The study found that “most retirees are pleased with their life, and both pre-retirees and retirees have a positive attitude about retirement overall.” According to the study:
* “Retirees are more likely to say “I am happier now that I am retired” (77 percent) than those who have yet to retire are to say “I will be happier after I retire” (64 percent.)” (There is so much opportunity to look forward to when I eventually retire. I will write my book or maybe write two books. Or perhaps, I will study to become a yoga teacher. Ooh, ooh, maybe I will teach yoga to children – I don’t think I am flexible enough to teach yoga to adults. However, my yoga teacher did just ask me to play a student in her upcoming yoga DVD. Imagine me a student star. The best is truly yet to come.)
* “Other than wishing they could retire earlier (35 percent of pre-retirees), many soon-to-be retirees see few negatives about retiring.” (Hmm, hmm, hmm. That’s good news.)
* “Twenty-six percent of those nearing retirement said they feel “hopeful” about retirement.” (I second that opinion.)
* “Among those who did find something less than positive about the next phase of their lives, dealing with medical or health issues was cited most often (21 percent for pre- retirees).” (My dad always said “if you’ve got your health you’re rich.” While I didn’t listen to him when I was younger, now I know he was a wise man.)
* “Among those who did find something less than positive about the next phase of their lives, dealing with medical or health issues was cited most often (21 percent for pre- retirees).” (My dad always said “if you’ve got your health you’re rich.” While I didn’t listen to him when I was younger, now I know he was a wise man.)
* When it comes to money, “pre-retirees said a milestone birthday (19 percent) or the realization that they are within 10 years of retiring (15 percent) were the two most common triggers for serious financial planning. It also seems that early planning plays off: More affluent retirees – those with $250,000 or more of investable assets – are twice as likely to say they began serious financial planning when they got their first job.” (Really, their first job? Really? I definitely did not take financial planning seriously when I was 22 years old. Did you? I cannot remember when I started to take financial planning more seriously. Maybe it was in my 30s.)
If you want to learn about your financial style, I suggest you take a fun online quiz from Chase Blueprint. I ranked “financially savvy.” Go Judi! Go Judi! Go Judi! To take the quiz and also find out about saving for retirement go to: www.chasefinancialwellness.com.
If you want to learn about your financial style, I suggest you take a fun online quiz from Chase Blueprint. I ranked “financially savvy.” Go Judi! Go Judi! Go Judi! To take the quiz and also find out about saving for retirement go to: www.chasefinancialwellness.com.
* Oh yes, there was one more interesting bit of news in the Age of Opportunity survey. “When asked what song they’d use to describe the retirement they have, or the one they hope to have, both groups most often chose “I Did It My Way.” (Really? A Frank Sinatra song? Come on baby boomers? Really? What song would I choose? Let’s see. This is a difficult question. Wait, I’ve got it. I think for right now I’m going to choose “Working on A Dream” by boomer guy Bruce Springsteen.)
Yes, I am going to be working on my dream in my retirement years. The best is truly yet to come.
Yes, I am going to be working on my dream in my retirement years. The best is truly yet to come.
Judi
Note on Age of Opportunity Survey Methodology: From Oct. 3-16, 2011, GfK Roper conducted a total of 1,964 telephone interviews with adults 45 years and older using RDD (random digit dialing). To qualify, respondents must have retired in the past 2-10 years (“retiree”) or plan to retire in the next 2-10 years (“pre-retiree”). These groups were further divided based on their household’s total investable assets, with quotas for under $250,000 and $250,000 or higher.
I am one of the very fortunate people who can retire at 55. I may stick it out for a couple more years, but knowing that I can gives me great peace of mind. There are so many things that I look forward to having time to do…I am looking at it as a new beginning. I don't know where it will take me but I am looking forward to the journey.
Linda B, thanks for your comment. Enjoy your retirement or really your time for reinvention.
We were extremely fortunate that we retired at 57 and 53. He retired, I just quit. We sold the house and almost everything in it and hit the road in our RV. Being retired military (him) working for our home state for 20 years (him) and having ten years vested in another company (him) and now with Social Security that kicked in(him) we are quite comfortable and living our dream. Our only regret, we couldn't do it sooner. If you have the chance to retire at 55 do it! Remember, tomorrow isn't promised.
Snooki, how wonderful. Enjoy this next phase of your life.
I think retirement age is still the age of opportunity, this is the age where you can learn everything you want, you have no obligations anymore, free what you wanted to do and learn because you've got nothing to lose, age is just numbers, enthusiasm is ageless, nice post!
Zero Dramas
Adel, thanks for your comment and wise words. I agree.