks of the trade for writing a winning resume.

1. Include an objective statement at the top of your resume which states your employment goal, types of organizations you have experience working for, and several strengths. The reason for including an objective statement is to immediately let the reader know that you are a fit for the job. Here is one example of an attention-grabbing objective statement: Results-oriented sales executive with 15 years experience in the oil and chemical industry. Strengths include managing amidst economic uncertainty, building diverse teams, and increasing profitability.

2. Tell not only what you did but how well you did it. By demonstrating your contributions in quantifiable terms, you separate yourself from the pack. For example: “Created a new sales program which resulted in a 25% in sales annually for 3 consecutive years” is more impressive than “responsible for creating a new sales program.”

3. Use action verbs like analyzed, created, developed, initiated, led, or researched. Imagine someone reading your resume quickly and think about the impression the words you choose will have on him or her.

4. You can add information about your education, accomplishments, special knowledge, or honors at the beginning or end of the resume. If it is recent or impressive, place it at the beginning; otherwise, it goes at the end of the resume.

5. Include your name, address, phone number and e-mail address so that an employer can get in touch with you easily.

6. Put your name and page number on each page (in case pages get misplaced or out of order). Try to limit your resume to no more than two pages.

7. Make sure your resume is spell checked and that there are no grammatical errors.

8. Do not include a photograph or personal information. Emphasize your credentials, experience and accomplishments.

9. Be honest about dates of employment and job titles. If you falsify information, and are found out, you could be eliminated from consideration or fired.

10. Get feedback from several sources about how attractive and easy-to-read your resume is before you send it out. Writing a terrific resume is worth the time invested. It could be your passport to a new job.

Judy Lindenberger is a leader in career counseling. She can be reached at 609.730.1049, info@lindenbergergroup.com or www.lindenbergergroup.com.

Living Longer and Happier in Retirement

Research has shown that seniors who continue to take an active part in their lives—those who don’t see retirement as an end but as a beginning—live longer and are happier. This is important information but also can be filed in the common sense box.

Having the ability to choose what we want to do with the rest of our lives is a gift and a privilege. It’s an opportunity that shouldn’t be weighed down by false expectations and belief systems.

Don’t buy into the stereotypes. Retirement now is about evolution and personal growth. It’s a time to utilize your new found freedom to explore your own belief systems and find peace and positive attitudes. Retirement will bring challenges. Life brings challenges and the longer we live the more of these we’ll experience. Some will hurt very much, like the death of a spouse or child. It’s called Life and retirement gives us the chance to learn to deal with freedom, loss, happiness, grief and many others from our emotional cornucopia.

Most importantly, listen to the facts. Stay busy, stay in touch with your loved ones, and enjoy life the way it was meant to be.

Dispelling Myths -

“Change your thoughts and you change your world.”

- Norman Vincent Peale

The myths we hear about aging are constant, almost universally negative, and, most importantly, just that, myths. According to dictionary.com, the definition of myth in the context we’re using here is, “an unproved or false collective belief that is used to justify a social institution.” Based on this, all we have to do to get rid of myths is to reveal the truth.

Let’s look at some of the most common myths for our purposes. Aging means:

- Being unhealthy, unfit, and tired

- Losing your marbles

- You are what your genes say you are

- Being grumpy

- You’ll never have sex again

- Losing power, being helpless

That all sounds terrible! What is this Golden Years jabber, anyway?

Hold on. Unclench your hands from your mouse, relax, stop gritting your teeth. Let’s look at these pesky myths a little more closely.

“If you limit your choices only to what seems possible or reasonable, you disconnect yourself from what you truly want, and all that is left is a compromise.”

- Robert Fritz

Being unhealthy, unfit, and tired. Absolutely this is possible in retirement, just as much as it’s possible during your prime working years too. As we know from our book, Safe 4 Retirement : The 4 Keys to a Safe Retirement, if you don’t look after yourself, get regular exercise and eat right, you can feel bad at any age. Society is getting healthier through education and a gradually changing collective lifestyle. This means chronic diseases occur later and are more easily controlled and treated. You can have an energetic, healthy, and active retirement if you choose to.

Losing your marbles. No, we won’t all end up like the cat lady example we all know. Sure, dementia and the gradual loss of our cognitive facilities occur, but there are ways to exercise your brain, just like you can your body. And new cures and treatments for the more serious diseases are on the horizon. Stay mentally active, do new things, go new places, and keep your marbles intact.

