Many people, when facing retirement need some assistance in preparing a retirement letter. These are a few tips on what to say and how to say it. A letter of retirement can be a sentimental experience in that you are leaving a place that you have called “second home” for many years. You have instilled a lot of yourself into that job and have become friends with many co-workers. All this will be missed. On the contrary it is also a happy time—more family time.

A person, when composing a retirement letter, should put bad times at the company out of his mind and dwell on all the good times. Also take into consideration how much you have grown since the first day you came to the company. Express these points in your retirement letter.

Remember that it is impolite to dwell on one person in your retirement letter content. Be mindful and respectful of other people’s feelings when you are writing your letter of retirement—no insinuations or puns toward anyone. Leaving your co-workers with a bad feeling about themselves because you have insulted them is so low-classed.

Be certain to notify your employer of your expected departure from the company at least six weeks prior to your leaving. Even if your announcement is verbal, you still need to prepare an actual retirement letter to submit. Submit your letter of retirement to your Human Resources division and make sure to speak with them about any procedures or papers that need to be filled out regarding your retirement.

When formatting your retirement letter, follow this standard procedure: Type in the date of submission. Leave four blank line spaces then enter your employer information in this particular order—Supervisor’s name, Supervisor’s title, Name of the company, Company address, and City, state, and zip code of the company. The next information in the letter should be your subject line. For example: RE: Retirement Letter from (Your Name, Your Title), next comes the salutation: Dear Mr. or Mrs. Supervisor.

In the first paragraph of the letter, explain the purpose of the letter and what date you are departing from the company.

In the next section (second paragraph) , speak kindly about have gained by working for this fantastic company.

In the third paragraph you should offer your assistance in getting your successor ready for the position. After all, you have years of know-how concerning this position. Always sound eager and willing to help with the change about to take place because of your retiring.

Depending upon your intentions upon retirement, you may want your fourth paragraph to be used for requesting work under contract outside the company.

The final section of the body of your retirement should be brief. This is the time when you extend thanks to your managers and supervisors and also to your fellow associates. You basically should thank them for the assistance they have given you during your years at the company.

You should close your letter with the appropriate closing such as: Respectfully or sincerely yours. Leave four blank spaces between the closing and your typed name. Write your signature between the closing and your typed name.

It is also a considered proper when submitting your retirement letter to leave your company with personal information in case they need to contact you. Leave your name, your E mail address, your phone number (if you desire), and you designation.

You or someone in your life has worked hard for many years. Retirement is just around the corner – and so is a big party! The retirement party can follow a theme, be a complete surprise or even a small, intimate gathering. Whatever you decide, a party supply store will have all of the products you need for a successful celebration.

When sending invitations out, include an old picture from the retiree’s workplace. If the guests work with the honoree, have them write down or remember old memories to share at the party. You can also ask if they have pictures from the job that can be included in a scrapbook for the retiree.

A scrapbook detailing their career and all of the accomplishments is a great gift. Make copies of any certificates, awards or pictures with important people to include. Have guests sign the book and add their own good wishes for the retiree. Take lots of pictures, and after the party add pictures of the person by their signature in the scrapbook.

A retirement party requires decorations. If you pick a theme, a party supply store will have all of the paper products such as plates, napkins, silverware and cups you need. If you don’t want a theme, they have plain colors available in every shade. Balloons and crepe paper also coordinate with all of the supplies and make your party extra festive.

Personalized banners can be made with the retirees name and start and end date of working. Party favors can also be given out to everyone in the shape of a timecard, lunch pail or whatever matches your theme.

Games to play at a Retirement Party could involve the gift giving. Make it *** gifts only so the entertainment is covered, as well as some fun. Think of some trivia questions about the company the retiree worked for and who has the most right answers. Have fun!

Planning a fun and memorable retirement party can seem like a huge chore if you don’t have a game plan for the party already in place. To help get you on your way, we’ve created a basic guideline that is intended to make your job easier and spark your creativity. For organizational purposes, the guideline is broken down into seven major categories:

Venue

Selecting the right venue for a retirement party plays a critical role in determining how much time and effort you will have to put into planning the party. In general, parties held in the workplace demand more planning time and effort because they require you to supply your own food and beverages, decorations, and other party supplies. A restaurant can be an easy venue option for many reasons. To name a few, holding the party at a restaurant minimizes your setup and cleanup times, it eliminates the need for food shopping and preparation, and it reduces the need for party decorations. If holding the party at a restaurant isn’t an option, consider where exactly in your workplace you want to hold the party. The kitchen or break room isn’t always the best option!

Day and Time

Choose a day and time for the party when everyone will be in the office and will not be in a rush to get back to work or their home immediately after. We recommend hosting the party on a Thursday afternoon during work hours (4 to 5 p.m. works well). By holding the party during work hours, you will get a far better turnout.

Theme

Choosing a theme for a retirement party is not essential, but it can add an extra element of fun to the occasion, especially if you are holding the party at your workplace. In choosing a theme, consider where the person might be moving after retiring or if they have a favorite hobby that they will be pursuing in their retirement. For example, if the person is moving to Hawaii, you could throw and island-themed party. If they love to play golf, that could be a theme as well. If the person has a noteworthy trait, you can also make that a theme for the party (i.e. if they always wear blue shirts to work, you could inform the guests to wear blue shirts).

