Discover millions of ebooks, audiobooks, and so much more with a free trial

Only $11.99/month after trial. Cancel anytime.

Over 65 and Still in Demand: But Isn’T It Time for Retirement?
Over 65 and Still in Demand: But Isn’T It Time for Retirement?
Over 65 and Still in Demand: But Isn’T It Time for Retirement?
Ebook388 pages3 hours

Over 65 and Still in Demand: But Isn’T It Time for Retirement?

Rating: 0 out of 5 stars

()

Read preview

About this ebook

From early in life many of us begin to dream about how we will spend our retirement years. Travelling, turning an avocation into a vocation, and spending more time with the family whilst remaining healthy and purposefully engaged are among popular retirement goals. For many, however, they remain dreams, since as many as 70 percent of baby boomers may not retire on time.

In Over 65 and Still in Demand, author Kris Moller looks at the various facets of retirement. Mollers work is guided by the broader concepts of retirement: why one retires; why one would want to retire; what one does in retirement; and why some people find an easy rhythm into retirement, while for others it is an ongoing nightmare. He also reflects on what worries someone nearing retirement age and how the economy, inflation and health matters will erode your nest egg.

For those who are able to retire, Moller provides a roadmap of the eight areas to address for a purposeful retirement and six steps to follow to arrive at what to do with your day. And for those who do notor cannotretire on time, he explores ways to remain relevant in the job market.

This guide combines the hindsight of experience and age with knowledge and research to help you prepare for the retirement you deserve.
LanguageEnglish
Release dateAug 21, 2013
ISBN9781482898156
Over 65 and Still in Demand: But Isn’T It Time for Retirement?
Author

Kris Moller

Kris Moller opted for early retirement at age thirty-four, only to reenter the workforce after three years. Experience has since extended him an insight into the important areas and steps to address in the run-up to and for an active and purposeful retirement. Kris is married to Ervina “Bokkie” Moller.

Related to Over 65 and Still in Demand

Related ebooks

Self-Improvement For You

View More

Related articles

Reviews for Over 65 and Still in Demand

Rating: 0 out of 5 stars
0 ratings

0 ratings0 reviews

What did you think?

Tap to rate

Review must be at least 10 words

    Book preview

    Over 65 and Still in Demand - Kris Moller

    69760.jpg

    Copyright © 2014 by Kris Moller.

    ISBN:   Hardcover   978-1-4828-9814-9

                Softcover   978-1-4828-9813-2

                eBook        978-1-4828-9815-6

    All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

    Note: The information presented in this book is for informational purposes only. This book is not intended to offer specific legal, tax, accounting, medical or financial advice. The author is not giving business or financial advice. Readers should consult with their accountants, doctors, financial advisors and / or lawyers and other specialists on their budgets, finances, and other matters. The author and publisher are not liable for how readers may choose to use this information.

    To order additional copies of this book, contact

    Toll Free 800 101 2657 (Singapore)

    Toll Free 1 800 81 7340 (Malaysia)

    orders.singapore@partridgepublishing.com

    www.partridgepublishing.com/singapore

    CONTENTS

    Dedicated to

    Epigraph

    Do or Die—Author’s Note

    Preface

    Acknowledgement

    Chapter One

    Thank You and Good Luck

    Retirement Day

    Don’t Set Another Alarm Clock

    Action Rewind

    The Shades of Retirement

    Baby Boomers—Unique but not Homogenous

    Can Your Nest Egg Make An Omelet?

    Practice Run—Yes? No? Don’t Know?

    Impacts of Retirement

    Summary

    Chapter Two

    A Fulfilled Retirement

    A Typical First 3 Months

    Retirement Sets You Free

    The 3R’s—Re-invention in Retirement

    Manage Your Retirement Project

    Summary

    Chapter Three

    What To Do With Your Day

    86,400—They Can Give You a Watch

    What Shall I do with My Day?

    Six Steps from Passion to Plan

    Your Resources

    Quality of Life

    Satisfaction

    Managing Change

    Success or Failure in Retirement

    Summary

    Chapter Four

    5/6 of Health Spells 5/6 of Wealth.

