My Paradigm Shift in Cuenca, Ecuador as an Expat -- a Retirement Transformation, a Metamorphisis. -- Finding a New Hat!

 Did you know that Panama Hats really come from Ecuador?

I needed to turn my life around (almost entirely), and I am getting there day by day as a retired expat baby boomer living in Cuenca, Ecuador. It has been a series of sharp turns in what I think and what I do, and the entire event might be loosely described as a paradigm shift, to borrow from my college science classes.

Maybe I am just looking for a new hat to wear...
*****

But back to this idea of a paradigm shift.

Back in the 1960s, my professors used this term to describe what scientists are sometimes forced to do when facing a number of competing unique and immeasurable solutions to a problem that has already been “solved” (at least by science).

The scientist must swallow pride and be brave enough to take another square look at all of the information she has been avoiding, and ultimately allow much of it into her small world to be studied and then accepted before issuing any further scientific edicts about this topic.

Once this paradigm shift is completed, more unique ideas are accepted as legitimate and become part of the science world to be used as science progresses, and gradually this change of thought brings dramatic change to a culture and even to the entire planet.

In 1962, Thomas Kuhn, an American physicist, historian, and science philosopher, wrote The Structure of Scientific Revolution, coming up with this revolutionary and controversial idea, arguing that scientific advancement is not evolutionary, but rather is a "series of peaceful interludes punctuated by intellectually violent revolutions", and in those revolutions "one conceptual world view is replaced by another".

Kuhn knew that change does not just happen, but must be driven by something – a person or event that we call, in business and in science, an agent of change.

Think of those brave change agents who fought the belief that the earth was at the center of the universe. Because of their insistence, the prevailing truth was ultimately tossed out the window, resulting in a paradigm-shift that put our planet in its proper place, with the sun in the center. The dramatic result of this shift moved science from Newtonian physics to Relativity and Quantum Physics.

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See my retirement photos on Pinterest
***

Or consider the printing press and how the printing of books in large volume gradually changed cultures and had a direct affect on the scientific revolution. Johann Gutenberg's invention in the 1440's of movable type was an agent of change. Books became more available, smaller and easier to handle and less expensive than scrolls. Far more people were able to access the scriptures and attitudes began to change as people were no longer under the dictates of the church, people luck Martin Luther.

Today’s change agents are driving paradigm shifts that are all around us. 

Just think of how the computer and the Internet have changed our personal and business lives, resulting in a paradigm shift for publishing. Do you visit a newspaper website? Read eBooks?
*****

So where does Cuenca, Ecuador come into play as some of my current paradigms are starting to slip slide away? 

This is what I will be addressing in this blog – and I invite you to come along this journey, sharing you thoughts and experiences. 

I want to hear your comments, ideas and stories about this topic (and other retirement issues). So please send them to me and get published!

Meanwhile, I am going to visit the Panama Hat store today and take some photos to share -- and maybe even look for a new hat!

Thanks, and take care.

Susan

(Be sure to visit my retirement photos on Pinterest. And please add your own pins!)

Next time -- talking specifics about change. For me, changing how I live with diabetes has been a battle, but I am winning. Learning to speak Spanish, another shift. 

Do you have a similar change in your life to share? Has retirement provided a good time for this to occur? Please comment here. 

Quit Worrying So Much About Retirement $ Planning, Says Author, Blogger

Top THREE Retirement Tips For People Who ALREADY KNOW They will NOT have $1Million Saved Up by the time they retire

Retirement planning is NOT just

about hitting a number, says

author and speaker, Susan Klopfer

By Susan Klopfer, MBA

Retirement blogger and author

It will happen to each and one of us eventually, even today’s teenie-bopping, cell phone-texting teenagers.

We will grow old and retire!

If stopping work and having fun really is inevitable, how can we get ready now, so that we can live this dream?

Save more, work longer, put off social security.

Okay, okay.

