Retirement Outlook? Bad. Can the Web Help?

New Research Identifies Which Retirement Firm Web Sites Are Making Retirement Planning and Saving Easier.

New York, NY (PRWEB) July 12, 2006 -- Most Americans are woefully behind on their retirement savings. In theory, the web should offer some hope. The web should allow people to become better informed about retirement planning. The web should make it easy to get started with the right kind of retirement account, thus making saving easier. Unfortunately, the web sites of most firms offering retirement solutions make learning about retirement options much harder than it needs to be.

According to new research released today by Change Sciences Group, more than 50% of sites offering retirement solutions make it hard to find the retirement section of the site, let alone make use of it. For people that make it to the retirement section of the site, about half of the sites do not provide the most basic information about retirement fundamentals, such as finding clear, easy to read definitions of account types, or getting a clear definition of "tax deferral".

What about Full Service?

Most full service brokerages, while sometimes providing helpful content, make it extremely difficult to set up an account, forcing people who may just want to roll over funds to request a printed form, fill it out and fax it back. Most banks don't do much better.

To jump to report details visit:
http://changesciences.com/cgi-bin/reports.html

"Most sites are either cluttered up with too much content that's not written for the web, or too Spartan to be of any use," said Steve Ellis, a Change Sciences partner. "For brokerages, full service or discount, not having a meaningful retirement web strategy simply turns away a wide range of prospects."

There are some bright spots. A handful of sites have taken significant steps toward making their retirement sites easy to use and informative. The best site is more than three and a half times better than the worse site, and more than two times better than the average site. The three best retirement sites overall are:
1. Vanguard
2. Wells Fargo
3. TD Ameritrade

Other sites covered in the report include: A.G. Edwards, AIG SunAmerica, AIG VALIC, American Century, Ameriprise, AXA Advisors, Bank of America, Charles Schwab, Chase, Citibank, E*Trade, Edward Jones, Fidelity, Key Bank, Marshall & Ilsley, Merrill Lynch, MetLife, Morgan Stanley, National City, Piper Jaffray, PNC Investments, Prudential, Scottrade, Smith Barney, SunTrust, T. Rowe Price, TD Ameritrade, TIAA-CREF, US Bank, Vanguard, Wachovia, WaMu Financial, Washington Mutual, Wells Fargo Advantage Funds, and Wells Fargo.

For a detailed research overview including more findings, sample data, the report table of contents, and the complete ranking of all 35 sites visit:
http://changesciences.com/cgi-bin/reports.html

About Change Sciences
Change Sciences was founded in January 2000 to help companies improve online business by basing decisions on how people use technology while they live, work, and play.

If you would like more information about this topic or would like to talk with Steve Ellis, please call Kathy Berona at 888-864-1160.

Contact:
Kathy Berona
Change Sciences Group, Inc.
888-864-1160
www.changesciences.com

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More Communities Draw Bulls-eye on Baby Boomers - New Tool From TopRetirements.com Gets Your Retirement Community Noticed

Now it's easy for towns and developments to promote themselves as retirement communities. They can create a free listing in just a few minutes that will seen by thousands of baby boomers looking for a new retirement community.

Madison, CT (PRWEB) January 17, 2007 -- Many of the nation's 76 million baby boomersr are starting to think about choosing a retirement community. But up until now these active adults 55+ faced one big problem - where to find an objective list of attractive communities, along with enough usable facts to make an intelligent choice.

Free Listings for Retirement Communities
Hundreds of baby boomers search www.Topretirements.com every day, looking for their perfect retirement spot. Communities seeking to increase economic development by promoting their town or development as an ideal place to retire now have a powerful and free tool -- they can create a free listing at Topretirements. To list a community all that is needed are a few basic facts (population, Jan. temperature, housing costs, etc.), a photo, and short descriptions in various categories. Each review provides helpful information about what is special about the community, along with its cultural environment, medical, and transportation facilities. Editors at Topretirements refine the listings to insure editorial quality, which can then be edited by other Site Guides. There is no charge for the listings -- create one for your city, town, or active adult community at the site's "Add Your Community" feature (http://www.topretirements.com/index.php?title=Special:Userlogin)

Topretirements.com is a peer-reviewed online resource where baby boomers can find their perfect retirement community. One of the reasons why thousands of visitors are coming to the site is to download its free eBook, "The "Baby Boomers Guide to Choosing the Perfect Community -- 16 Factors You Need to Consider". This practical 48 page guide was co-authored by clinical psychologist, Roberta Isleib, PhD, and John Brady.