You are what your genes say you are. Genes do play a part, we all know that. Why else would both you and your uncle have the same uneven ear lobes or squinty left eye. However, we’ve also learned that genes aren’t everything. The proof is in and we can make a difference in our happiness and longevity by paying attention to our physical and mental health.

Being grumpy. Grumpy old men is a terrible myth and yet as a society we’ve embraced this image. The section in Safe 4 Retirement : The 4 Keys to a Safe Retirement on Mental Attitude is all about managing your mental health and positive attitudes. With proper attention to this crucial area you can be happier than ever as you finally get to fulfill your dreams and do what matters most to you. Amazingly, this time occurs during the last third of our lives. In fact, most say the very fact that death is nearer gives more value to the current moment.

You’ll never have sex again. Really? With the proliferation of drugs like Viagra, Cialis and the like? How about when you add a physically active life, healthy heart, and confident attitude? The data shows, when the lights go out, retirees aren’t just sleeping.

Losing power, being helpless. We’re living longer and healthier lives which means being creative and productive well into retirement. But as we age and things start to break down, mentally and physically, sometimes we do need to step back and let others help. The key here is to realize this is part of the process and we can’t do it all, all the time. Done right, aging is a beautiful and respectful process. Part of that means putting the ego aside. Yes, we’re self-sufficient for longer than ever before in the history of the human race. But allow others to help when you need it. It doesn’t mean being helpless, it means we’re all human.

The point with myths is most of them simply aren’t true and they cause far more worry and stress than they’re worth. The next time you hear one of the phrases like I’ve listed above, stop and think about it. Based on the ideas and steps presented in Safe 4 Retirement : The 4 Keys to a Safe Retirement, is aging really going to be that bad? Or might it, just maybe, be the time you’ve been working and waiting for all your life?

“Not knowing when the dawn will come, I open every door.”

- Emily Dickinson

Is This Your Year To Retire?

It’s that time again when we all make New Year’s resolutions. It’s usually around losing weight, exercising or paying more attention to your family and less to your iPad or Crackberry. For many of us in the baby boomer generation, it also presents a time for us to think about that wonderful R word: retirement.

At the beginning of a new year, many of us may be entering or considering that next phase of our lives. The phase that we’ve waited for. The phase that we’ve dreamed of. The phase that we’ve planned for.

Wait a second, you haven’t planned for it? I’m not talking about just your financial plan. I’m talking about real retirement planning.

I’m a professional market researcher and focus group moderator who has interviewed thousands of individuals and professionals about retirement. When you discuss retirement planning, most people will mention their financial plan or having their “number” that constitutes what they need to retire. For most people, hitting this number and the realization that you can afford to retire is the end point, the goal.

Although having a financial plan and a “number” that provides the income you need is vital, the reality is that this is not the end point. Retirement is not just about having the right amount of money but having a plan in place regarding what you’re going to do in retirement. This includes not only planning for the fun things such as travel and babysitting your grandkids, but must include your plans for maintaining your health, having a positive mental attitude and being involved with the world around you. The goal is to thrive and enjoy a safe retirement.

Let’s start (and I mean start, not end) with financial planning for retirement. I like to call it your “financial preparedness” for retirement. Certainly it’s important to have a number that you’re working towards, or for those fortunate enough to have pension plans, an income figure that you know will be there. I hope that at this point in your life, you’ve taken the time to create a plan that identifies your financial needs in retirement. (For those reading this who are not close to retirement age, I’d advise you to use this year to resolve to get your financial plan either started or in good shape).

To touch all of the bases that need to be covered to ensure that your plan is up to snuff would be impossible in an article of this length. Get the books. Check out the websites. Make that appointment with a financial professional, if that’s what you choose. Whatever you decide, wherever you are in life, make the resolution to get your financial plan in place for retirement.

Planning for retirement is not just about knowing how much you need to retire, but it needs to consider your withdrawal plan or how you’ll pay yourself from that fund of money you’ve built up. I use a couple of guidelines that are worth considering. The first is to target an income that allows for 80% of your working life expenses. In other words, if you spend $80,000 a year now, plan to budget for 80% of that, or having an income of $64,000 during retirement.