These are three pretty good ideas we are given on retirement blogs, or by Rotary and Lions Club speakers who once-a-year offer their best retirement planning speeches.

We politely nod our heads when we hear this, of course, and then go home and get really, REALLY scared. 

So s-c-a-r-e-d that we do something silly – like putting off retirement for good or starting plans to find a job moving rock piles or greeting people at you-know-where.

Are you possibly ready for some lesser-known tips that are worth knowing?

If so, here is a look at 3 tips that retirement planners and advisers are telling us we should consider (I just learned that people do better with lists of 3 than 147 items):

     1. Stop paying so much attention to HOW much…

Isn’t it rather silly to spend time worrying about saving enough?  Especially when “enough” is an impossible dream?

You and I both know that most of us will never hit that $1million mark we hear so much about on television and from financial planners.

My spouse and I gave up on that idea years ago, when the stock market did its number. You are probably close to us, in this respect, than to Donald Trump!

One economics professor, Wade Pfau at the National Graduate Institute for Public Policies in Japan (and a frequent blogger on retirement), says there is no specific wealth number that will allow anyone to retire. Instead, he suggests, think about income stream, instead.

In other words, tart asking yourself how much income will you need to support your planned retirement?  After you decide on a budget.

(We have decided to limit our required income stream by moving to another country, where cost of living is 50 to 70 percent lower. We have planned a budget that fits our anticipated income stream—and it works for us.)

      2. Try thinking tax-efficient income.

 David Blanchett, a research consultant at Morningstar Investment Management, says that dividends, for instance, can be far more tax-efficient than bonds from an after-tax income perspective if they are qualified—that is, taxed at a maximum rate 15% vs. 35% for ordinary income.

Blanchett adds changing your withdrawal strategy to a “happiness” perspective, and ignore required minimum distributions rules. He says that common tax wisdom suggests drawing from taxable accounts first, then a Traditional IRA, and finally from a Roth IRA.

 “I think this makes sense and can definitely increase the available income, but it’s also important to have some ‘tax diversification’ with respect to withdrawal moneys,” Blanchett says.

3. Control your fears.

Plenty of spouses go through life not talking retirement fears (and sex), says financial planner, Andrea Bulen.

Do you or your spouse have fears about retirement that you haven’t discussed?

If so, start talking about them before it’s too late, she advises.

Robert Powell, editor of Retirement Weekly, published by MarketWatch, has put together a larger list  of  “10 Overlooked Retirement Tips,” that follow this reasoning. 

You can peek at his list here –

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/10-overlooked-retirement-tips-040110903.html

Now, go call the rock pile people, and tell them you are not going to be home for their phone call afterall.

You have too much fun coming up!

*****

Susan Klopfer, MBA, is available for speaking on this and other business topics. Contact her at http://susanklopfer.com

Retirement VLOG - Youtube Videos on Retirement Topics

Just started a Retirement Video Log (VLOG) on youtube. Music, instructions, ideas for retirement. Take a peek and enjoy! Susan

Retirement Ideas That Work

Retirement doesn't have to mean empty pockets; speak and earn money

How Active Retirees Speak, Sell Books, Reports On Retirement Made Easy

By Susan Klopfer

Public Speaking Takes Practice; fun and potentially income-producing for retirees

Are you a retiree who is looking for something intriguing and fun to do, while making extra money? If your answer is yes, you are not alone. In fact, most older employees (65 percent) told researchers they would like to have some form of work in their retirement, according to a 2011 Harris Interactive survey of 1,001 people age 55 and older commissioned by Sun America.

Interestingly, of those surveyed few said they want full time work; only 4 percent told Harris researchers they want to work full time in retirement. Some 25 percent said they want to work part time in retirement, and 36 percent would rather to go back and forth between work and leisure, reports Dave Bernard for U.S. News.

IF YOU FIND yourself looking for either full or part time activity to keep your brain active, while making some extra money, consider speaking before groups of pre and post-retirees about successful retirement ideas. A popular way to get started is speaking before a local organization or club, with a well researched book or report to sell at the back of the room.

