To Retire or Un-retire? Ways to Consider the Question

Add retirement to the long list of things Baby Boomers are changing their minds about. An April, 2006 study by Zogby International and the MetLife Mature Market Institute found that a significant number of older Americans are revising their ideas about their post-career years. The study found that 78 percent of respondents aged 55-59 are working or looking for work, as are 60 percent of 60-65 year-olds and 37 percent of 66-70 year-olds. Across all three age groups, roughly 15 percent of workers have actually accepted retirement benefits from a previous employer, and then chose to return to work (or are seeking work). Called the “working retired,” these workers represent 11 percent of 55-59 year-olds, 16 percent of 60-65 year-olds and 19 percent of 66-70 year-olds.

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Traveling Smart During the Hot, Pricey Summer of ‘08

Summer is when we hope to get time off to relax. But with regular gasoline prices nearing $4 and energy prices pushing tourism expenses higher on everything from plane fare to meals out, paying for this year’s summer vacation might be a significant source of financial stress. A recent GfK Roper Reports survey indicated that 55 percent of respondents said they are limiting “discretionary expenses like eating out and vacations.” If that sounds like your agenda, here are some ways to save on travel this summer:

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Heading Back to School? Make a Plan First

It was the physicist Rosalyn S. Yalow who said, “The excitement of learning separates youth from old age. As long as you’re learning you’re not old.” A July/August 2006 story in AARP Magazine by noted workplace and career expert Rosabeth Moss Kanter pointed out that retirement-phobic mid- or late-career types might retreat to college campuses instead of the golf course to prepare for the next phase of their life. Why? They want to train for completely new careers in all-new professional fields or public service. According to the piece, “Traditional volunteering is not what leading-edge boomers have in mind. They want to be leaders and to help improve the world.” Education will be a part of that movement.

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Don’t Make These Retirement Planning Mistakes

It really doesn’t take much to derail a retirement plan. Most of the errors in planning for retirement are those of neglect, omission or panic. If you don’t know exactly where your retirement plan stands, get some advice – a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP®) professional is a good start – to review your overall retirement options and give you some ideas where to start.

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Q&A: Consider Making an Estate Check-Up a Multi-Generational Family Matter

Questionable estate planning has gotten some recent attention with the sudden death of actor Heath Ledger. The 27-year-old actor died suddenly this year with an older will that provided only for his parents and other immediate family – he never revised those documents to accommodate his young daughter or the child’s mother.

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Why Going Green in a Blue Economy Can Be a Smart Investment

While the real estate market is slow and high energy prices are challenging everything from the way we heat our homes to the way we get around, it might make sense to bring a green approach to a tough economic environment.

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Why a Business Owner’s Exit Plan Is So Important

There are plenty of days when we want to “take that job and shove it.” But what happens when we’re sick of a job we’ve created for ourselves in a business we’ve founded?

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7 Step Planning Process

The Garrett Planning Network’s 7 Steps to Financial Success is a win-win approach to financial planning for clients and advisors. It spells out step by step Garrett’s simple-to-understand-and-implement approach to building a brighter financial future.

STEP 1

Initial Inquiry/Community Outreach

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Estate Planning for the Worst Possible Scenario – The Death of Both Spouses While the Kids Are Young

The reason why some parents hesitate to make an estate plan is understandable. It calls into consideration your worst fears – the possibility of your death or your kids facing life without one or the other parent.

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A Long-term Care Insurance Primer

As millions of Baby Boomers head into their retirement years, it’s surprising how few actually know that the government provides little more than a few weeks of financial support for home-based or nursing home care when the average person needs it for at least a year.

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