Also, a good idea is to pay off that mortgage before you retire. That will provide you with additional income. That’s a good New Year’s resolution for people approaching retirement!

There are a lot of moving parts associated with creating an individualized financial plan, but another guideline to consider is the “expectation” that you can generate 5% off of your portfolio for income. There is also a theory out there, which has much merit, that the optimal number for withdrawals from your portfolio should be 4%. The point here is that financial planning for retirement is necessary and a very personalized process. If you haven’t done it, take it as a New Year’s resolution to do so, whether you’re retiring or not!

I understand that with many tools and resources available to us today, many of us would like to take this task on ourselves. I tend to believe that a professional such as a financial planner can be a good resource to help you, but whatever route you choose, the important thing is to create, maintain and frequently review a financial plan.

The problem for most people is that even if they do have a financial plan, and it may be a good one at that, this is often where they stop planning. If you come away with nothing else from this article, please understand that financial planning is only one step in the process of planning for a safe and successful retirement.

Having the money to retire is important, but how important is it if you don’t have the health you need to enjoy your retirement? That’s right, I wasn’t about to leave out that famous New Year’s resolution of taking care of your health. Many people see this as the most important aspect of retirement. How many times did your Uncle or Aunt tell you “if you don’t have your health, you have nothing”? They were right!

Let’s look at what it means to be physically prepared for retirement. If you don’t have thoughts about your health and wellness front and center in your mind, you need to change your viewpoint. For those retiring or in retirement, you need to resolve to have yearly checkups, a clear understanding of what your vital stats are and an exercise plan that you can adhere to.

There’s another one – the same old New Year’s resolution that you’ve passed over each year – exercising. Well here’s a news flash: you can read all of the magazines and books you want, the bottom line is that for retirees, exercise is NOT an option. You’ll have the time, you need to do something: walking, treadmill, swimming, whatever. It’s also a great way for you to create a schedule for yourself and a healthy way to interact with friends and heck, even your spouse.

Just as you created a plan for your financial needs, you need to do the same for your own physical wellbeing. Once again, this is very personalized but it should include the following: regular doctor visits, exercise, recognizing that you are what you eat (you need to consider the kinds of food you ingest and your frequency of alcohol consumption), take your vitamins, staying mentally active (crosswords, reading and taking classes are great ideas), and most important, just relax.

You’re probably in better shape than you think. Retirement is about enjoying yourself, not creating terror when you have a doctor’s appointments. If you resolve to plan on staying healthy in retirement, you’ll be more likely than not to enjoy a safe and healthy retirement.

Just as we’ve planned for our physical health, we need to take a good look at our mental attitude as we plan for, and enter retirement. As we retire, we leave the routines and people that we’ve come to know in our working lives. As I said, many people simply view the time of retirement as a goal and without planning about what happens after we announce our retirement. Then that first day comes when the alarm clock doesn’t go off and many people are in for some serious “confusion”.

We have all heard the stories about the new retiree who now spends their time getting in the way of their spouse at home. The spouses fight and ultimately one of two things happened: they either kill each other or one spouse has to go out a find a part time job. This is retirement? This happens all too many times and it’s all due to a lack of planning and more importantly, a lack of communicating.

As you plan to retire, you need to sit down with your love ones. If it’s a spouse or significant other, you need to discuss what you’ll do together now that you have all of this time together. You need to find a plan and schedule that works for both of you and is respectful of each other’s activities and interests. You should also sit with your family and discuss how this may impact them. Being the grandparents who are always over because they have nothing else to do is not going to work. What does work is asking them how you can be involved in their lives now that you have the time.

Retirement will be a great time. It will also be a time when you’ll experience loss as you’ve never experienced it before. You’ll lose old friends and family members. This will be very hard on you. Unfortunately, it’s something you need to plan on. It will be very important that you maintain as upbeat and positive an attitude as possible in retirement. Heck, it’s what you’ve been waiting for your whole life. Even with the pains, it can be the most enjoyable part of your life.

If you’re nearing retirement, resolve to do the following: sit down and write down what you envision your retirement to look like. You should then store this document in a drawer and take it out often during your retirement to see how you’re “doing”. When you prepare this document, think positive and optimistically as well as spend some time preparing yourself mentally for the good and bad things that can happen in retirement.