    Health—Presence of Wellbeing, Not Absence of Disease

    O for Obesity—Life in the Fat Lane

    Big Health Issues—A Mixed Bag

    The Biggest Killers

    Life Expectancy

    Fitness Is Your Move—EL Mo Mo

    Health Starter Pack

    Summary

    Footnote

    Chapter Five

    On Relationships

    A Life Worthwhile

    Between Partners

    Amongst Other Family

    Social Circle—Friends and You

    Society and You

    Summary

    Chapter Six

    Location. Location. Location

    A Place to Retire

    Some Deciding Factors on Where to Retire

    In the USA

    Retiring Overseas

    South America

    Europe

    In The East and Elsewhere

    Blend In

    Summary

    Chapter Seven

    Be a Life-Long Learner

    Retire From a Job—But Never From Life

    Elderhostel and Road Scholar

    Technology—The New Prune Juice That Sets You Free

    Retirees on Campus

    Summary

    Chapter Eight

    Get on Board!

    Holidays and Travel

    A Little Planning Goes a Long Way

    Enter the Internet

    Be Uncomfortable and Grow

    Step Out—Be Different

    Travel Teaches

    Weather—Part Attitude Part Nature

    Two is Company, Three is a Tour

    Working Vacations—Volunteering for $15 & 3 Square

    Go Local—My Hometown, Your Hometown

    Travel Tips

    Summary

    Chapter Nine

    Common Cents On Finances

    Listen—Money Talks. Does yours Stutter?

    Investment Profile

    Investment Timeline

    Money Matters—Make it Your Own

    Manage Your Financial Planning

    Learnable Savings Lessons

    Extra Income Lines in Retirement

    Summary

    Chapter Ten

    Workforce Issues in a Changing World

    10,000 Per Day

    Impact of Country Laws and Company Policy

    What You May (have to) Give Up

    Some Questions on Part Time Work

    Skills Inventory and Upgrade

    Ageism and Sexism

    Countering the Age Issue and Other Questions

    Industries Worst Hit by the Exit of Baby Boomers

    Getting Your Foot in the Door

    It is all in the Preparation

    The Graying of the Workforce—Facts and Myths

    Returning to Work after Retirement in the USA

    Summary

    Chapter Eleven

    A Bit on the Technology Byte

    Technology as a Differentiator in Retirement

    Communication and Social Interaction

    Technology and Caring for Your Health

    Lifestyle and Assisted Living

    Working from Home in Retirement

    Issues, Costs, Benefits and Dangers

    Technology and Senior Finance

    Summary

    Chapter Twelve

    Perspectives and Points to Ponder

    Who Are You?

    Roles

    Pearls and Perspectives

    Happiness—Here and Now

    Chapter Thirteen

    Bringing It All Together

    Life is Priceless

    The Final Word

    Epilogue

    Appendices

    Appendix 1: The Seven Stages of Retirement

    Appendix 2: Project Management Analogy to Life and Retirement

    Appendix 3: Franchising—Are You Ready?

    Appendix 4: Know your BMI

    Endnotes

    ILLUSTRATIONS

    Figure 2.1: The 3 R’s of Re-invention in Retirement

    Figure 2.2: From Retirement Areas to Weekly Schedule (1)

    Figure 2.3: The 8 Areas of a Fulfilled Retirement

    Figure 3.1: What To Do With My Day—Weekly Schedule

    Figure 3.2: From Retirement Areas to Weekly Schedule (2)

    Figure 3.3: Your 8 Scope of Leisure Areas

    Figure 3.4: From Retirement Areas to Weekly Schedule (3)

    Figure 3.5: The 6 Steps from Passion to Plan

    Figure 3.6: From Retirement Areas to Weekly Schedule (4)

    Figure 3.7: Your Weekly Schedule of Daily Activities

    TABLES

    Table 3.1: Transitioning Characteristics for Retirement

    Table 4.1: Estimated Obesity in Selected Countries

    Table 4.2: Blood Pressure Categories.

