For over 13 years I’ve had the distinct pleasure of mentoring Inuit as part of the Government of Nunavut’s Initiative Program. As a CESO (now Catalyste+) volunteer advisor, I traveled to and worked with mentees employed in various government departments including finance, health and social services, justice, and the Baffin Island regional hospital. Not only…

Many boomers are exploring ways to “try out” or ease into retirement before fully leaving the workforce, a trend often driven by a mix of financial necessity, fear of losing purpose, and the desire to balance freedom with continued income.  Rather than a hard stop at age 65 (the normal retirement age in Canada), many…

Hi Rick.Happy Holidays! I hope your Christmas and New Years were filled with fun and adventure. I’m writing to thank you for facilitating a retirement planning workshop offered by my employer for those over 50. At the time, being in my early 60s, I was seriously asking myself when do I retire? Lucky enough, I have…

Successful retirees emphasize the importance of having at least one hobby. One of the greatest benefits of a hobby is the pleasure of working at something without having any obligation to do so.  Many people enjoy hobbies that produce something.  It can be very satisfying to learn and refine one’s ability to make something, even…

In a previous blog, I mentioned over 70% of boomers are not prepared emotionally for retirement. To increase your chances of a successful retirement, here are several actions. Holistic retirement planning focuses on integrating stability with physical health, emotional well-being, and social connection. A holistic approach ensures you “retire to” a purposeful life rather than…

Facts:·  46% of Canadian boomers feel financially unprepared for retirement·  Over 50% reporting they feel unready for life after work·  48% of employers offer group financial planning seminars·  Only 11% offer group counselling on making the psychological transition In 2026, top concerns of Canadian pre-retirees include, running out of money, lacking lifestyle clarity when retired, lacking in an overall…

Happy New Year!  At this time of year, many people make health resolutions, especially concerning exercise.  So why do plans start well then peter out as weeks and months pass by?  Choosing the wrong exercise, not having a schedule, lack of commitment, unrealistic goals, missing encouragement can be contributing reasons for failure. For instance, if…

Today, again I was asked, “Why are you not retired? You teach at a community college, write, speak and coach on how best to retire. When are you going to sit back and take it easy? When are you retiring? I’ve found, in some instances, judgements on retirement come from arrogant know-it-alls who want to talk…

In general, when I speak with clients about what they want in retirement, often I hear, “I want to be happy”. To have a happy retirement you need to have a good handle on what makes you happy and what you need to do to make happy happen. This may mean filling your retirement with as…

Over the weekend I spoke with an owner of a merchandizing warehouse about how he could help his employees better prepare for retirement. He mentioned a large proportion of his workforce is in the age range of 45 to 65. Retirement Planning Workshops As an option, I suggested he offer his employees attendance at a retirement…