In Canada, 1 in 5 Canadians is 65 or older. In 2030, 1in 4 (25%) will be 65+. Currently Canada is suffering from a skills shortage, and this will be exacerbated by the retirement of an estimated 2.7 million Canadians between 2026 and 2030. Retaining older employees must be front and centre on the minds…

Yesterday when at the gym, a gym-mate said, “Rick, I have a recently retired friend who says she is bored. What can I tell her?” My answer was, “I’m sorry to learn about your friend, but she is not alone. Studies show that up to 40% of retirees experience boredom. For many the lack of routine…

Survey results: 84% of pre-retirees don’t have a mentor: someone who has already successfully travelled the retirement road. With many people retiring earlier, you may find yourself retired for 10 to 30 or more years.  When we started in life, gaining experience and maturing, we had many mentors along the way – parents, family members,…

Many retirees tell me the one thing they miss most from their working lives is the structure. It’s the need to get up in the morning, be at work for a certain time, attend meetings, solve problems, be with people, and have a sense of accomplishment. If you crave structure, then volunteering may be for you. By…

I’m frequently asked, “Who are you?” “What do you do?” Let me explain. I’m Rick Atkinson, (a.k.a Mister Retirement). I’m a retirement coach. My focus, approach, and reader/client opinions are as follows: Focus: Expert in retirement fulfillment, author, and founder of RA Retirement Advisors. My expertise is aimed at assisting those 45 to 65, and the recently…

“When my wife retired, she expected me to stop hanging out with my buddies. If I did see my gang for a couple of hours, she would fume or blow up about me ignoring her.” In retirement, your relationship with your partner is most likely to change the most. The change can be particularly striking…

We are all aware the value of a will.   If you die without a will, the province or state in which you live will decide how to distribute your estate.  However, you might be surprised how many people die each year without a will.  There are numerous reasons for this major oversight including: those who…

The Western view of retirement has, for many years, been linear. You work to a specific age then “stop working”. Though popular, working to 60 or 65, stopping working, collecting a pension, sitting back, enjoying not having a boss, no worries or cares, do whatever crosses your mind, has been the practice of many. This has often…

Everyday there is someone advertising themself as a retirement coach.  This afternoon I read of one person who, after working in the banking industry for 25 years, now broadcasts herself as a certified retirement coach.  For an investment of $149, you too can be a coach! Many coaches appear to be in their early or…

Many say, “If only I had a lot of money, I’d really be successful at retirement.” I’ve interviewed hundreds of people about their retirement plans and money. I’m surprised the number who feel money is a major key to retirement success. The success of wealthy people in retirement is nuanced: while they have significant financial security…