Too Young to Retire - 2/26/08

INTRO:  Does dreaming about retirement put a smile on your face?  Or does it put a knot in your stomach because you can't imagine what you're ever going to do?

1. 21ST CENTURY RETIREES ARE FACING A DIFFERENT CHALLENGE THAN THEIR PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS,  AREN'T THEY?

A. Yes.  We are living longer lives and, if one is in reasonably good health, one can expect to live 20-30 years in retirement.

B. That leads to many issues, not just financial, but regarding mental health as well.  What can people who want to keep an active life do through such a long retirement?

2. HOW CAN RETIREES, OR SOON-TO-BE RETIREES, LOOK AHEAD TO THE FUTURE?

A. The good side of a long and relatively healthy retirement is that it allows the retiree to take a step back and look at their lives, and then reconnect with some of their original hopes and dreams.  There might be things that they wanted to do or learn, but never had the time due to building a career, raising a family, etc.  Retirement can be the time when you have the skills and the resources to reach many of these goals.

B. Perhaps you want to continue working in some form, whether for pay, volunteering, or a combination of both.  You can connect your skills and experience with what you want to do and continue to contribute to the community.

3. CAN YOU GIVE US SOME PRACTICAL TIPS?

A. Start keeping a wish list.  Post it by the phone and keep in your purse.  Whenever you think: agree if only I had time I would...@, write that idea down.

4. AND WHILE RETIREES NEED TO CONTINUE TO CONTRIBUTE TO SOCIETY, SOCIETY REALLY DOES NEED THEIR CONTINUED CONTRIBUTIONS TOO, ISN'T THAT RIGHT?

A. Yes.  Companies are about to experience a Abrain drain@ as many, many experienced workers begin to walk out the door into retirement.  In fact, AARP's CEO William Novelli is co-writing a book with the head of Wharton University's Human Resource program, making the case for companies to retain older workers who are interested in continuing to work.

B. So the needs of retirees and the needs of the community are really working hand-in-hand.

5. THERE'S A PROGRAM THAT CAN HELP RETIREES PUT THEIR FUTURE IN PERSPECTIVE.  CAN YOU EXPLAIN?

A. Too Young To Retire is a program designed to allow soon-to-be and recent retirees to step back and plan what they'd like to do during retirement.  We look at attitudes towards money, wellness, working, volunteering, other leisure pursuits, and spirituality.  If the group is interested in covering another topic, we're flexible enough to tackle that as well.

B. This program helps you see what's keeping you from your wish list and helps you plan the steps to get there.  For example, if you wish to play an instrument, where should you take classes?

CLOSE: This should help in picturing a helpful retirement.