Decorations

Decorations for the party can be simple as long as they are creative. If you choose not to have a theme for the party, you can always hang framed portraits or pictures of the person that is retiring. If the person who is retiring has a good sense of humor, you can doctor the images in Adobe Photoshop to get a rise out of the guests.

Food and Beverage

Serve hors d’oeuvres and drinks to stay within budget and keep the preparations manageable. If you are holding the party in a restaurant, make sure to prearrange which hors d’oeuvres will be served. If the person retiring has a favorite food or beverage, serve it if it fits in with your theme. Be sure to consult your company’s alcohol policy if you plan to serve any alcoholic beverages.

Activities

Party activities should be fun but not overwhelming. Your guests will want to chat and have the opportunity to give their best to the person who is retiring. Slideshows and roasts are two popular retirement party activities. A slide show can either be played in the background during the party, or it can be narrated with a story. A video roast can be another good option. To organize the video roast, send out an email to the person’s friends and colleagues asking them for stories that you can videotape. Employ a funny and well-liked person to serve as the roast master. The roast master can introduce the video with a funny story and also conclude the roast with a few upbeat, witty remarks.

Invitations

Invitations for the party can be done in a number of easy ways: send an email, post flyers in the office, and place formal invitations in work mailboxes. A reminder email is always helpful the morning of the party to ensure maximum attendance.

Just investing in a retirement plan does not guarantee that you will be financially secure at your retirement. One mistake in planning for your retirement could land a baby boomer in a heap of trouble and push your retirement back by years. To make sure that you are in the perfect position to retire when you want to, and on your own terms, diligent planning is as essential as is avoiding the most common pre-retirement planning mistakes that baby boomers make. If you make these common retirement planning mistakes, you may be heading for trouble.

Don’t forget to take complete advantage of your company retirement benefits, and invest as much as you can afford into your company retirement plan. Don’t withdraw money from your retirement plan or you will lose valuable interest which is almost impossible to replace. Some retirement plans do allow hardship withdrawals and loans, but find out about the loss of interest, penalties and early withdrawal fees that may be involved. Don’t forget to actively monitor all your investments, to keep yourself aware of discrepancies and know how well your investments are performing. Don’t rely solely on Social Security to provide your entire retirement income. Back it up with other means of income such as a company pension plan and personal savings. Don’t rely on your partner’s retirement plan. The partner with the retirement plan may die or divorce or have an extended illness that would end up compromising on the single spouse retirement plans. Make sure each person has a separate retirement plan. Don’t forget to review your retirement plan on a regular basis. Review asset allocation, balances, goals, etc to make the most of your retirement plan. Don’t put all your investments in one stock. Diversify investments so that one failure does not wipe out your entire retirement fund. Carefully check out your broker and your financial advisor before you trust your retirement savings to them. Research credentials and track records. Don’t forget to take retirement planning seriously. Your retirement plan should be a priority even when you are young and at the beginning of your career. Starting early allows you to stash away a large investment and might even enable you to retire early. Think about the life style you want after retirement, and don’t postpone planning until after all your current commitments are paid for. Don’t forget to figure out the numbers. There is no set formula to determine how much money you will need. The amount depends on the lifestyle you want, your current capability to save, and your investments. Roughly, to generate an income of $50,000 per year during your retirement, it is necessary to accumulate $1 million in the fund.

Mexico on $5 a day? Sure, not a problem if you can survive on four cervezas during the day and sleep in a tent pitched somewhere in the woods during the night. Of course, if you live on the Mexican Riviera, you’ll only be able to afford a couple cervezas a day but you will be able to sleep on the beach! In 1997, we moved to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, known as Vallarta or PV by the locals, and inevitably, when meeting folks in the States, we’re asked why in the world we would live there. Most assume it’s due to the low cost of living in Mexico and that one can do just fine on Social Security. The reasons why we have lived in Vallarta for ten years have very little to do with the cost of living. One of the reasons has to do with the latitude of Vallarta which is the same as Hawaii, resulting in a climate absolutely perfect for golfing, fishing, tennis, hiking, swimming, or whatever your hobby is for seven months a year, November through May.

The population of PV, our sleepy little Mexican fishing village located on Banderas Bay on the Pacific Ocean, just surpassed 350,000 making it equal in size to Anaheim, California or twice the size of Boise, the capital of Idaho. Of the 350,000 inhabitants, there are close to 50,000 North Americans during the seven month “high season”. They have retired here in order to enjoy the many world class restaurants, seven magnificent golf courses, world class deep sea fishing, modern supermarkets and shopping malls, and night life galore. Most of these North American residents of Vallarta have satellite TV with 350 channels, high speed internet service, air conditioning, and all the other modern conveniences that could be found in the States. Clean water, clean food, modern hospitals with the latest in sophisticated equipment for first class medical care, and a high regard for safety will be found here in PV. Actually, there are very few reasons not to live in Vallarta.