Visitors can download the Free Baby Boomer's Guide at http://www.topretirements.com/index.php?title=Ebookdownloadguest

About Topretirements.com
Topretirements features peer generated reviews in a Wikipedia-based format that encourages users to create and edit reviews of their communities. Visiting baby boomers will find objective reviews written by real people, instead of glowing advertisements for retirement communities written by marketers. To help active adults make more informed decisions the site presents a searchable database of vital facts about each retirement community such as temperatures, taxes, crime rates, cultural indices, recreational amenities, etc. Discussion Forums for each State and Community provide a venue where visitors can ask questions and give their opinions.

www.Topretirements.com -- Find your perfect retirement community!

        

Almost Two Thirds of Investment Returns Are Earned During, Not Prior to, Retirement

TACOMA, Wash. (Business Wire EON) May 27, 2008 -- Russell Investments has released research to its clients that shows that investment returns generated by 401(k) savings during an individual’s retirement play the critical role in providing retirement income. This challenges the conventional belief that retirement income is derived predominantly from savings and returns accumulated during a participant’s working years.

It would be wrong to conclude that contribution level is not important. Indeed, without contributions there can be no investment return

These findings build off significant research in the defined benefit space conducted by Don Ezra, director, Investment Strategy, almost two decades ago. In this earlier research, “A Model of Pension Fund Growth” (1989), Ezra modeled DB plan growth and found that “for any one plan member, the largest part of the investment return…accrues during the payout stage.”

Dubbed the 10/30/60 Rule by authors Matt Smith, managing director, Retirement Services and Bob Collie, director, Investment Strategy, this new research continues Russell’s efforts to leverage its decades of pension expertise for the benefit of the individual investor. In this case, the findings show that in a defined contribution (DC) context, the plan benefits that a participant receives in retirement can be broken out as:

• 10% of each retirement income dollar consists of contributions made to the DC plan while working
• 30% is made up of investment returns generated prior to retirement
• 60% is made up of investment returns generated after retirement

The basic 10/30/60 pattern proved to be stable even with a range of assumptions. As part of its research, Russell altered several input assumptions – such as the retirement age, the age when saving begins and age of death – and found that only lowering the expected post-retirement return would significantly change the 10/30/60 rule.

“It would be wrong to conclude that contribution level is not important. Indeed, without contributions there can be no investment return,” said Smith. “However, with roughly 90% of distributions being generated by investment earnings, sound investment programs are critical if DC plans are to be effective in meeting goals for financial security in retirement.

“The current turmoil in the markets can cause individual investors to panic and focus only on the short-term. This research underpins the importance of a long-term, diversified investment approach as the best way to maximize the chance of successfully meeting retirement income goals,” said Smith. “Plan sponsors can do their part by diligently reviewing their plan design to ensure best practices when it comes to investment line-ups, including the plan’s default options.”

For more information on Russell’s Retirement Research, please visit www.russell.com.

About Russell

Russell Investments provides strategic advice, world-class implementation, state-of-the-art performance benchmarks and a range of institutional-quality investment products. With nearly $213 billion in assets under management (as of 3/31/08), Russell serves individual, institutional and advisor clients in more than 40 countries. Russell provides access to some of the world's best money managers. It helps investors put this access to work in corporate defined benefit and defined contribution plans, and in the life savings of individual investors.

Founded in 1936, Russell is a subsidiary of Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company and headquartered in Tacoma, Wash. Russell has principal offices in Amsterdam, Auckland, Johannesburg, London, Melbourne, New York, Paris, San Francisco, Singapore, Sydney, Tokyo and Toronto.

