Need help with your retirement plans?
Can the American Association of Retired Persons help you plan for retirement?
What can men do to prepare for the lifestyle changes that retirement brings? In an article on the website of the American Association of Retired Persons, Dr. Rosalind S. Dorlen of Summit, New Jersey, says that she believes that men, before they retire, should develop a written plan for what they want to do during retirement. The plan, she said, should resemble the business plans or strategic plans that many men routinely create at work.
Creating a “Retirement Business Plan,” Dr. Dorlen said, will help men identify potential problems early, giving them time to get professional help from a retirement counselor or lifestyle coach. life. He may be able to find that person within the organization of the American Association of Retired Persons.
What is the American Association of Retired Persons? Can you help him?
The Washington Post calls it “the influential group of older people.” The New York Times calls it “the influential lobby for older Americans.” They’re talking about the group that used to be called the American Association of Retired Persons. It now calls itself simply by initials because some members objected to the term “retired”. That should be an indication that the members are not all “senior” or “older”.
The magazine of the American Association of Retired Persons describes itself as the world’s largest circulation magazine, serving “the needs and interests of people 50 and older.” Being 50 years old doesn’t sound too old or older.
The circulation, 22 million, and the membership, around 35 million, are impressive. Those numbers alone seem to validate media claims that this is an “influential” group. But those assumptions would be wrong. Many join this organization because of the discounts on things like hotel rooms and car rentals. They have no idea what the organization does politically, and many don’t care. Recent evidence shows that gay rights, pornographic, and pro-drug magazine writers have taken control of the magazine (we’ll save that for another article).
Retirement planning is something most people don’t do, or think that having a 401k, or some other retirement account, is all they need. Many do not consider housing or health care, two very important but often overlooked needs. Should I stay at my current residence? Is moving to a retirement community the best place to live? What if I get sick? Who will take care of me and where will I live? These are important questions that can be answered and planned for before retirement.
In addition to planning for housing and health care, there should be a plan to stay active. A person cannot watch as much television, play as much golf, or play as many card games. There should be plenty of activities not only to keep the mind sharp but also to keep the body healthy.
Dr. James “Chip” Long of Little Rock, Arkansas said, “When a person retires, there is a void in their life.” Finding ways to fill that gap, Dr. Long noted, is one of the most challenging aspects of adjusting to retirement.
He recommends that people approaching retirement sit down with a mental health professional or other adviser to discuss what they hope for in retirement and how they plan to spend their time.
When consulted, Dr. Long said, the emphasis is on activities that are varied but meaningful. “There’s a limit to how much golf a person can play,” he said.
The American Association of Retired Persons may not be able to help you, but planning for your retirement is important. I think that’s what this organization was created for, to help aging baby boomers navigate the upcoming retirement, though that may not be their current agenda. Whether you become a member or not, there is still plenty of good information available on their website (you may just have to wade through all the rhetoric).
If you don’t like the American Association of Retired Persons, or you don’t like their schedule, there are other options for retirement. One that many people turn to is a home based business. If you are looking for more information on a home business, please contact me or click on one of the links below.