    Table 4.3: The Big Killers—USA

    Table 4.4: The Big Killers—UK

    Table 4.5: Smoke-related and Road Accident Related Deaths

    Table 4.6: Retirement Age by Country—Living Beyond Retirement

    Table 4.7: Accumulated Benefits from Daily Physical Activity

    Table 8.1: Example Holiday Planning Sheet

    Table 9.1: Summary of Investment Profile and Timeline

    Table 9.2 Additional Annual Income

    Table 9.3 Savings and Yield After 3 Years

    Table 10.1: Workers per One Beneficiary

    Table 10.2: Myths about Senior Workers

    Appendix 4 Know your BMI

    Warning—Disclaimer

    This book is designed to provide information for people who are still working, some before age 65 and other at age 65 and beyond, and may be considering retirement. It is sold with the understanding that the publisher and the author are not engaged in offering or rendering legal, tax, financial, accounting, medical or other professional services. If legal, tax, financial, accounting, medical or other professional expert assistance is required; the services of a competent professional should be sought as these fields change on a regular basis. It is not the purpose of this book to reprint all the information that is otherwise available to readers of this book, but instead to complement, amplify and supplement other texts. You are urged to read all the available material, learn as much as possible about this subject and to tailor the information to your individual needs. Some limited information is available in the appendices to this book. This book is not a retire-with-all-the-money-you-require manual and not a manual as to continue to work or to retire. Anyone who decides to continue to work or to retire must expect to invest time and effort in it. Every effort has been made to make this book as complete and accurate as possible. However, there may be mistakes, both typographical and content. Therefore this text should be used only as a general guideline and not as the ultimate source of information on working beyond 65 or to retire. Furthermore, this book contains information that is current only when it was researched. The purpose of this book is to educate and to entertain. The author nor the publisher shall have neither liability not responsibility to any person or entity with respect to any loss or damage caused, or alleged to have been caused, directly or indirectly, by the information contained in this book.

    DEDICATED TO

    My dear mother Anna Moller who raised four sons and never shrank from supporting us all in every way through-out her life.

    My dear wife Ervina who put up with a lot of late and lonely nights and weekends whilst I was writing this book, chasing my acting hobby, and also holding down a day job at the age of 65+ to keep the pot boiling, nudging me to keep on writing.

    My dear brother Hennie who never finished high school due to dyslexia—and was punished many times for not being able to read properly, but still managed to retire long before me—making a living by using his hands and head. He wrote his book by living it. For that I respect and love him dearly. He was alive when I started writing this book but departed before I completed it, leaving me with an unequivocal understanding that I should prioritize life since it is too short and that I should not delay doing what I want to do as soon as I can.

    My two younger brothers Jan and Abe who departed this world much earlier but still left an indelible memory in our hearts.

    Finally, Dan Poynter who with I don’t want people to die with a book still inside them in one session showed me that a single book can change my life.

    EPIGRAPH

    Retire from a job, but never from Life, because:

    Dreams are but Achievements-in-Waiting

    I looked up the word Tirement and found it does not exist. So I asked myself a simple question:

    If there is no Tirement, how can there be Re-tirement?

    Some cultures do not have a word for Retirement—for instance the Japanese have the word ikigai which freely translates to the reasons for which I wake up in the morning / my reason for being.

    The implications are rather both self-explanatory and profound.

    Maybe ikigai should be adopted into the English language…

    ~~~~~~~~~~

    DO OR DIE—AUTHOR’S NOTE

    At age 60 I owed $56,000 on three credit cards, one of which was cancelled, and for which I negotiated small monthly payments to avoid increasing interest and legal fees. I was in a foreign country with zero assets, and two of the cards domiciled in that country, where the phrase the collectors will come knocking sometimes took on a rather personal and at times physical meaning.

    Five years later we paid off the credit cards, put a large deposit on an apartment located near a university, refurbished it for $40+K (paid in cash) and are left with less than half the monthly payments of the earlier rental place. With one salary we cover the remainder of the payment and all monthly expenses comfortably and still save 50% of our annual income.

    We did this all in less than six years by living healthily and within our means. During this period we also expanded our wealth to seven and a half years worth of monthly expenses, and increasing monthly.

    We believe this is a good practice run for retirement—which we are working on right now—this book being one of the multiple income streams that I should have built up years ago, but will now have operational in the next three to five years.

    I lived life with little care—as if I had a disposable body with an endless income stream. When I could no longer ignore the ground rush of a retirement age I realized that I had failed to execute whatever little I had planned and the wrong choices I made were coming home to roost.

    I had to face my present uncomfortable reality and an uncertain future. I had no option but to review, revalue and reinvigorate myself.

    If we can do it, so can you.

    ~~~~~~~~~~

    PREFACE

    So, you can retire?

    You are 65 (or whatever the retirement age is in your country) and retirement starts tomorrow. You have paid into a regular pension fund over many years, have lots of friends at work, some savings on fixed deposit and a house that is paid off. Your family is about to give you a set of golf clubs. The church choir needs an extra tenor and the dog needs walking every morning.

    So you can retire?

    Retirement books will have you believe that money is the main ingredient. And that a paid off house in a good location with a garden to weed completes the picture.

    Society tends to dumb retirement down to a few variables which it tries to fix.

    Question: What is your definition of retirement? What does your retirement structure look like? What leisure activities have you planned for after three months beyond playing golf, singing in the choir and walking the dog? How often will you still meet your work buddies—if at all—after a year?

    It can be lonely out there.

    What is your vision, your mission and your purpose in retirement? What passions will you live out and will you sing your unsung songs?