We haven’t lived here for ten years because it’s cheap! As an example, gasoline is about 8 pesos per liter or $4.00 per gallon. Electricity is about the same as in the US, while telephone calls to the States are about four times as much as the same calls from the States. Food in the supermarkets is about the same as in the US; the imported products are much more, while the locally grown products may be much less. Imported hard-goods, such as electronics, at Sam´s Club, Walmart, or Office Depot, can be twice as much as the same products in the States. Automobiles are approximately 20% more expensive, imported clothing 50% more expensive, etc. From a residents perspective, NAFTA isn’t working too well because all imported items are taxed to the hilt and cost substantially more than they do in the States. Housing, on the other hand, is generally much lower than in the States. Of course, this depends on where in the States and where in PV, but as an example, a small house in Central Florida would compare to a casita in PV with no view and would cost twice as much. A grand estate in Pebble Beach would compare to a luxurious villa on the hillside overlooking Banderas Bay and would cost two to four times as much. A 2,000 square foot condo in St. Petersburg, Florida, similar to one in the Marina Area of Vallarta, would cost roughly twice as much. On average, one can safely assume that housing costs in PV are approximately half of that in the States, keeping in mind that housing prices have almost tripled during the ten years we’ve lived here. One difference is that the house and condo values have been softening in California and Florida during the past year, while the boom in PV is expected to continue for at least another ten years. As the baby boomers retire and discover Vallarta, the demand for new houses and condos increases, as do the costs for land, materials, and labor, resulting in escalating real estate prices. Forecasts suggest that property values will double in the Vallarta area during the next five years.

There are a couple other significant housing related differences. The first has to do with real estate or property taxes. The annual predial or property tax in Mexico is about .1% of the purchase price of the property. Assume you bought a condo in PV for $200,000 ten years ago, keeping in mind that it was twice as much as you could have bought in the States. It’s value today would be about $600,000, however it’s still on the books as $200,000 and it’s annual taxes are approximately $200. A condo with the same cost basis of $200,000 ten years ago located in Florida or California could be taxed anywhere from $5,000 to $15,000 today and remember, this $200,000 condo would have been half of what you could have purchased in Vallarta. Also, if you’re a resident for more than five years in Vallarta and can show that it’s your primary residence, there is no capital gains tax upon the sale of your property. Annual automobile taxes and consumption taxes are equivalent to those in the States.
First class medical and dental care is available in Vallarta at roughly half the cost of that in the States. Skilled technicians for auto repair, electronics repair, carpentry, plumbing, air conditioning, and electrical work are about the same as in the States. Of course, there are many non-professionals available in PV that will work for half the price, but you get what you pay for! The one exception has to do with masonry. For a fourth the price of that in the States, you can have beautiful granite counter tops, marble floors, tile work such as pools, etc. Another major cost difference is that of unskilled labor such as maids, gardeners, or handymen. They are readily available for $20 per day but don’t expect the most efficient work in the world. Again, you get what you pay for!

In summarizing, the cost of living in Vallarta is probably somewhat lower than that in Florida and substantially less than California, given similar standards. It is probably higher than Milwaukee, Wisconsin or Cincinnati, Ohio but there’s no comparison in life styles. One thing is for certain, we don’t know of any Americans or Canadians living in PV solely on their Social Security payments. In order to live on a tight budget in Mexico, you have to head inland, away from the tourist areas, away from Paradise, and can expect a totally different life style. For the money, Vallarta is extremely hard to beat, but it’s certainly not cheap!

A home-based business can be a great opportunity for people that need or want to continue working after retirement. Working after retirement can be for many reasons ranging from financial need to just keeping active, alert and busy. In addition to generating some welcome income, a retirement business can give a sense of satisfaction from ongoing accomplishments and allow a good deal of time flexibility. This can allow time for vacations, traveling or just visiting with the grandkids. A nice thing about working after you reach full retirement age (67 for people born after 1938) is that you can get full benefits with no limit on earnings.

The skills and knowledge gained from a lifetime of work can often lead into part-time work after a person is retired. Sometimes it’s a matter of looking at all the different skills a person has learned and finding something that is marketable. Consulting may be a good opportunity in technical fields. If consulting isn’t your bag, there is a lot of information available for starting a home-based business. Writing and teaching are excellent ways to keep active and possibly earn some additional cash.

Networking with friends, neighbors and people that you socialize with can sometimes help identify part-time job or business opportunities. You must be disciplined and skilled at networking, so you can attract clients/contacts. I know a retired farmer that started a lawn mowing service that grew to a lawn care business with more work than he could handle. It allowed him to stay active and work as much or as little as he wanted to.

Starting a retirement business is not easy. If it were, everybody would have one. In fact, it’s much easier to get a job and continue to work for someone else. Starting an on-line business is certainly no different, it takes a lot of dedication, time and effort, but it can be challenging and rewarding. Some people start their own home based internet business with no computer experience and are able to earn a nice income from it. They keep growing and learning, stay busy and earn money at the same time.

There’s a lot of helpful information from commercial websites and the government that can point you in the right direction. Once you select a path, stay with it and don’t get discouraged. Just like anything else that is worthwhile, starting a business takes time, patience and perseverance to get the full benefit out of it. Success with work-from-home jobs depends on self-motivation and professional experience, the more you have of both, the better.

There are many ways of earning money on-line, and there are many, many scams out there. If you do a Google search for “ways to make money online”, you’ll finds millions of websites with information. It’s possible to earn money by selling merchandise or advertising other people’s stuff. Google AdWords and AdSense work for some people and there are lots of affiliate programs that can be used to earn extra money. Some methods require a website, some don’t.

The key is to decide on a method that works and learning how successful people have used it to earn money. Look at some websites that you like and see what is being done to generate income and use them as guides. There’s no real benefit to inventing the wheel again. You can’t copy the website (that’s copyright infringement), but you can use them as a model to create original content. It’s also important to check out any website you want to do business with. DON’T give out credit card information until you’re satisfied that the website you want to do business with is legitimate. Look for those that offer a money back guarantee.