Quite often our ability to stay positive and prepared for the good and bad that will happen in retirement will bring us back to our spirituality. Retirement can be a great time to more fully explore your spirituality. This can include becoming more regularly involved with your church or even taking the opportunity to visit other houses of worship with friends. I’ve heard of retirees discussing the benefits to their own spiritual journey of attending services, or reading about beliefs of other religions. Retirement is a time of exploration, not a time to be closed minded and “set in your ways”. When you resolve yourself to keeping an open mind and positive attitude in retirement, the rewards will be great.

This leads into the last element that you need to plan on for a safe and enjoyable retirement: how will you stay involved when you’re retired? Retirement is not about sitting on the couch with the afghan watching old Roseanne episodes (I know, that disappoints me as well). Get your butt out the door and interact with the world around you!

This is retirement after all. It’s your ‘free’ time, go and enjoy it. Sure, take trips, spend time with your family and heck, sleep late when you want. Just be sure that you also stay involved with the world out there!

This is not just about planning how you’re going to spend your time each day, but now that you have time available to you, you need to think about how you can use this time to impact and improve things for others. Because believe me, the reward of improving things for others not only make you feel good, but you’ll feel rewarded as well. How many times did you say when you were working, that it wasn’t about the money, you just wanted to be recognized and feel rewarded for your hard work?

The reality is that you can now do this. In fact, you can get this in spades now that you’re retired. How to start? Why not think back to all of those organizations that you gave money to last year? All of those mailings that you received in December asking for your “membership” or donations include organizations that would LOVE to have you be actively involved with them.

Talk to your friends or spouse and identify organizations that you’d enjoy helping and contact them. It’s not that difficult. There are online resources available to connect you with local organizations looking for volunteers. Sometimes the best place to start is with your own church. Wherever you start, the important thing is to do something! This will provide you a routine and a connection that will not only replace what you had in your working life, but is something that you can control and you’ll be in charge of the time commitments that you make.

Retirement is a time to enjoy yourself and do the things you‘ve dreamed of doing. You’ve earned it!

So as the New Year brings another round of resolutions to make and break, I hope that if retirement is a possibility for you in the next year or two, you’ll take the time to think about and plan for the four aspects of creating a safe retirement: financial preparedness, your physical wellbeing, mental attitude and staying involved.

As the year begins, make a resolution to take the time to plan for each of these aspects. Taking the time now to do that will reap huge rewards done the road.

Oh, and while you’re planning to do this, have that donut or piece of pie that last year’s diet resolution wouldn’t let you have. I won’t tell.

Sample Chapter from Upcoming Book - Safe 4 Retirement : The 4 Keys to a Safe Retirement

This is a sample chapter from a book that I'm working on called

Safe 4 Retirement : The 4 Keys to a Safe Retirement

Please let me know what you think of it. Looking to publish sometime in mid 2011.

Chapter 20

Ten Keys to Being Happy in Retirement

“Most people are as happy as they make up their minds to be.”

- Abraham Lincoln

By following the advice I’ve laid out before you in the previous chapters, life as you age can get better and better, just like that fine burgundy people compare it to. In this chapter I’m not going to rehash what you’ve already read: assess and prepare yourself financially, exercise, eat right, and don’t forget to feed your mind. You know that, you’ve got it, so what’s new?

Here, I’ll summarize ten keys that if you follow will do as much to guarantee happiness in your Safe Retirement as anything. Each key reflects some previously discussed principle, but here they’re listed in a refreshing easy-to-follow manner.

Refer to this chapter often. I’ll list the steps at the end without any embellishment. Rip it out and paste in on your bathroom mirror, hang it from the inside of your golf club locker, ink it on your favorite grandchild’s forehead.

Follow the keys, work at them even when you don’t feel like it, and the unstoppable momentum of positivity will fill your life. Like crawdads in ponds, each individual entity of positivity feeds on the others until you’re left with the one granddaddy of them all. Big, fat, and king of its world, your world, one of happiness and feeling good.

“Hope begins in the dark, the stubborn hope that if you just show up and try to do the right thing, the dawn will come. You wait and watch and work: You don’t give up.”

- Anne Lamont

Key One -

Laugh. Lighten up for God’s sake! The benefits of a good cachinnation are multi-fold.

