Retire by Degrees

One summer, an ant was busy gathering food for the winter. He worked hard all day long, carrying grains of wheat and other food into his nest. A grasshopper saw the ant working and asked him why he was working so hard. The ant told the grasshopper that he was preparing for the winter, when […]

Author and psychologist, Morrie Shechtman, posed some interesting ideas in the mid-1990s in his book, “Working Without a Net,” that are applicable today to the notion of phased retirement. In the 90s, you may recall, personal accountability was a big deal.  Newt Gingrich was a fan of Morrie’s and touted many of his principles of […]

While I’m an advocate for phased retirement – versus a sudden full stop – having a goal date and timeline is still an important motivator. Being able to count down to the date when your full-time work ends and some new type of work begins is not only motivating, it’s exciting! When I ask one […]

Retirement is a significant life transition that brings about many changes, including a shift in one’s identity and perception of self-worth. After dedicating decades to their career, individuals often find themselves grappling with a sense of loss and uncertainty as they navigate the uncharted waters of retirement. While financial stability, hobbies, social engagement, and community […]

This mentality, from the book “Four Thousand Weeks” by Oliver Burkeman, can keep us from really living our lives.  We push happiness out into the future while we’re waiting for some other day “when I finally”…have more money, or have more time or achieve some milestone. This week my wife and I drove north and […]

When I talk with people about their retirement plans, it seems this is what many of them long for. Unscripted days. No crises to deal with, no unproductive meetings to attend, and no decisions to make or issues to resolve.  Their view is that of an ‘endless weekend’ to kick back and enjoy themselves. But be careful […]