Check out my website and see what I’m doing. I’ve been working at this for several years on a part-time basis (six to ten hours per week) and I’ve learned a lot along the way. You’re welcome to use any information I have on this website.

One thing I’ve learned is that it takes a lot of time. It’s difficult, but not impossible, to develop an on-line business in eight to ten hours a week. It’s hard to start something, such as this article, leave it and come back later and pickup the train of thought that you started with in the first place. I imagine it would be easier to start an online business if you joined a program and had someone else guiding your efforts and doing some of the “behind the scenes” work. Sometimes, you have to sign up and pay a monthly fee.

Another thing I’ve learned is that there is so much information and so many methods out there, it’s easy to get sidetracked. You need a goal and a plan to stay on track and make any kind of progress. I have to remind myself to stay on track several times a month.

If you’re serious about making some extra income during retirement, check out the opportunities that are available for a home-based business. Self employment trumps working for someone else almost every time. With the economy going downhill, it’s more important to identify and get into a business that will give you the best return for your effort. Find your niche, do the homework and good luck.

When most people think of a retirement gift, they think of a watch. It’s the tried and true gift that companies give employees to say thanks for all the years of hard work. It’s a great gift on behalf of the company but if you’re the lucky individual enlisted with planning the retirement party, you’re probably in need of a personalized gift on behalf of everyone at the office.

The perfect gift would probably be an affordable, personalized, lifetime keepsake from everyone attending the farewell party and yet something that would make a beautiful presentation to wish the retiree well on the next stage of their life. Is there such a gift with all these qualities and still be original?

Well, there is and it’s called a signature frame and it is able to encompass all of these great qualities by displaying pictures of the retiree surrounded with signatures and/or messages from friends and fellow co-workers. The signed frame, complimented with pictures and an engraved plaque will make a memorable gift at a retirement party.

Many signature frames are sold as kits and include everything from the pen for signing the mat board to the mounting system to quickly and easily add special photographs.

To make a fun presentation at the party, fill the frame with older photos of the person during their time at work and also personal photos of them throughout their life such as their hobbies, old graduation pictures etc. That way, when friends and colleagues sign the frame they will have a chance to reminisce about their friend while having fun looking at how much they have changed over the years. Be sure to take some new photographs at the party so they can later be added to the frame as a way to remember this final farewell memory.

This simple, fun retirement gift will provide years of happy memories for the retiree by displaying a lifetime of work memories while at the same time providing a personal memento from fellow employees and friends.

Retirement is a new chapter of adulthood as it transforms a person to a time of passion and purpose. Retirement is not the end of everything. It is just the beginning of a new and relaxed life which could turn out to be interesting and more productive if you plan well. So design your next phase well to lead a meaningful second adulthood.

Many people are uncertain about their pre-retirement planning. Are you confused about the right plan or selecting a career path after retirement? You should be, and more so if you are nearing your fifties as you have plenty of years to plan ahead and this question is the one that should lead you to the right path. Some people find pre-retirement planning very tedious and boring and they feel that they would need more money than they calculate. Many executives prefer leading stressful lives, as they don’t know how to start planning for their retirement. Some find themselves locked in a decent pay pack and they cannot think of anything else or any change over.

You should plan well for your retirement. Seek the help of a counselor who can create a plan for your retirement and help you set your goals or define your career path so as that you can lead a satisfying retired life. Retirement counseling is generally based on your needs and either the counselor guides you to a specialist or provides a referral. Retirement counselors are well versed to handle all your issues relating to relationship, financial management, life balance issues, stress and well as anxiety that accompanies when you near the retirement stage.

Retirement is very critical for some people and other than financial issues some also face restlessness. Experts are not satisfied with the currently available pre-retirement programs as they find them shallow. They suggest that a retirement counselor should give a holistic approach towards understanding:

Current financial resources and the future needs. Management of leisure time more meaningfully, either by pursuing hobbies or opting for some volunteer activities, or in reflection and contemplation. Obtainable property, or health and safety. Relationships.

Research shows that pre-retirement people often refuse to seek help from counselors. But slowly this trend is changing and many corporations now offer specific pre-retirement help. Retirement counselors play an important role in providing financial information with meaningful suggestions based on a special sensitivity to the fact that anxiety about retirement is often about aging.

Counseling baby boomers and elderly during the pre-retirement stage is a new and challenging field that promises a more satisfying, meaningful life for America’s older citizens. The little planning and initiative goes a long way.

People have a great variety of reasons to choose early retirement. One of the most common ones seems to be the desire to enjoy their lives. Many jobs nowadays do not require people anymore since automatization are becoming so popular, which may be another reason to retire early. Illness is another cause fro retirement, while other people do it because of subcontracting jobs. Anyway, the amount of reasons people have is endless. For many, early retirement represents the fulfillment of their dreams. Many people believe life is an adventure, where they can go as far as they choose to. Each individual is responsible for the fulfillment of his own dreams, whatever that dream may be.

When someone is determined to pursue a goal, there is nothing in this world that could possibly stop him.

If this world has convinced you that what you have been longing for is too far for you to reach it, think about early retirement as a way to get closer to that. When you have a purpose in mind, your health gets better. Therefore, make an effort to pursue the dream you have always had. There is nothing better in life than having something to live for every single day.