• Life’s more fun. Don’t underestimate this simplest of simple points.
• Laughter reduces stress hormones. Remember how I went on about stress being one of the biggest killers of all? Fight stress by laughing at it.
• Funny things are funny because they change our perspective of the world. They help us see problems and difficult situations in a positive light. We’re also shown we’re not alone. If you laughed at it, someone else will too or already has.
• It’s a great workout. Bizarre? No, fact. Some state that one minute of a full-bellied chuckle gets the heart rate up to what it would take twenty minutes of regular exercise to do. Be healthy, laugh more.

Okay, how do we find things that are so darn funny in this crazy world we live in? There are funny people all around you. Go see a comedy movie or rent one out. Subscribe to the comedy channel. Laugh with your friends—this is the best of both worlds as you get to laugh and be with people you love to be with. The more you laugh, the more they will and the cycle goes on.

Look for the humor in life. This is key. Take a situation you might otherwise think is negative—your candidate didn’t win the election, the neighbor is a snob, you can’t for the life of you understand the new computer program you just bought—and laugh at it.

And last? Fake it until you make it. Keep trying, you can do it.

“Humor is not a trick, not jokes. Humor is a presence in the world—like grace—and shines on everybody.”

- Garrison Keillor

Key Two -

Eat. What? You heard me, eat.

Sound obvious? Well, of course it is, but I mean do it right. Yes, have that organic flaxseed, hemp, and rhubarb shake. By all means follow the food and eating advice I’ve given throughout this book. But then—make it special.

Food is far more than a source of physical sustenance. The very act of planning and preparing a meal is creative and can be soothing if approached from the right perspective. Within the guidelines of healthy eating, buy what you love to eat. Find new recipes, create your own; make the act of preparing and eating a meal one of the high points of your day.

Then share it.

If someone else normally does the cooking, offer to take it over one or two nights a week. Or cook together. Open a bottle of red wine (healthy in limited quantities, remember?), get out the chopping boards, sharpen the knives and partake in the ancient ritual of breaking bread together. For dessert? Chocolate, of course!

If you’re the one who’s always slaving away over the gas burner, try a new country. Find recipes from…northern Africa, the Caribbean, Japan, what about...braised quail in licorice sauce with a side of chopped brussel sprouts in bacon? Make it up!

Not your cup of tea? Find new restaurants and invite friends and/or family.

Eating is naturally social so take advantage of this über-healthy combination and be social while making the most out of a daily pleasure we far too often get routine-ized with.

Don’t sit at home with the same old sandwich or frozen dinner. Make the effort to enjoy the food of life. Make the moment special for yourself and others.

“There is only one difference between a long life and a good dinner: that, in the dinner, the sweets come last.”

- Robert Louis Stevenson

Key Three -

Be open to new trends and ways of thinking. How many of us have heard someone lamenting that “things just aren’t the way they used to be”? How many of us felt like a better person and the world was rosier because of hearing it? How many of us have been guilty of this anti-happiness transgression ourselves?

Don’t turn your nose up because someone splays the chicken in a new way. Appreciate that not only do you have things to teach and give based on the multitude of experiences in your life, but that there’s something to learn from everyone. Be on the lookout for the jewels of other people’s experiences. Incorporate them, be grateful, and wallow in the wonders of the world. One step at a time.

Sure, old ways of thinking are comfortable. Many of them we don’t even understand. We just assume we’re right about whatever we’ve believed in for so long. Questioning your own beliefs can be difficult, but on the other hand it can be extremely rewarding to have the clouds part, the thunder roll away, and behold, you’ve had a new way of doing/thinking/believing revealed from right beneath your nose.

“Learning sleeps and snores in libraries, but wisdom is everywhere, wide awake, on tiptoe.”

- Josh Billings

Key Four -

Learn. Learn. Learn. Don’t get stuck in your old ways with your old thoughts and beliefs. Brush the dust off your mind; take a class, read a new genre of book. Listen carefully to the opposite side of a debate. Learn why they’re saying what they’re saying and what positive qualities may exist for you.

The ways to go about learning something new are numerous and I’ve mentioned several in earlier parts of the book.

• Take a class. Any kind. It could be at a local college or university, remember seniors can take many of these for free or deeply discounted rates. It could be a cooking class at a restaurant, a poetry class from the library, an herb growing seminar put on by the local county extension. Even if you’re not sure you’ll be interested, give it a try. You just never know.
• Read!
• Turn off the television unless you’re watching a documentary. Only watch the minimum of news necessary to know what’s going on and yet not absorb the negativity.
• Talk to new people with an open mind. Remember to listen listen listen.
• Travel.
• You know what to do. Just go out and do it!