With retirement a good topic to address (it should be, since baby boomers are starting to retire in large numbers), here are three important retirement questions that you could write a speech around:

-- Why are some people more ready for retirement than others?
-- Are there any specific issues that most people overlook when considering retirement?
-- Why is the idea of retirement difficult for some, and easy for others?

Any speakers who are fast on their feet with answers to questions like these should impress their audience. To prepare to speak before a group, here is some quick help in preparing your cheat sheet (or talking points) for your speech on making retirement easy, focusing on several or all of these questions.

Who really IS ready for retirement?


People who help or coach others to prepare for retirement often introduce some of the following issues to see if the people they are working with are retirement-ready:

--Do you believe your financial support plan covers you appropriately for the years ahead?
--Do you have other plans for your retirement (how you will spend your time)?
--Do you exercise for 20 minutes without a break at least three times a week?

All are appropriate questions, and even more like them come from The Retirement Readiness Assessment sponsored by My Next Phase. I took the online quiz and actually learned a few things about retirement readiness, so I challenge you to take it, too.

So, what appears to be some over-looked retirement issues?


WHILE PEOPLE WHO are retiring are typically advised to take stock of their financial resources, they don't always consider their psychological resources, says Nancy Schlossberg, Professor Emerita of Education at the University of Maryland.

Dr. Schlossberg has written extensively about retirement planning, noting that many baby boomers "didn't realize what was at stake when they left their jobs. They didn't think about things like how to structure their lives, their time, and how they might matter to others."

This researcher tells About Senior Living editor Shannon O'Brien that identity is key. "...when someone can say, for example, "I'm a professor," that's one thing, but when that identity is no longer there, it can be quite upsetting. It can take time to figure out a new identity."

Now, moving on to...

Why is retirement hard for some, and easier for others?


As a retirement blogger and author, I do not see this question asked often enough, and it is a good one. "Jacob" who blogs for Early Retirement Extremes, notes that how people approach personal finance makes a true difference, distinguishing why some people retire easier than others.

According to this "extreme" blogger: "To get ahead, you must either press the accelerator harder or ease on the brake. Apparently lots of people are not fully aware of just how hard they're flooring the brake. Therefore try this exercise. Every time you touch something [that you are considering for purchase], ask yourself whether this item has accelerated your income or whether it has decreased your savings."

Any other important, last-minute tips?


A wealth of retirement information is found online just by searching with the major browsers. I suggest taking a look at Investopedia, a particularly helpful site filled with many sophisticated ideas for soon-to-be retirees. Here is one of its many last-minute retirement tips:

ESTABLISH A CASH Emergency Fund to get you through the hard times. "It acts as a safety net in case something expensive or unplanned happens, such as medical expenses, market downturns or expensive home maintenance issues, just to name a few."

In fact, retirees are often advised to have three to six months of emergency cash reserves available separate from their investment portfolio. In normal economic times, this may be okay, but if the economic downturns, and the retiree is living off savings then it would help to add 12 to 18 months of cash to the investment portfolio to allow bonds and stocks to recover during bad times, according to Investopedia.

Are you ready for your retirement speech? With this information in hand, and your additional research, you should keep the attention of your audience. (Be sure to have your well-researched book or report ready to sell, and business cards to hand out.)

*****

To arrange for Susan Klopfer to speak to your organization on retirement topics, contact her at http://susanklopfer.com

Susan Klopfer, author and speaker, writes on civil rights and diversity. Her newest books, Who Killed Emmett Till?" "Where Rebels Roost: Mississippi Civil Rights Revisited" and "The Emmett Till Book" are now in print and are carried in most online bookstores including Amazon, Barnes & Noble and in eBook versions on iBooks and Smashwords. "Where Rebels Roost" focuses on the Mississippi Delta, with stories about Emmett Till, Fannie Lou Hamer, Aaron Henry, Amzie Moore and many other civil rights foot soldiers. These books emphasize unsolved murders of Delta blacks from mid 1950s on. She is also the author of eBook, Cash In On Diversity. Klopfer is an award-winning journalist and former acquisitions and development editor for Prentice-Hall. Her computer book, "Abort, Retry, Fail!" was an alternate selection by the Book of-the-Month Club.

