Some of us have control over when and how our career ends. Others don’t, due to mergers, acquisitions, shifts in management, or strategic direction, restructuring, or unexpected personal events including changes in health. When writing my book, Why Me? And No Gold Watch! I interviewed a number of people who lost their jobs and now…

Everyone is interested in how to live longer and better. According to Dan Buettner, author of The Blue Zones, there are nine longevity secrets. Slow down, work less, rest & take vacations.  Relaxation is key.  Take time each day to relieve stress.  Some use meditation and/or yoga to help with relaxing.  Also, don’t rush, take…

Frequently, I’m asked, “What makes for a happy retirement?” Conventional wisdom often defines happiness as status (the job you have), financial security (money in the bank), worldly goods and possessions (big house, fancy car), lifestyle, and accomplishments. I have met many very successful people who seem to have it all; who have said to me,…

Often times I’m asked by workshop and presentation attendees, “Rick, I don’t have a lot of savings or a large pension for retirement. Can working be part of my retirement vision?” My answer is, absolutely yes! For some retirees, the thought of working in retirement is foreign and outright rejected. I get this! For others,…

As you enter the second longest phase of your life, you can ‘get it right’ the first time.  You have 10, 15, 20, maybe even 25 years or more in front of you, in which you can realize your hopes and dreams.  To make this happen, you need to know what you want and create…

A. Don’t Just Retire – Live It, Love It! There is life after work, you just have to find it and make certain you do it right.  And to help make certain you’re on the right path, Rick wrote Don’t Just Retire – Live It Love It! and in this book, it’s not all about…

Now that you have crafted your retirement vision, an important step towards a successful retirement is to develop a positive attitude. Fear, panic, and discomfort are common emotions experienced by people preparing for retirement.  These emotions often occur because the pre-retiree is entering a new world – one with different circumstances, behaviors, and activities.  It…

At retirement, one relationship that often changes is with your spouse or partner.  In the early and middle years of a marriage, couples normally don’t spend a lot of time together.  As partners, they are busy making a living, raising a family, and fixing up a home.  In a recent survey, it was found the…

For many, retirement is synonymous with freedom.  For others, it represents anxiety and questioning. Many factors influence our perceptions of life after work.  Everything from our expectations, planning and preferences. Several common challenges of retirement include: Struggling to switch off from work mode to living at a more relaxed pace Difficulty of filling the extra…

How much money do you need to retire comfortably? Is it $250,000? $500,000? $1 million or more? What is a realistic amount based on your current and visualized lifestyle? Most people feel they need more money than what they have. Ask a person with $500,000 in retirement savings how much they need for retirement and…