Table of Contents
Introduction 7
How to Use This Workbook 9
Introductory Exercises 11
Chapter 1 What Do We Mean By Retirement Today? 12
Retirement Design Principles 14
Financial Planning 18
Give Yourself Enough Time 18
Chapter Review 21
Additional Notes and Action items 23
Chapter 2 Choosing A Personal Advisory Team 24
Who Should Be on Your Personal Advisory Team? 24
Identify Possible Personal Advisory Team Members 25
Build Your Personal Advisory Team 27
Chapter Review 31
Additional Notes and Action Items 32
Chapter 3 Exploring Your Attitudes And Feelings About Retirement 33
Your Attitudes about Retirement 33
Reasons for Retiring 34
Feelings about Retirement 35
Eliminating Negative Mental Images and Dysfunctional Beliefs 37
Rebut Negative Mental Images 37
Reframe Dysfunctional Beliefs 38
Your New Elevator Speech 39
What Are Your Anchors? 40
Mind Mapping 41
Chapter Review 45
Additional Notes and Action Items 46
Chapter 4 Starting Your Transition Into Retirement 47
Transitioning into Retirement from Any Workplace 48
Questions to Consider If You Are Employed by an Organization 50
Questions about Retirement for Members of Partnerships 53
Questions about Retirement for Sole Practitioners and Business Owners 55
Succession Planning 58
Transfer of Leadership Roles 58
Transitioning Clients 60
Outline Your Terms for Retirement 64
Respond to Requests 64
Visualize the Reaction You Desire 65
Chapter Review 67
Additional Notes and Action Items 68
Chapter 5 Knowing Who You Are And How You Got Here 69
The "Current You" 70
Who Are You? 70
Identify Your Strengths 71
What Is Important to You? 72
Identify Your Most Important Values 74
Examine Your Attitudes about Work 76
Examine Your Spirituality 77
Where Your Time Goes 78
How Do You Spend Your Time Now? 78
How Satisfied Are You with How You Spend Your Time? 82
How Do You Want to Spend Your Time in the Future? 83
Reflecting on Your Life 85
Your Autobiography 85
Your Autobiographical Timeline 86
Examine Your Significant Transitions 87
Reflect on Your Autobiography or Timeline 88
Reflect on Your Youthful Goals 91
Examine Your Comfort Level with Taking Risks 92
Reflect on Significant Past Situations 93
Reflect on Your Work History 96
Your Favorite Skills and Interests 98
Skills and Interests You Developed through Paid and Unpaid Work 98
What You Think about Your Life So Far 102
Chapter Review 103
Additional Notes and Action Items 105
Chapter 6 The Impact of Retirement on Your Relationships 106
Your Spouse/Life Partner 106
Examine Your Relationship 107
Home-Based Spouses 109
If You Are Both Retiring 110
Examine Your Shared Interests and Activities 111
How Will Your Retirement Impact Your Spouse/Life Partner? 114
Discussions with Your Spouse/Life Partner 115
Brainwrite with Your Spouse or Partner 115
Preparing for Challenging Discussions 116
Negotiation 117
Children and Grandchildren 117
Consider Your Children and Grandchildren Prior to Retirement 119
Your Parents 121
Consider Your Parents Prior to Retirement 121
Other Relatives 123
Friendships and Social Relationships 124
Examine Your Circle of Friends and Acquaintances 125
Making New Friends 127
How to Meet People after You Retire 128
Chapter Review 133
Additional Notes and Action Items 135
Chapter 7 Potential Financial And Health Constraints 136
Finances and Your Retirement Choices 137
Financial Security 137
Financial Planning for Retirement 138
How Do You Plan Your Retirement Finances? 138
Will Your Expected Income Support the Retired Life You Want? 139
Highlight Your Expenditures 143
Live on Your Retirement Budget 144
Health and Well-Being: Factors That May Affect Your Retirement Choices 144
Health and Fitness 145
Do You Exercise Regularly? 148
The Health of Others 149
Explore Your Feelings about Aging 149
Practice Gratitude 151
Chapter Review 152
Additional Notes and Action Items 155
Chapter 8 Getting Your Legal And Medical Arrangements In Order 156
Social Security and Medicare 157
Apply for Social Security and Medicare 158
Wills and Estate Planning 158
Make a List of Your Professional Advisors 158
Personal Representatives 164
Select a Personal Representative for Financial Affairs 165
Medical Directives 166
Your Health Care Representatives 166
Chapter Review 169
Additional Notes and Action Items 171
Chapter 9 Envisioning Your Future Life In Retirement 172
Choosing What to Do When You Retire 172
Draw a Picture of Your Ideal Future 173
Working for Pay in Retirement 175
Two-Week Work Log 175
Assess Your Current or Recent Work 176
What Kind of Future Work Do You Want? 177
Things to Consider When Starting a New Business in Retirement 183
Desired Activities, Experiences, and Pursuits 188
What Do You Love to Do? 188
Continuing Your Education 191
Activism and Volunteering 194
Getting Involved as a Volunteer 195
Travel 199
Planning to Travel 200
Where Will You Live When You Retire? 203
Things to Consider about Moving in Retirement 203
If You Live Abroad 205
Choosing the Best Place to Live 207
Live There Before You Move There 211
Chapter Review 213
Additional Notes and Action Items 214
Chapter 10 Organizing, Prioritizing, And Exploring Retirement Possibilities 215
Looking for Patterns and Connections 216
Examine Your Notes 216
Your Three Lists 217
Going Deeper: Exploring New Possibilities 220
Items to Investigate 221
Using Your Network to Investigate New Possibilities 222
Use Networks to Learn about Your interests 223
Keep Track of Your Efforts 224
The Best Way to Learn: Direct Experience 226
Firsthand Experiences 227
Chapter Review 228
Additional Notes and Action Items 230
Chapter 11 Putting Together The Pieces: Designing Your Retirement Plan 231
Set Priorities for Action 232
Including Vital Activities in Your Plan 234
Creating Your Retirement Plan 235
Using a Traditional Goal-Focused Approach 235
Goal-Focused Planning Template 236
Using a Scheduling Approach: Designing with a Calendar 237
Top 10 Ongoing List 238
Top 20 Occasional List 239
Visualize, Try, Reflect 239
Calendar-Based Planning 240
Which Activities Will Fill Your Days? 240
Design Your Schedule in Greater Detail 241
Assess Your Activities 241
Year-Long Planning 243
The Month in Review 243
You're Ready to Go 245
Additional Notes About Your Retirement Plan 246
Resources 247
Acknowledgments 263
About The Author 264