Expat Retirement Works Best When Differences Understood and Appreciated

Ready to retire and want to become an expat?

 After working nearly eight months months to get a special “pensionada” visa, scouting out the correct pet carriers to bring along her dog and cat, holding umpteen garage sales and finally selling her mission-style bungalow at a small profit – to retire in Paraguay as an expat – Bess G. flew off to retirement paradise.

By the end of three months, Bess returned home.

This native Californian never was quite sure how to tell others why her move did not work out, but accepts she made mistakes. Some days wishes she could take it all back -- her current dilemma is finding a new, affordable retirement solution. For the rest of her life, she will be living in a small apartment, she rationalizes.

Packing your bags, finding pet carriers, and leaving for a romantic spot in Belize, Spain, Paraguay, Uruguay, Ecuador, Ireland or elsewhere may sound quite exciting at first. After all, the notion of living the rest of one's life near the ocean or next to snow-capped mountains with new places to visit and new people to meet, is what captured Bess’s imagination in the first place.

While there are numerous stories of individual expat success (and failure), especially on retirement blogs and magazines, there there seems to be few formal expat studies revolving around retirees.

It may help, though, to pay attention to what some corporations have learned about placing workers in new countries -- turning their employees and often their families into expatriates.

One human resource manager believes that it takes a special person to make necessary adjustments, and that when business expatriates fail to adjust to a new county, they have often been selected by managers “in a knee-jerk reaction” to fill a new or unexpected vacancy on foreign soil, and failure is more typical than not.

Sharon Lobel in "Global Leadership Competencies: Managing to a Different Drumbeat" (Human Resource Management, Spring 1990) asserts that managers tend to choose the most technically competent candidates “even though the qualities that made candidates a success domestically won't necessarily make them a success internationally.”

With Lobel’s observations in mind, it is not surprising that a high expatriate failure rate has existed for many corporations. While studies of failure rates vary, it appears that between 16 percent and 40 percent of personnel generally return early, with aborted assignments occurring as often as 70 percent of the time in developing countries, she finds.

So, if talented, educated employees cannot make it in out-of-country assignment, it is not surprising that a number of retirees trying to become expats end up returning home, most likely angry and not understanding why they could not succeed (or simply blaming their failure on the country and its “weird” citizens).

One answer to expat failure comes from the field of anthropology – ethnocentrism – a word explaining why people from one culture often have a difficult time adjusting to a new one. This word comes from the belief in the superiority of one person over another, stemming from a variety of sources.

You may have seen ethnocentrism in action, or felt it. Some expats who have a strong awareness of it say they are embarrassed when a new retiree moves into their community and begins showing signs of superiority to the local people.

 Are you certain you have “better manners” than a poor person or someone from Mexico? Do some people who speak with an “accent” have “poor” English skills? Are your children “smarter” because they had a better (more expensive) education? Is American medicine automatically "better" than what is locally practiced?... 

For anyone answering “yes” to any of these questions, this probably signals that becoming an expat might be difficult, and here is why:

Ethnocentrism usually starts with the belief of superiority in one's personal ethnic group; it can also develop from racial or religious differences. Conscious or not, people who are ethnocentric think that they are smarter, better, even superior than others for reasons based solely on their background and heritage, a practice clearly related to problems of both racism and prejudice.

Those who have been educated to recognize problems associated with ethnocentrism, would likely find it easier to relocate and live among people who are “different,” recognizing that ethnocentrism takes place nearly everywhere and everyday on local and political levels, and that it gets in the way of really knowing and understanding people from other groups.

