July 2019 - Boomerbestu.com

The Gift of Time: How Will You Use It?

Post Author:Paula Usrey
Post published:July 27, 2019
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Once upon a time, people could only hope they would live long enough to draw Social Security. People over 50 were considered old. At 65, people were commonly referred to as ‘elderly.’ Now it is no longer appropriate to suggest most people over 65 are ‘elderly.’ Referring to older people as ‘senior citizens’ can also be perceived as outdated. Unlike earlier generations, most of us now anticipate a generous gift of time. A good many of us also see ourselves at a new beginning point rather than at the end.New BeginningsTimes have changed. Today, people in their fifties and beyond…

Adjusting to Change and Developing Resilience as We Age

Post Author:Paula Usrey
Post published:July 25, 2019
Post Category:All / Paula's Retirement Blog
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When we were children, we had to adjust to a variety of classroom environments, new rules, and new restrictions on our personal freedom. As young adults, we had to adjust to the realities of working for a living. Many of us also had to adjust to living with one or more people at some point in our lives. We’ve all spent a lifetime of adjusting to change.Adjusting to life after 50 is no different in many respects. From our own life experience, we know that sometimes adjustments are frustrating and we don’t want to deal with them.I’ll confess that after…

Choosing to Live My Best Life

Post Author:Paula Usrey
Post published:July 18, 2019
Post Category:All / Paula's Retirement Blog
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I lived life at high speed during the many years I was officially employed. I learned to do things quickly and efficiently; I thought of myself as somewhat of an efficiency expert. I also learned to prioritize. Anything that wasn’t on my list of priorities could quickly be forgotten. Up until eight months ago, that was my life. Now I am learning a new way to live. Yes, I’m learning to slow down a bit. But I’m also learning to adapt as needed. I am now choosing to live my best life.Softer Deadlines and Greater FreedomWhile I still do have…

Preparing for the New Longevity Age

Post Author:Paula Usrey
Post published:July 18, 2019
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Just this week, retired Supreme Court Justice, John Paul Stevens, died at the age of 99. (You might recall Stevens didn’t retire until he was 90.) Today, living into our nineties is becoming more common. The Social Security Administration now projects that current 65-year-olds have a one in three chance of living past 90 and a one in seven chance of living past 95. We've entered a new age of longevity, and we need to be prepared. Preparation is Essential President and founder of Elevate Wealth Advisors, Ben James, CFA, CFP, ChFC, says “people often underestimate their life expectancy and…

Many Older Workers Are Not Prepared for Retirement

Post Author:Paula Usrey
Post published:July 15, 2019
Post Category:All / Boomers as Consumers
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It is no secret that about 10,000 baby boomers are reaching full retirement age every day. However, that doesn’t mean that boomers are going to be rushing for the exit as soon as many employers might hope. Citing the Labor Force Participation Rate, the New York Post reported in 2018 that nearly 20% of Americans 65 and over were still working. The reality is that many boomers simply are not prepared to finance what could end up being decades in retirement. The Social Security Administration is now projecting that as many as one in three adults who reach 65 will…

A Time for Freedom, Fun, and Fulfillment

Post Author:Paula Usrey
Post published:July 12, 2019
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The business of aging gets way too much bad press. In reality, life can get a whole lot better as we enter our fifties and beyond. In spite of diminishing physical abilities, as we age, we are more likely to feel happier than we have felt in decades. Getting older can be a time for freedom, fun, and fulfillment.The U-Shaped Curve of HappinessIn general, research suggests that periods of life when people are the most satisfied with life follow a U-shaped curve; people are generally happy when they are young—before they start experiencing the stresses and anxieties of life –and…

Staying Connected In Retirement is Essential

Post Author:Paula Usrey
Post published:July 12, 2019
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My Sister lives in Lake Oswego near Portland. I live in Southern Oregon. We’ve always been very close, but the miles make it difficult to stay connected. As we are both retired, we have a bit more time to be creative about keeping connected. Staying connected in retirement is essential.One of the ways we stay in touch is to take phone walks together. One of us will text and ask the other if they have time for a walk. Then we head out with our phones and have a wonderful conversation while getting a healthy walk. Before we started walking…

So Long Retirement, Hello Longevity

Post Author:Paula Usrey
Post published:July 6, 2019
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So Long Retirement, Hello Longevity —What’s Changed and What Does That Mean for Individuals 50+? Once Upon a Time Richard was a businessman who usually started work before daylight. Eventually, he was able to buy the things he wanted, including a nice home with a swimming pool and a big boat. Then in his sixties, he had a quadruple bypass. Realizing life was short, he sold his business, retired, and got remarried. At first, Richard and his new bride did a little traveling. But soon he was spending much of his time in an easy chair watching TV. Over time,…

The Retirement Urn: A Fitting Symbol of a Transition Taking Place

Post Author:Paula Usrey
Post published:July 4, 2019
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Whenever anyone retired at the college where I taught, they got a piece of pottery that many of jokingly referred to as an urn. When I officially ‘retired,’ I also got a lovely piece of pottery that could easily pass as an urn. How many workplaces give you an urn at retirement? Probably not many do so, but I think it is a fitting symbol of a transition taking place.Retirement Involves a Major Life TransitionFor anyone who has read anything about retiring, you already know that it’s a big deal. Even if we’re anxious to ‘get out of Dodge’ as…