Dangerous aspects to consider early retirement

Early retirement must be planned to the last detail. It is not something you just do. What would happen, for example, if you retire without checking how much money you have, only to find that it is not enough to fulfill you dreams? You must never retire without taking care of details such as this; that is why it is so important to plan it in advance, having plenty of time to make all necessary adjustments.

Another thing to take into account is the dreams feasibility. There are dreams like becoming a famous astronaut that are just fantasy and are impossible to achieve. Dreams like these can only result in depression. Health conditions must also be considered, since illness can be a hindrance for the fulfillment of those dreams. Starting a new business, for example, has to be done only if the owner has enough money to support himself even if the business is no good. Certainly, early retirement offers many good opportunities for middle-aged people. But one should be prudent because as every opportunity come with a risk. It is important to make sure that the worse case scenario is manageable.

Are you looking forward to no alarm clocks, nowhere to be, nothing to do for some undefined period starting day one of your retirement? Dreaming of no one to answer to? Craving some serious down time before you figure out what’s next for you? Beware. You need a segue plan. And no, it’s not endless days of open-ended nothingness. It’s a plan that takes you 180 degrees away from your career, doing something that really gets your juices going. It will take you successfully from your last day of work through some pre-determined period of time, so you can avoid post-career depression and other assorted woes that happen to those who fail to plan an excellent segue. You may not know what’s next for you, but you can make sure that you set yourself up for a painless transition.

Here are three terrific ways to segue from your career to retirement:

1. Plan a year-long adventure. When Don Kjelleren retired in 1993 after 37 years of service with DuPont, he instinctively knew that if he went to a dead stop from traveling non-stop around the world and managing over 1000 employees running international marketing for the company, it would be, well, deadly for him. As a lifelong mountain climber, Don had already climbed many of the planet’s most famous mountains. He is also an adventurer, so he combined his love of travel with his passion for mountain climbing and his competitive nature and created a year-long goal to climb the highest mountain, run 10 miles and swim one mile in all 50 United States.

And, in case you think this was all a slam dunk for Don, you need to know that before this adventure he was terrified of the water. Not only did he overcome his fear and reach his goal, but Don successfully decompressed from his high-powered career and was recharged and ready to create the life he’s enjoying today. He currently serves on the Governor of Delaware’s Commission on Lifestyles and Fitness, is Vice Chairman of the National Senior Games Association (the Senior Olympics), Chairman of the Advisory Council for the New Castle RSVP, and belongs to a number of additional organizations associated with health and well-being. Don loves focusing his time and energy on his mission — encouraging others to take responsibility for their health.

2. Get a degree in a topic that fascinates you. When Jean Shula left her career as a successful therapist at 62, she, too, was ready for an adventure. She’s curious about the world, loves meeting people of all ages and exploring new cultures, and has had a lifelong love of learning. She thought learning something new would be a kick, and while exploring what was out there stumbled upon the European Peace University, and a year long master’s program – one academic year spent at the University in Austria and then finish her thesis at home.

Jean found the program exciting, stimulating, and intellectually challenging, but her greatest joy was living in a dorm with people from every continent, many of whom were living side-by-side with their “enemies” (i.e. Israelis and Palestinians, Indians and Pakistanis.) She found it a great place to lose one’s fears and prejudices, and she came away from the year with an understanding that she’d already led a full, rich life, and had accumulated some wisdom to share. By the time she had completed her thesis, she knew that she would pursue her lifelong dream of writing. Today, the success of Jean’s first book, The Coming of Aging: Learning to Live from the Inside Out, takes her around the country keynoting and leading workshops, and her second book will be published shortly.

3. Shift down in your work, as you gear up for the next thing. Claire LeSage is retiring the end of 2008 and has created (and is already living) her segue plan. At the beginning of the year, she decided that she was going to take control of her life, and her future. So, she began exploring – through coaching – what might be next for her. Claire was pretty certain she wanted to start her own business, and it didn’t take her long to hone in on the idea of Wittz End, a relocation concierge service specializing in helping seniors, their families, and estate executors prepare, organize and coordinate the entire moving process. Her personal experience of moving friends and family over the years had led her ultimately into the moving industry where she’s worked as an administrator for the past 17 years.

Now halfway through the year, Claire’s website is about to be launched, logos, business cards and brochures are printed, and her home office is coming together. Recently she began working 4 days a week at her job, and three days a week on her new business. She’s begun networking, joined BNI (Business Networking International), and is negotiating offering her services through the company she’s working for. Who knows? As the year progresses, she may drop back to three days a week, or even two. One thing’s for certain. Using this last year of work as her segue is setting Claire up for a strong start to her new “retirement” life.

Remember – that dream life of nothingness could well be a nightmare. Think about how you’ll segue into retirement, and create a plan for yourself that’s fun and challenging.

Guanaja (pronounced gwa-na-ha); doesn’t the name just sound magical? Could it be that this will be your island in the sun for your retirement years? Located in Central America, about forty miles north of the mainland of Honduras in the pristine waters of the Caribbean Sea, it has a lot to offer in the way of retirement benefits.

First of all, Guanaja is warm all year around. The average temperatures rarely go below seventy and usually do not go above the mid eighties. That sounds pretty good, but what would you do with all you mufflers and mittens, you say? How about leaving them up north where they belong! Could you survive without a white Christmas? Maybe you could replace it with the sugar white sand of the beach squishing through your toes instead of stomping through snow drifts in your heavy galoshes?