Unfortunately, many Americans are not very familiar with this term, or that since the beginning of this country’s conception, the United States has often thought of itself as more powerful, more economically sound, and just generally "better" than other nations. 

When traveling to other countries, unless one is very cautious, ethnocentrism often appears as “looking down” on people of other cultures or behaving in a superior way. Shouting in one’s own language, rather than taking time to learn the hosting country’s language, is only one example.

Ethnocentrism can be expressed through nonverbal signals that are automatic to the person sending them, such as standing too close or too far away from a person, waggling a finger at someone while speaking too loudly or interrupting conversation while using a know-it-all expression, or not taking into any consideration the communication mores or practices of the hosting country.

(Still questioning ethnocentrism? Consider that European ethnocentrism is still practiced today in schools where history courses typically focus on the history of the United States and Europe, largely ignoring other parts of the world.)

The person who is a successful expat typically knows that despite cultural differences, we are all still human. There is no critical difference between a Parguay citizen and a citizen of Thailand, and so forth. To survive as a stranger in a strange land – a visitor in a new land – requires education and enough personal depth to avoid unfair prejudices that result from ethnocentrism.

Dr. Ben van den Anker of Australia, a cross cultural consultant, advises “While it is tempting to daydream that all we’ll need to do is find a nice little cottage on a sunny beach somewhere and our lives will be complete, [social] research suggests that expats are happiest when they go out of their way to be part of the local community and also find an activity that they love.”

Perhaps now that Bess is back home, with time on her hands, she might consider trying again to become an expat, this time taking Dr. van den Anker’s advice for making out-of-country living successful: 

“All it takes is some understanding and appreciation of unfamiliar cultures and people who have something of worth to offer.”

If she does try becoming an expat once more, not only will Bess lower her retirement expenses, she could experience something unique that comes from moving into a new and different culture--learning to appreciate others in a new way and freedom from  the defines of ethnocentrism.
*****
To arrange for Susan Klopfer to speak to your organization on retirement topics, contact her at http://susanklopfer.com

Not Many American Workers 'Somewhat Confident' On Retirement Plans

JILL B, A JUST TURNED 64- year-old, pre-retiree, admits she is "a little afraid" of what's to come when the topic of financial security rears its head in friendly conversations.

"I probably would be more afraid if I actually KNEW what's coming," she nervously laughs.

Jill and her friends always thought The American Dream was supposed to include a comfortable and financially secure retirement.

"But many of us lost some or even a great deal of our retirement savings several years ago when the stock market crashed, and economic recovery never really came."

Some of Jill's friends, waiting to recover financially, were forced into retirement due to age discrimination by younger supervisors or for real medical reasons.

"Some of them are not as secure as we all had hoped to be," Jill says, adding she feels "lucky that I have kept my job, so far."

Jill is not alone in her fear.

ONLY ABOUT HALF (52 percent) of Americans recently reported to social researchers they are "very or somewhat confident" they will have enough money to live comfortably after quitting work, in an annual survey of American attitudes toward retirement and retirement security.

This finding comes from the longest running, annual fact-finding look at American attitudes, conducted every January by the Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI), an organization founded in 1978 with a mission to provide "credible, reliable, and objective research, data, and analysis" on employment.

EBRI gets its money through membership dues, grants, and contributions and its financial base includes a cross section of pension funds; businesses; associations; labor unions; health care providers; insurers; banks; mutual funds; government organizations; and service firms, including actuarial firms, employee benefit consulting firms, law firms, accounting firms, and investment management firms, according to its online contact information.

Even with the continuing economic rebound taking place this past year, ERBI's survey findings ended up about the same as last year - with about half its respondents NOT feeling confident about retiring.

Joe L., also 64 (but no longer employed), is somewhat confident he will have a financially secure retirement. "I'm moving to another country, where I can live on less money," he says.

Trend toward financial insecurity

WHILE THE CHANGES were not statistically significant in this year's survey, the trend was definitely in the direction of greater financial insecurity, reports Merrill Goozner for The Fiscal Times.