    How will you transition into retirement?

    And what will you do with your day—day after day after day?

    This book addresses that question.

    Why this book?

    This book started off for two reasons i.e.:

    1.   To explore and clarify for myself who I am at this stage of my life and how to survive it.

    2.   To write from experience for a wider audience who may find themselves in a similar position, with the objective to help them navigate it at any age, including much earlier in their lives if they so wish.

    A necessary inclusion is some financial aspects but this book does not purport in any way to address it in any instructive or consultative way. Nine out of every ten books on retirement cover the financial aspects in much better detail.

    The search was guided by a few simple questions i.e.:

    −   What is retirement really?

    −   Why do people retire?

    −   What does one do in retirement?

    −   Would you want to retire, even if you can?

    −   Why do some people go into retirement gracefully whilst for others it is an ongoing nightmare?

    Retirement is not easily definable in a constantly changing world. It can better be viewed as a phased journey during which you engage in and negotiate life purposefully in terms of your passions, your vision and mission and that what you want your legacy to be. In practice it may mean freedom from the demands of daily work, more control over your personal time and thus your life, the ability to pursue other opportunities, and limited financial concerns and resources.

    •   At the core of it is having more control and being in charge of the most important elements of your life.

    People retire due to a number of reasons which are discussed throughout this book, including reaching the standard retirement age, fading health, being forced into retirement due to down-sizing or a firm that goes bankrupt and many more. It is important to note that retirement and age do not necessarily go hand in hand, and even where they do, both concepts are going through constant redefinition.

    This book started as an exercise to work through own personal (neglected) issues and to prepare for what should be done from here on—to understand the transition and adjustment that is required in all areas, such as refining and reaffirming a vision and mission, relationships, health, to rediscover passions and a sense of purpose within a new and evolving structure that includes hobbies, relaxation, creativity, social and related aspects, unsung songs, a physical retirement location, and yes also finances—basically the answer to a self-realization that is within all of us—who I am in reality, the reason why I get up in the morning, and ultimately my legacy.

    •   One does (or may be able to do) in retirement what one wants to, but it will affect and is in turn affected by all facets of one’s life.

    Those who transition into retirement gracefully have prepared the new structure within which they will retire and have to a large degree come to terms with the impact of the aforementioned elements—and have learned to negotiate them as an integrated whole—not only those related to finances.

    I came to the conclusion that traditional retirement—whatever that really is—is not for me since I have seen family and friends phase into retirement, only to struggle during transition or return in different ways in an attempt to still matter—and maybe that is what the New Retirement turns out to be for you—to remain active and to still matter.

    I was about to turn 65 and wrote for personal satisfaction, when I was fortunate enough to meet Dan Poynter¹ in Singapore and the flicker turned into a purpose.

    •   This book is therefore for those who ask the same questions whilst considering retirement, as well as those who would like to continue to be in demand after 65, whilst negotiating an ever-changing world in which the odds seem to be increasingly stacked against them on multiple fronts either in retirement or in preparing for it.

    This book has further also been shaped by geo-political events, financials aspects, escalating costs, faster-paced technology and many other factors, and the fact that I am now Over 65 and still in demand.

    What worries a 65 year old?

    I did this memory dump on my mobile phone whilst in bed one night:

    Health and mobility, public transport, medical bills, illnesses that befall the elderly, finances and still having to bark for your supper, no pension or other income streams, insurance, those who stay behind, not having achieved the goals set out in life, wanting to work but cannot find a job, being treated with too much or no respect, loss of authority, being bullied by a boss and knowing you cannot do anything about it because you need the money, remarks such as you are old enough to go on pension, why are you still working?, a downturn in the economy just as you reach retirement age, having made bad investments and money that is stuck in shares which plunged in value, a house to sell but less equity than is required to pay off the loan, friends and family who are enjoying retirement, and much more.

    Writing this book made me see that though these items may be candidates to worry about, it is far more important to take a broader and more anchored approach and look at what it is all about—my values and how I see things. In the end it turned out to be about:

    −   Rediscovery and re-affirmation of your vision and mission.

    −   Your own identity and a self-realization of who you are.

    −   Your purpose in this life and the passions that drive you, what you want to and can do from here on with your life.

    −   Your relationships, its changing structure and the players within.

    −   Your location and search for a place to retire.

    −   Your legacy—by taking the flame forward.

    This book is about sharing lessons learned and how to apply them in addressing the elements which must be transitioned in the 3rd Age and how to plan and stay active in it.

    Yes there is an Action Replay button.