“The person who has had the bull by the tail once has learned sixty or seventy times as much as the person who hasn’t.”

- Mark Twain

Key Five -

Look good. If you don’t have any commitments it can be tempting to hang out in your pajamas or in that ragged t-shirt that should have been thrown out a decade ago.

Remember, how you look on the outside effects how you feel on the inside, and how other people perceive you too. Make it part of your daily ritual to present yourself to the world and yourself in a positive light.

You don’t have to dress like you’re going back to the office, what fun would that be? Dress like you’ve always wanted to dress. Just make sure it’s clean, stylish (in your own way is fine), and “put together.” Wear makeup, put on perfume or cologne. Even if you’re going to spend the day at home studying up for your new online class on do-it-yourself gnome building, present yourself as if you love life and love yourself.

Looking good helps us feel good and that alone is a huge step toward the positive attitude habit we want to ingrain so deeply.

“Good humor may be said to be one of the very best articles of dress one can wear in society.”

- William Makepeace Thackeray

Key Six -

Little things mean a lot. And we often don’t realize just how much. Everyone has down days and insecurities that needle them and they try to bury deep. By paying attention to others (and this means taking the microscope off of ourselves for awhile—a very healthy thing indeed) we’ll know what we can do to brighten their day just a little.

For example, I have an atrocious driver’s license photo. Really, it’s as if they took my picture off the post office wall as one of America’s ten most wanted. The hair on the back of my head is even standing straight up to emphasize the bitter frown that appeared after a couple of smoldering hours in the DMV line.

I could easily get a new picture. But instead, I’ve unearthed an astounding 100% success rate in making people smile. Let’s say I’m in the line to pay for my groceries and spot the checkout operator frowning, her feet and back obviously in pain and generally having a boring, rotten day. Voila! Out comes my ID and a casual, “would you like to see the worst photograph I’ve ever seen?” Without fail a smile will blossom on her tired face as she compares the hideous driver’s license to the (hopefully) more attractive real mug. That is paying attention to the little things.

Encourage. When someone launches out on something new, from a water coloring class to studying life on other planets, hold back the knee-jerk guffaw and instead give them a compliment. Everyone, really, is in the same boat. We’re all trying to make the best of the world we’ve found ourselves in. Appreciate this and say something encouraging, we’re all doing the best we can.

Reward people for a job well done. Have you ever been around someone who can’t help but criticize everything you do? You don’t make the coffee right or slice the cucumber in the correct direction. How much fun was it? It stank didn’t it? Don’t be that person. From finishing law school to shelling pistachios, reward people for a job well done. A simple, “that’s great” can be enough, or do more if you like. The point is to pay attention and see the positive. Leave the bickering and badgering for the old people!

And finally, there doesn’t need to be a reason at all for doing some small, pleasant thing for someone else. Whatever it is, from getting them to smile, to plucking a dandelion from the yard and handing it to them, it all builds toward making them—and therefore you—a happier, better feeling person.

“It is one of the most beautiful compensations of this life that no man can sincerely try to help another without helping himself.”

- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Key Seven -

Follow your dreams. I discussed this concept at length in the Pursuing Your Passion chapter. However, I just can’t seem to emphasize it enough. Life can be heartbreakingly short. You know that. We’re here to realize our fullest potential and if we sit and watch life go right on by without us, we’re missing out.

Your dreams don’t have to be magnanimous achievements people will be writing about for centuries. Pay attention to what makes you feel good. It’s that simple. Walking on the beach every morning makes you feel good? Well, walk on the beach every morning! Make it a priority. Don’t live near a beach? Time to make some changes. Step by step, plan on how you can get close enough to a beach—permanently or every-now-and-then-ly—so you can go for that walk that makes you feel so good.

It’s all possible. You’re only limited by what you can dream and, of course, the reality in which we live. You want to be the captain of the spaceship Enterprise? Well…how about getting involved in writing science fiction. Read the Star Trek books, see the movies, volunteer to talk about space travel at your local grade school. Or take it up a notch. Take university classes, read up on NASA’s latest discoveries, get involved in forums, conferences, seminars, and the like. You can attack that dream from different angles and who knows the incredible worlds you’ll open up.