Surveyors found "less false optimism in 2011 and 2012 than they had been in prior years," adds Mathew Greenwald (whose polling firm conducted the survey for EBRI), noting that increased awareness among those who are "not on track" to reach their retirement goals, and their confidence, went down.

Nothing new was discovered in how retirement security is viewed, and in fact, the 22 years that EBRI has conducted its poll has been "...an era marked by declining job security, disappearing defined benefit pension plans and constant questioning about the viability of government retirement programs like Social Security and Medicare," Goozner reports.

For Jill and Joe, early retirement was a significant goal for their parents. But even this outlook has changed: some 37 percent of workers believe they must work past 65, compared to 11 percent even as early as in 1991, state EBRI findings.

In the past year, at least half who responded in related polls, not conducted for EBRI, see saving for retirement as critical - "the number one financial issue for nearly half of Americans," according to Goozner.

Yet the EBRI findings report something different--that 42 percent polled gave the uncertain job market as their number one issue.

Americans not so concerned about retirement -- for now

"Retirement is not America's primary concern right now," said Jack VanDerhei of EBRI, in a recent news release. "Their concern is job security."

Both Joe and Jill also believe that Social Security and Medicare will provide less than what they planned for.

But again, EBRI findings do not match their skepticism.

Even with various politicians speaking out to curb Social Security and Medicare, EBRI polled workers showed more confidence this year than last, stating belief that current level of benefits would be there when they retire.

Some 59 percent asked about entitlement programs responded confidentially that Social Security would provide them with benefits at least equal to benefits received by retirees today, a significant jump of 10 percent points from a year ago.

While most of Joe and Jill's attitudes and experiences appear to resemble those of workers polled by EBRI, there appears to be one more difference, and that is in the possibility of seeking help through technology.

Both Joe and Jill say they are comfortable in looking online for help with retirement planning, and in using technologies such as smart phones and tablets.

But EBRI's January 2012 survey found few participating workers and retirees comfortable using such online technologies, including seeking out help from financial professionals online.

Hence, Joe and Jill's advice: Take some technology classes ASAP.

"Even better, ask sons, daughters and grandchildren for help," Joe adds.

"They are usually more tech knowledgeable than some experts, and cost a lot less per hour!"

* * * * *
To arrange for Susan Klopfer to speak to your organization on retirement topics, contact her at http://susanklopfer.com
*****

SUSAN KLOPFER,, author and speaker, writes on civil rights and diversity. Her newest books, Who Killed Emmett Till?" "Where Rebels Roost: Mississippi Civil Rights Revisited" and "The Emmett Till Book" are now in print and are carried in most online bookstores including Amazon, Barnes & Noble and in eBook versions on iBooks and Smashwords. "Where Rebels Roost" focuses on the Mississippi Delta, with stories about Emmett Till, Fannie Lou Hamer, Aaron Henry, Amzie Moore and many other civil rights foot soldiers. These books emphasize unsolved murders of Delta blacks from mid 1950s on. She is also the author of eBook, Cash In On Diversity. Klopfer is an award-winning journalist and former acquisitions and development editor for Prentice-Hall. Her computer book, "Abort, Retry, Fail!" was an alternate selection by the Book of-the-Month Club.

Seniors, Boomers -- 'We Want Jobs Now!'

Considering working after retirement? 


For whatever your reason to want to work instead of playing cards, fishing
or gardening ... this a good time to start planning or to start looking for the 
retirement job that’s right for you, or build your own retirement business. 
Whatever you choose, you could end up living at home or in an entirely 
different county. It really is up to you!!

Excuse us, we're out WORKING!

• There used to be a distinct line between work and retirement. People like my parents worked until age 65 or so, and then took their social security and/or pensions and headed for cruises, fishing, playing with grandchildren and what they thought would be a well-deserved rest.