Property is extremely affordable in Guanaja Honduras. Do you want a cottage up in the hills? The highest peak on the island is fourteen hundred feet with its own crystal clear waterfall to serenade you or, perhaps, a bungalow on the beach with the waves softly lapping at the shore. How would you like to walk out your front door and throw in your fishing line and catch lunch or stick your head underwater and snorkel at a reef full of colorful fish just a short distance away? Guanaja is protected by the world’s second largest barrier reef.

Land is plentiful and affordable as this tropical gem has managed to skate by under the radar screen of the masses, at least for now! What do you think of water front property selling for as little as $20,000? Sound good to you?

The local islanders are a warm, friendly people and many speak English. Honduras, as a country, is a democracy governed by a President along with three vice presidents who serve for a four year term. There has never been a civil war and Honduras has never been known for terrorist or guerilla actions. Not to say that all is rosy, all the time, but the Bay Islands are much different than the mainland of Honduras and we found it very comfortable on Guanaja.

The Hondurans have their own currency, called a Lempira. One US dollar equals approximately nineteen “limps” as the locals call them. The best place, it seems, to exchange dollars for Lempira is at the airport in La Ceiba. Much better than the airport in Miami who wanted to give only sixteen to one, but in addition, wanted to charge a $6.98 flat fee. YIKES! I should be in that business!

Medical care is quite inexpensive, also. A doctor visit will run about fifteen dollars and they may even come to your home. When was the last time that happened to you? Of course, you may want to have an international health policy if you are not on qualified to be on Medicare. There are several companies that offer this type of service and you can even apply online.

Living abroad anywhere has challenges, but with just a bit of planning, Guanaja could be the answer to your retirement dreams. Affordable retirement, how about Guanaja Honduras?

One of the most wonderful days of your life is upon you. It is finally time to retire. You have so much to say, so many people to thank, but you’re not exactly sure how to fit it all into one short retirement speech.

You want your retirement speech to project meaning, depth, and most importantly reflect who you really are and how you feel. Millions of people are faced with this same dilemma every year. The good news is that there a few basic tips you can use to make your retirement speech one that will make a difference and gain respect amongst your co-workers.

The First 3 Seconds…

The very first thing you want to do when giving your retirement speech is to ease your nerves. Most people do this by saying I am nervous or this is hard or a myriad of other methods. Unfortunately, that is not the way to start a memorable retirement speech. The very best thing you can do in the first 3 seconds is to say nothing at all. Simply step to the podium and take a deep breath and exhale.

The next 5 seconds…

Once you have taken a deep breathe and eased your nerves you will want to smile. Yes, for the next 5 seconds give your audience a big smile and perhaps a laugh. Not a fake smile and laugh, but one of rejoicing. You must realize that you have truly accomplished something that only happens once in most people’s life time so enjoy this moment!

The 8 Second Ride is Over

OK, now you have eased your nerves and eased the tension in the room. A bull rider must stay on their ride for 8 seconds to win the battle. Congratulations — You have just ridden the bull. Now the rest is easy. If you are disciplined enough to simply enjoy the moment your retirement speech will be a success. One that has meaning and depth just as you imagined it would.

Try this speech advice and you will be amazed at how professional people will think you are. It may seem too simple. What will you say or how will you say it. The truth is – You will never say it all right or get everything in. However, the first few seconds are the ones that most people must judge the speech by. If they like you in the first 8 seconds you can mess up and they will still be moved.

Planning a retirement party for a loved one or a coworker? Make sure you plan it just right. Retirement parties are a celebration of one’s career. They also mark major shifts in both lifestyle and mindset. Such milestones should not go unnoticed, and the accomplishments that paved the journey to this point should not be forgotten. If ever there was an occasion to celebrate with a bang, this is it.

Some may think that planning such an important occasion may be daunting, but the right preparations and ideas will guarantee a party the guest of honor will never forget. Here are five simple suggestions to enliven your party.

1. START WITH A PARTY THEME: Themed parties ensure vibrancy and fun. Think of a theme that best suits the personality of your retiree. For example, does he enjoy traveling to exotic locales? Then consider a luau party, complete with leis and Hawaiian shirts. Similarly, make the invitations, decorations, color schemes, centerpieces and even the food all reflect the theme of the party.

2. DECORATING: Decorations set the stage and quickly establish the party’s theme. Balloons, banners displaying the retiree’s name and years of tenure, and props alluding to the retiree’s new lifestyle are only a few of the ways you can customize the décor to make your VIP feel special. Consider golf ball ornaments for that avid golfer. Or how about palm tree rentals along with dozens of pink flamingos scattered across a yard? This is one occasion where going over-the-top is never too much.

3. TRIVIA GAMES: Lighten up the party instantly with games relevant to the party’s theme and its guests. Make them fun. The trivia may include mannerisms of coworkers, phrases often heard around the office or favorite company inside jokes. Adding humor to the questions will lighten the mood and assure audience participation.

4. TOKENS OF APPRECIATION: Here’s the chance for everyone to wish the retiree the best for his future and pay him tribute for all his contributions. A greeting card filled to the brim with signatures is common enough, but how about highlighting his contributions or interests in a more thoughtful way? Consider preparing a short film, a PowerPoint presentation or an album to trace your retiree’s significant experiences. A photo collage, wish book or scrapbook can also serve as a token of gratitude and well wishes.