But if you don’t take the first step, if you don’t believe you can do it or just never get around to it, then you’ve lost without even trying. I encourage you to get the most out of your life and pursue your passion, follow your dreams and take steps everyday toward that which makes you feel spectacular.

“A man must have his dreams—memory dreams of the past and eager dreams of the future. I never want to stop reaching for new goals.”

- Maurice Chevalier

Key Eight -

Make a date with your negativity. I must be joking, right? I mean, the whole point of this section has been how to develop a positive attitude during your Safe Retirement.

Hang on. Sit back and understand the logic behind this key. If we just shove down our negative thoughts and worries they’re going to bubble up somewhere else. You may be upset over a family issue and accidently lash out at a friend (or stranger) who has nothing to do with the problem.

What’s best is to recognize your negativity or general crankiness, give it the stage it needs, then drop it. This latter aspect is the key.

Set a date with yourself to be negative. Fix a time; 5pm next Wednesday. Comb your hair beforehand, put on perfume or cologne. Shine your shoes. Then at the appointed hour go through all your worries out loud or in writing. If the former you might want to choose the location carefully. The point is to get it out of your system. You might even come up with a solution or two. Then, and here’s the important part, when your time is up, say it’s 7pm now, say goodnight, shake hands and leave it! Drop the negativity, stop being a crank-pot, shake it off and watch a funny movie or go out for drinks with your friends.

Make another date with yourself if you need to. But whatever you do, don’t move in together, don’t even think about getting married to that slime ball called negativity. Don’t worry, by following this simple strategy of allowing yourself highly concentrated yet limited amounts of time to be critical of life and all that it holds, you will grow to really appreciate how it’s no fun. You’ll be taking steps to purge yourself of the need to harbor negativity.

What you’re doing is not leaving poison to chance. Poison takes many forms and negativity is one of the most vitriolic. Honor your complaints, see them clearly, then get the heck away.

Try it. You might be positively pleased by the outcome.

“Imagination was given to man to compensate him for what he is not; a sense of humor, to console him for what he is.”

- The Wall Street Journal

Key Nine -

Get close to nature regularly. Nature nourishes the soul like nothing else. If you can go for those walks on the beach, do it. If it’s hiking or camping, bird watching or gardening, make it a priority. Even if it’s just taking time to watch the birds building a nest in the tree outside your window that could be enough. How about watching an entire sunset or sunrise? Don’t hurry off to do whatever’s nagging you to get done, just stay still for the full event.

The great thing about getting close to nature is many of your options can entail being with other people. Maybe it means going for a morning walk every day with a group of neighbors. Join a hiking club; or skiing, or scuba diving, or gardening, or whatever interests you and gets you close to nature.

You don’t have to create a life in the wilderness, just understand that within nature we find a deep connection that nothing else provides. A quiet walk or simple sunrise is a direct path to lifting your spirits and seeing the beauty in the world.

“When one tugs at a single thing in nature, he finds it attached to the rest of the world.”

- John Muir

Key Ten -

I’ve saved the most important key for last. Above all else I’ve recommended, follow this one and happiness in your Safe Retirement will be most assured.

Seek love. Be love.

Spend time with your friends and family. Pay attention to their worlds and concerns. Make new friends. Remember that small things count enormously: encourage, reward, notice.

The social bond is the strongest and most important for our species. We are made to love and be loved. The most important time you can spend is with your loved ones. Be positive and supportive and they’ll love you even more in return.

“Love is like quicksilver in the hand. Leave the fingers open, and it stays. Clutch it, and it darts away.”

- Dorothy Parker

When you follow these ten keys your odds at having a happy Safe Retirement will sky rocket. Remember, each of the keys plays off of a basic principle discussed earlier in the book. Healthy eating, exercise, mental activity, and being social; all are incorporated in the above ten.

The point is the future is in your hands. You can carve and mold it any way you like. But some of us need help, we need practical steps and tools to structure the best unique life for ourselves. The ten keys will do this, as will the information in this entire book.

In summary:

1) Laugh.

2) Eat.

3) Be open.

4) Learn. Learn. Learn.

5) Look good.

6) Little things mean a lot.

7) Follow your dreams.

8) Make a date with your negativity.

9) Get close to nature.

10) Seek love. Be love.

The future is yours. Grab it and love it!

“Where there is great love, there are always miracles.”

- Will Cather