This is all changing, and today,
more seniors and baby boomers
are changing their age of retirement,
deciding to retire earlier or later than
age 65, and whether to make having
retirement jobs a part of their 
retirement plans. Some are even
leaving the country to work
online or off, as expatriots or expats.

* * * * *

The National Council on Aging reports

 that one in three Americans age 65

and older has a retirement job, working

at least part-time, and this retirement jobs

trend should increase.

In March 2004, the Harvard Business Review 
wrote: "Long-standing human resources practices invest 
heavily in youth and push out older workers. This must change – 
and public policy too – or companies will find themselves running 
off a demographic cliff as baby boomers age."

Still working: "Tom" Hayden (born December 11, 1939) is 
an American social and political activist and politician, known for 
his involvement in the animal rights, and the anti-war and civil 
rights movements of the 1960s. He still teaches, writes, gives 
speeches, serves on important social boards and is known for his 
work with animal rights groups and legislation.

Born in 1879, Albert Einstein was affiliated with the Institute for 
Advanced Study in Princeton, New Jersey, until his death in 1955.

Why Do Seniors and Baby Boomers Want Retirement Jobs?

There are several basic reasons why so many people are wanting to work,
rather than play shuffleboard. Do one or more of these reasons describe you?


Many want-to-workers are looking for part-time retirement jobs or are 
starting their own businesses because they want to stretch their
retirement pensions and/or social security. This way they can earn extra 
dollars by lower health costs through health insurance. More money means 
other critical extras, such as dental work. It also means extra money for trips 
and other adventures.


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Then there are those who simply love to work. For those who are creative 
(writers, artists, consultants, entrepreneurs), work has been a major part of 
their lives and without it, retirement would be boring.


Many people who social and used to interacting with others need to maintain 
a continued social life and a built-in network of  professional colleagues and 
potential friends.


Or, what if you are the person who gave 100 percent to your job? Honestly, 
how could you quit doing something that defines your entire being. 
Continuing to work, even after retirement, would be the safest thing to do.

Do you fall into one of the above categories? If so, here are some
tips for finding meaninful retirement work:


DON'T MOVE: STAY WHERE YOU ARE—You might find the
best place to work part-time is with your current employer. 
Findings from a Cornell University study indicate that 3 out of 4 
companies would permit older employees to work fewer hours 
rather than take full retirement, but not many employers list 
retirement job option as part of their formal employment policies. 
About 1/4 of companies surveyed would allow older employees 
to reduce their hours prior to retirement and would not change 
the employees’ health benefits. 


SEEK A PART-TIME JOB—For several important reasons, including  
less absenteeism and work stronger ethics, more employers are 
becoming interested in hiring seniors, and some are even setting 
up special recruiting programs for retirement jobs to attract older 
workers.


USE YOUR SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE TO CONSULTANT—Use 
your expertise to consult with companies that prefer to contract for a
temporary basis on certain projects. You may need to get a business 
license, keep records, and file taxes as a business on the income 
you earn, if you become your own business.


WORK AS A TEMP—The largest employer in the U.S. is a temp agency 
based in Milwaukee. Check out Monster.com or brick and mortar
temp agencies in your region.


CHECK OUT SPECIAL PROGRAMS — Many federal and 
state programs offer job training and employment services to seniors,
as well as programs sponsored by local communities.


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• Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) helps
  low-income people 55 and older work in community service jobs.
  Career One-Stop Centers and America’s Job Bank.
  
  Check with your state Employment Security Department, Department
  of Labor, or Department of Aging for other senior employment
  programs in your area.
  
  * * * * *
  START YOUR OWN BUSINESS
  

  At Retirement Monologues, we frequently suggest this option.

  Click HERE for help in becoming an entrepreneur.

  * * * * *

Still more important facts --

• By 2010, more than 51 percent of the workforce is expected to be                                         aged 40 or older, a 33 percent increase since 1980,
• And the number of workers aged 55 and older will grow from                                                       13 percent of the labor force in 2000 to 20 percent in 2020.