5. CELEBRATE A NEW BEGINNING: Focusing solely on your honored guest’s past accomplishments may inadvertently cast a more somber mood to your party. Remember that as one chapter closes, a new one begins. Accordingly, invite him to share some lifelong dreams that he now has time to fulfill. And don’t’ forget a celebratory toast to this new beginning.

In short, a little thought will go a long way when planning a retirement party. By following these easy tips, remembering to add humor, a great deal of appreciation and best wishes, you’ll create an eventful affair the retiree and the people he holds dear will never forget.

The following comment was made regarding retirement planning. “Hobbies and civic activities should only be included if they relate to your job or if you have achieved some level of distinction in doing them.”

Now just a minute! Unless the brain is to be retired immediately, this is in no way the facts. The body can be slowed down as it gets older, if we choose to do so, but certainly we do not want to slow the brain. Medical experts tell us to keep the brain active to avoid many unpleasant things that can cause us to break down mentally.

We have huge energy stores inside of us, both mentally and physically, as well as our unique talents, gifts and capabilities. Channeling these gifts and talents into hobbies will give us rewards that will make retirement free time a major contributor to those truly “Golden Years”.

For many there is a total mismatch between the things we enjoy doing in our free time and our profession. Yet more than 8 hours every working day is spent in the work place; doing things we don’t enjoy doing. But it puts food on the table and pay bills.

Fortunately the job or profession utilizes only a minute proportion of our talent and potential. Free time could be used to manage a business that is aligned to our interests, hobbies, strengths, passion and desires. You should identify ways of periodically re-working your lifes blueprint, especially after facing life changing events and through proper channeling of your abilities, this makes the flow into retirement much smoother.

Strangely, if you put talent and potential to good use they will flourish and shine, you will become so passionate and involved in such a venture it will almost always succeed. Of course, there will be moments of uncertainty and doubt but you can always overcome such challenges and succeed. What a wonderful way to consume your free time and build an extra income stream while you are working and to build a base for retirement free time enjoyment. Most still in the work force will fail to believe that retirees can face numerous mental traumas pertaining to the loss of recognition and status in their working society. Building an active retirement hobby that you are passionate about will replace this trauma.

Documented facts tell us that we usually do not change our established personality norms when we retire. If we have developed a jovial personality we will continue to be jovial. A dominant personality will remain dominant. If we have no leisure time activities we will definitely have a difficult time developing them when we retire.

The vice president of a large corporation who retired because of his doctor advised him to quit, a few months later, he started getting new business cards printed with the designation of “corporate consultant”. The reality was that after being a high-profile vice-president for many years, it was very difficult for him not to have a business card or title.

You need to understand your personality traits and plan for them. Just remember age is no longer a barrier. The amazing breakthroughs in helping us live longer, healthier lives has made us just as old as we feel. (some days older than others). As one senior citizen loves to say, “I never think of my age.” That’s a sentiment many others would agree with.

Building of an active retirement hobby that you are passionate about will replace free time stress and boredom.

Nationwide retirement solution program is an excellent way of giving shape to our plans for our future retired life. For all who have retired and are approaching the *** end of their lives definitely must be giving shape to their thoughts towards ensuring a peaceful and comfortable retired life. Without planning for the coming times your are bound to be at a loss and run the risk of losing the option of leading a luxurious retired life. Hence giving a thought to your future one should plan for the coming times thus providing oneself the freedom to lead a comfortable life thereafter.

Savior for Retirement Years

Insufficient savings can lead to dire consequences when you want them the least i.e. during your retired days. Nationwide retirement solution program comes as a savior for those who have had not given thoughts to saving a part of their earnings towards enjoying their latter part of their life.

First things first, nationwide retirement solutions are not meant for specific strata of society. They can be utilized by all categories of people. Being conscious about one’s finances is not a bad thing at all specially when it can provide you with means of earning revenues and therefore turn them into profitable ventures. Unfortunately not all amongst have this ability and one may possess an IRA account or a retirement fund for the requirements to be fulfilled post retirement or one may belong to the category of people who resort to making on the boil arrangements for their retirement. Careful planning with time saves one from unpredictable situations that may come with retired life.

But then there is an easy option available to alleviate all the worries related to availability of finances post retirement-nationwide retirement solutions. It takes all the efforts from you and ensures that you lead an easy going and comfortable retired life. A nationwide retirement solution plan is available suited to your needs irrespective of your geographical location for your comfort. With nationwide retirement solution plan one can be ensured that their retired life is in safe and secure hands.

You may always desire that extra bit of income and nationwide retirement solution plans offer you that flexibility as well by providing you with the opportunity of investing your retirement funds so that it can grow further even when you are not working any longer. To begin with one needs to get into their website and garner all the information related to the plan one wants to opt for. Apart from this one can invest further to have contingency funds available with himself/herself in case of an emergency.

Science teaches us that the Sun is the source of life for all creatures in Planet Earth. Hence, it was no surprise to me that a friend (a Japanese Senior Citizen) decided in 1979 to resettle in tropical Philippines. Given the extreme cold in Japan at certain times of the year, he believed that he would not live another 5 years – if he would not relocate. He lived another 10 years in the Philippines. In many parts of the Philippines, access to mobile Telephony & wireless Internet and to Geriatric Medical Care (in Tertiary-level Hospitals around Metro Manila) have both become readily available. Hence given its tropical climate, easy communications, and access to Medical Care, the Philippines has become an ideal Retirement Haven for any and all retirees. Moreover, the Philippine Retirement Authority of the Philippine Government now provides a Package-of-Incentives for Private Business venturing into the Retirement Industry – as well as, for Foreigners wanting to qualify for retirement in the Philippines.