    It is called Retirement.

    This is a book about living it.

    ~~~~~~~~~~

    ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

    I have not attempted to cite in the text all the authorities and sources consulted in the preparation of this book. To do so would require more space than is available. The list would include departments of various governments, libraries, industrial institutions, periodicals and many individuals.

    I would like to say a special thanks to those who showed me that retirement is not the ante-room to eternity and at the same time helped proofread chapters, provided their point of view and valuable feedback. I of course accept full responsibility for the advice they gave and I took on board.

    Hennie and Charlotte Greef (my brother and sister-in-law) who showed me life is very short and that retirement means to get up and be alive every second rather than to sit and wait for the next sunrise or sunset.

    Chris (classmate) and Annelise Carstens—friends who proofread several chapters and gave invaluable input. Chris and I spent many late night hours at the dam experiencing retirement.

    Johan Maritz—friend and classmate, with whom I shared an apartment and often debated many contentious subjects. Johan proofread several chapters twice and gave invaluable input.

    Gunther Boettcher—friend and classmate who with Johan Maritz shared in many discussions but was diplomatic enough never to take sides.

    Hamman Prinsloo—friend and one of our Gang of Five who also included Johan Maritz, Chris Carstens and Gunther Boettcher.

    Conrad Trinidad—friend and erstwhile colleague who introduced me to Sam Baxendale.

    Sam Baxendale—Professional Resourcer, who proofread the draft chapter on workforce issues in a changing world. Sam also suggested part of the title of the book.

    Herman van Wyk—English language teacher, mentor and friend, who showed me that the real meaning of teacher is mentor.

    The remainder of our Class of ’62—for being in the cauldron of formation with me. This is in recognition of my missing out on our Silver Jubilee in 2012.

    Dan Poynter—self-publishing guru, author, consultant, professional speaker and publisher—for further inspiring and letting me see what difference one book can make.

    Harry Nota—friend and erstwhile colleague, for partaking in interesting lunchtime discussions.

    Nitya Rao—friend and erstwhile manager, who kept prompting me on a regular basis to get the book published.

    Rupert Place—friend and erstwhile manager, who wrote a book and urged me to publish as well.

    Molly Lai—erstwhile colleague and family friend, who shared many challenging work schedules when this book was in progress.

    Karen Bailey—Manager at Two Oceans Car Rental—friend, for showing my wife and me what customer service really means.

    Grace Lander and Noreen Sass—owners of Bliss Self-catering Apartments and B&B—friends, for showing my wife and me what customer service really means.

    Rita (erstwhile colleague) and Bill Andrade—friends, for sharing their printed schedule which reflects their month in retirement.

    Ian Hollings—erstwhile colleague and friend, for help making the one decision—and seeing it through—that changed many lives.

    And lastly my dear wife Ervina (aka Bokkie Moller)—my life’s partner who went through very lean and challenging times when I sometimes struggled with getting contract work and other challenges whilst trying to put thoughts on paper, and which only drew us closer. Thank you.

    ~~~~~~~~~~

    You Can’t Buy Time…

    BUT—

    You Can Retire Early!

    CHAPTER ONE

    THANK YOU AND GOOD LUCK

    Retirement Day

    Retire from a job, but not from Life.

    Modern medicine and technology have added 25 to 30 years to retirement—almost half a lifetime.

    Do not neglect this Gift but plan it—just like a career.

    ~~~~~

    It is 6.30pm.

    You received your golden pen, silver handshakes, bronze good wishes from friends and colleagues, had a thank you and good luck drink and are on the way home.

    You are officially retired from work.

    This should be one of the happiest days of your life—so why are you not smiling on the way home?

    •   Retirement is a life-changing event which brings with it a mixture of anticipation and uncomfortable uncertainties.

    How you handle this and the preparations you made before you walked out that door will affect the rest of your life profoundly.

    What does the prospect of retirement mean to you? Is it:

    −   Freedom or Fear?

    −   Blessing or Burden?

    −   Treat or Threat?

    −   Commencement or Conclusion?

    −   Sunrise or Sunset?

    The arrival at the Doorstep of Retirement of an unprecedented wave of baby boomers² worldwide—particularly the 76+ million in the USA who are retiring at a rate of between 8,000 and 10,000 per day for almost two decades, will have a profound and more than out of proportion impact than retirees at any other time in history—just as worldwide events are causing increased and accelerated political and financial pressures on governments, private enterprise and individuals alike.

    This and other factors will affect your ability to either transition gracefully and comfortably into retirement within a

    Enjoying the preview?
    Page 1 of 1