Synopses & Reviews
Once upon a time, retirement planning was just about saving money. But retirement is changing. Today, we're living longer and expecting more from those vital years. For many of us, the question isn't “What work will I retire from?” but “What life will I retire to?”Inspired by the timeless wisdom of WHAT COLOR IS YOUR PARACHUTE?, the bestselling career book in the world, WHAT COLOR IS YOUR PARACHUTE? FOR RETIREMENT will help you prepare for the next stage of life, whether you're in your early, mid, or late career or you've already retired. What does retirement mean to you? Do you know what will give you the most fulfillment years down the road? How do you plan for your health and happiness? Filled with practical exercises and resources, this step-by-step guide will help you answer these questions and develop a complete picture of your ideal retirement. From taking inventory of your income to discovering your calling, you'll create a map for your retirement journey so that you not only survive but also thrive throughout the years.Whether you decide to quit working, pursue a new career path, or try something in between, WHAT COLOR IS YOUR PARACHUTE? FOR RETIREMENT will help you satisfy your lifelong goals, passions, and dreams.Reviews“A useful, practical roadmap for anyone thinking about retirement, no matter how distant.”—USA TodayRecommended in a list of “some of the best books and workbooks to sharpen one's financial IQ.”—Bankrate.com“A step-by-step plan and practical exercises for achieving a more fulfilling life in retirement.”—Fidelity Investments STAGES“What's crucial, Mr. Nelson and others say, is to sample opportunities before retirement D-Day.”—New York Times“A nice complement to the more typical IRA-intensive school of retirement planning.”—Reuters in the Washington Post “Can help Americans sort through the retirement lifestyle they want and need instead of the one that Madison Avenue wants to sell them.”—Dow Jones Marketwatch“Before taking on more extensive programs, try the free Retirement Strengths worksheet at www.RetirementWellBeing.com. It captures key elements of the retirement planning process in one exercise.”—Business Week“The idea that leisure activities alone can produce an enjoyable retirement is more than half a century out of date.”—Bottom Line Personal“Read the book if you want a happy retired life, not only a moneyed one.”—Shanghai Daily“I dare you to make it through even one chapter without feeling the urge to set your imagination loose and think of more fulfilling ways to spend retirement.”—Better Investing“Filled with exercises and resources on such matters as making lasting friendships, evaluating medical treatment plans and finding the ideal place to settle down.”—Employee Benefit News“Retirement researcher and writer John Nelson argues that there are at least five other key components of a successful retirement, in addition to the financial one.”—Investment Advisor“May be just the track to follow when the client conversation strays from the comfortable nuts and bolts of financial planning.”—Research Magazine“Engage clients not only on financial issues, but on all the matters related to retirement well-being and happiness.”—Money Management Executive
Synopsis
Plan Now for the Life You Want
Today’s economic realities have reset our expectations of what retirement is, yet there’s still the promise for what it can be: a life stage filled with more freedom and potential than ever before. Given the new normal, how do you plan for a future filled with prosperity, health, and happiness? As a companion to What Color Is Your Parachute?, the world’s best-selling career book, What Color Is Your Parachute? for Retirement offers both a holistic, big-picture look at these years as well as practical tools and exercises to help you build a life full of security, vitality, and community.
This second edition contains updates throughout, including a section on Social Security, an in-depth exercise on values and how they inform your retirement map, and the one-of-a-kind resource for organizing the sea of information on finances and mental and physical health: the Retirement Well-Being Profile. More than a guide on where to live, how to stay active, or which investments to choose, What Color Is Your Parachute? for Retirement helps you develop a detailed picture of your ideal retirement, so that—whether you’re planning retirement or are there already—you can take a comprehensive approach to make the most of these vital years.
Synopsis
Plan Now for the Life You Want
Today's economic realities have reset our expectations of what retirement is, yet there's still the promise for what it can be: a life stage filled with more freedom and potential than ever before. Given the new normal, how do you plan for a future filled with prosperity, health, and happiness? As a companion to What Color Is Your Parachute?, the world's best-selling career book, What Color Is Your Parachute? for Retirement offers both a holistic, big-picture look at these years as well as practical tools and exercises to help you build a life full of security, vitality, and community.
This second edition contains updates throughout, including a section on Social Security, an in-depth exercise on values and how they inform your retirement map, and the one-of-a-kind resource for organizing the sea of information on finances and mental and physical health: the Retirement Well-Being Profile. More than a guide on where to live, how to stay active, or which investments to choose, What Color Is Your Parachute? for Retirement helps you develop a detailed picture of your ideal retirement, so that--whether you're planning retirement or are there already--you can take a comprehensive approach to make the most of these vital years.
About the Author
JOHN E. NELSON has been a consultant and speaker on retirement planning for 20 years. He is the creator of the “Retirement Well-Being Model,” used by government, nonprofit, and corporate employers for their retirement education programs. He is a certified retirement counselor and an accredited investment fiduciary.
RICHARD N. BOLLES is the author of What Color Is Your Parachute?, the bestselling job-hunting book in the world. He has been a leader in the career development field for more than 30 years.
Table of Contents
Preface . . . . . viii
What to Expect from This New Edition . . . . . xii
Chapter ONE
Retirement Is Dead—Long Live Retirement! 1
The retirement we knew is disappearing. Do you want a finish line or a marker on your journey? Ten ways to customize your transition.
Chapter TWO
The Retirement You’ve Always Wanted but Forgot About 23
What we all want in life. Six fields of knowledge that support well-being.
What are the elements of your ideal retirement?
Chapter THREE
The Life You Can Live (Right Now) 41
How we make big life decisions. Are you buying a “lifestyle” or creating a life? Ten steps to activate your core values.
Chapter FOUR
Retirement Economics Is More Than Personal Finance 73
A family approach to retirement economics. The original pyramid scheme.
Your three-legged stool is wobbly. The spending-saving seesaw.
Chapter FIVE
A New Approach to Retirement Security 101
Five pillars are better than three legs. How to use automatic systems for saving, investing, and income. Where to find a fiduciary advisor.
Chapter SIX
The Nature of Space and Time 127
Four layers of retirement geography. Is your dream home a nightmare? Calling it a community doesn’t make it one. Your essential region.
Chapter SEVEN
Medicine—Who’s in Charge? 155
How much medicine will you buy? Your medical philosophy, and what it costs. Choose medical relationships before you need them.
Chapter EIGHT
Health from the Inside Out 173
Our biology plus medicine equals health. What’s your biological age? The longevity class reunion. Three practices for biological vitality.
Chapter NINE
A New Chapter in Psychology 189
Are you trying to fix your weaknesses? Three paths to happiness. Staying engaged in work—and retirement, too! Your greatest strengths.
Chapter TEN
Happiness Is Only Real When Shared 217
Work connections wither and die. Build relationships in advance. Your three levels of social connection. Retirement with that special someone.
Chapter ELEVEN
The New Retirement—an Undivided Life 235
Connect your life circles for well-being. Do you have a calling? Don’t wait for retirement—start living your ideal life now!
Appendix: The Retirement Well-Being Profile . . . . . 252
Resources . . . . . 254
Acknowledgments . . . . . 264
Index . . . . . 266
About the Authors . . . . . 274