Apart from Resort-based Retirement Villages being made increasingly available by Property Developers, setting up of a MetroManila-based “Homes-for-the-Elderly” (a caring and loving community sensitive to the needs of Senior Citizens) is now being promoted by pioneering Filipino Entrepreneurs and encouraged by reputable European and American Industry Associations for the Aging. In this “Homes-for-the-Elderly” Resident-Tenants would be provided with basic amenities inside the privacy of their respective rooms – and, a “basic” Package-of-Services attendant to “Long Term Care” would be provided. Consider:

Community-shared Caregiving & PT services; Senior-Diet formulated meals;regular Laundry & Housekeeping;professional consultations with Medical Specialists & Spiritual Advisors;Community-inspired Physical Wellness Activities;Internet-enabled Communications;Learning & Earning Programs for its Senior Citizen Residents

As the Cost-of-Living (for “Long-Term-Care”) would expectedly be less expensive in the Philippines as compared to that in the 1st World, Retirees could then have more value for their Money. Come to the Philippines – and enjoy God’s blessings of a long life.

Retirement – this is a time to pursue dreams by exploring new dimensions of life. This is again the time for some people to get mentally paralyzed with loads to stress and stressful thoughts about how life’s going to be the next phase. Whatever way does retirement come in to one’s life, it’s true that he or she deserves the best and the choicest wishes, as the person is going to get a transition into an entirely new phase of life. The most meaningful and aesthetic of all are those retirement wishes, where you use some really thoughtful words of inspiration and encouragement. Wish the person a life flooded by the waves of happiness and cool splashes of peace – a healthy life, both mentally and physically.

The evidences of the unfulfilled seniors have been observed to be more prone to health problems followed by severe mental depression – usually compounded as time passed by. A good wish with a thoughtful message works like panacea. What to write on a retirement card is the most talked about topic of debate, when it comes to retirement wishes. Here are some points that works like magic:

Write something that comes from your within – from the core of your heart. Your retirement wishes wordings must make the person feel his energy soared higher and spirits lifted to a great height.

Your retirement wishes wordings should give your wish fervor of inspiration and encouragement to flag on a new voyage in the next phase of life. Your wordings should be such that could sprinkle the grains of inspiration on the retired person to gear up a new journey of life even at the age of 60s.

If you are a co-worker of the person who’s retiring from his or her job, it would be really appreciable if your wordings can reflect the memories of the past moments that you spent with him or her in the canteen and conference room.

Retirement quotations and thoughtful sayings on retirement can give your speeches and wishes a special dimension. A beautiful retirement quotes can make your remarks come to bloom and set a distinctive tone for your message that can bring one of life’s most significant changes.

Here are some of the really awesome quotes that you can start off your remarks with:

“It has become clear to most of us that we don’t want “our father’s retirement”; the only thing that needs to be retired is old ideas about retirement.
Our greatest fear and insecurity for our later years should not be about the Social Security system or about being broke but rather about being without purpose and meaningful work.” – Mitch Anthony, author of The New Retire mentality

“Age is only a number, a cipher for the records. A man can’t retire his experience. He must use it. Experience achieves more with less energy and time.” – Bernard Baruch, financier, statesman.

“When I was younger I could remember anything, whether it happened or not; but my faculties are decaying now and soon I shall be so that I cannot remember any but the things that never happened.” – Mark Twain, author.

Retirement is something some people wait for eagerly, while others dread. Some people will not have built up a nest egg to rest on, and will be worried. Others will have the financial security, but will not have any plans whatsoever regarding what they want to do. After a full life, some people cannot really face the thought of getting up in the morning and not knowing what the rest of the day will bring – or maybe they know all too well, and don’t like it.

But before anybody faces life after retirement, they have to get through their retirement party! The retirement party invitations are just as important as the party itself. So what should the retirement party invitations be like?

Well, there are plenty of companies that take care of invitations to different events, there are even a couple of companies that deal with solely retirement dinner invitations. So, of course, you could probably leave everything in their capable hands. This will give you a perfectly worded, perfectly grammatical, perfectly punctuated and perfectly trite retirement dinner invitation card.

This is one day that is supposed to let the person think back and remember everything that has happened over the years, all the highs and lows, all the laughter and the tears. Surely the retirement dinner invitations call for something much more personal than anything a company could come up with!

This is why these invitations should be personalized and should reflect something individual. It should reflect feelings and emotions – and hopes and dreams for a life after retirement. When you retire, you leave a place that was more like home to you for so long, and people who have known you through thick and thin. There are friends who you have made over years, and there are routines that you have to change.

A retirement dinner need not only be nostalgic, though, it can be the celebration of a happy career. This should also be reflected in the words written on the retirement dinner invitations.

A company that takes care of such cards routinely can give you ideas, of course. If you do choose such a company, choose one where the representative will talk to you personally, and listen to what you have to say, so that you get what you want. And always insist on a mock-up – if you are not happy with it, never hesitate to send them back to the drawing board!