RFD# 0469

Copyright © Russell Investments 2001-2008. All rights reserved.

Russell Investment Group is a Washington, USA corporation, which operates through subsidiaries worldwide, including Russell Investments, and is a subsidiary of The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company.

Russell Fund Distributors, Inc. member FINRA, part of Russell Investments.

Investments are subject to market risk and may lose value.

        

Senior Something is retiring.

With the number of seniors and baby boomers online steadily increasing, SeniorSomething.com is retiring.

Houston, TX (PRWEB) September 18, 2004 -- With the number of seniors and baby boomers online steadily increasing, SeniorSomething.com is retiring. On November 31, after five years online, SeniorSomething's founder and owner, Eric Marchand of Houston TX, has decided to deactivate SeniorSomething.com and seven other websites currently online.

Marchand considers his group to be lucky since no one is actually being laid off. "Our staff of seven has been released with compensation since August 15. We're all over fifty. We all had other lives before this venture, and that's what we're go back to doing. We operated a debt free operation, that's why we don't have to say ouch." He also cites ongoing health issues as his main motivation. "Right now I need to slow down and spend some time with those close to me." The staff members are scattered across the country and operated from virtual home offices.

Having caught the tail of the internet bubble, in early 2001 Marchand unloaded his website and domain name eMoneyGram.com to Traveler's Express. He went on to develope and maintain a high of fourteen websites that catered to a diverse group of niche markets. His website SeniorSomething.com went online in November 1999, and CNN.com highlighted the website on its site for two weeks, one year later. "That was quite a jolt for me. To be recognized at all on the internet after one year was exciting enough, but to have caught the eye of a national news service was very encouraging." SeniorSomething.com was originally developed to make it easier for Marchand's elderly mother to find what she needed online.

When asked how he felt about pulling the plug on SeniorSomething, Marchand replied that he'd like to see all the live websites survive, "but I can't be the one to help them do it right now." Offers are being accepted for the SeniorSomething.com property, and approximately 80 other domain names that are owned by Marchand & Associates. Marchand & Associates does business online at eMarketInvestors.com.

CONTACT INFORMATION:
Eric Marchand
Marchand & Associates
713-270-0821 Voice message
http://www.eMarketInvestors.com

Interviewed by Iko Nomi
12:30PM CST 17Sept2004

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Top career website for age 50+ workers evaluates and encourages workplaces to retain and recruit experienced employees.

BOSTON & NEW ORLEANS (Business Wire EON) April 30, 2007 -- At the SHRM Staffing Management Conference, RetirementJobs.com, the leading provider of career services to people over age 50, today announced the national launch of the RetirementJobs.com Age Friendly Employer Certification™ Program. RetirementJobs.com’s Certification Program is a unique initiative to identify and expand the number of employers that maintain policies, practices and programs consistent with employment of people age 50 and older based solely on their proficiency, qualifications and contribution, and on terms and conditions comparable to younger individuals. Further, Certification indicates an employer’s recognition of the value of age 50+ workers, as well as its commitment to take affirmative action in providing meaningful employment, development opportunities, and competitive pay and benefits.

We are honored that RetirementJobs.com designated our company as a Certified Age Friendly Employer(TM)

Examples of employers who’ve earned RetirementJobs.com Age Friendly Employer Certification include national brands like H&R Block, Marriott, Staples and REI; as well as regional employers: Massachusetts General Hospital, San Francisco’ Specialty Café and Bakery, and ARC of Hunterdon County (a New Jersey facility serving people with developmental disabilities).

“We are honored that RetirementJobs.com designated our company as a Certified Age Friendly Employer™,” said Andrea Smith, Senior Manager of Talent Acquisition at Borders Group, Inc. (NYSE: BGP) a $4.1 billion retailer of books, music, and movies. “Borders truly values the diversity of our employees, customers and vendors because it results in our ongoing success. By hiring mature workers, we not only create a workforce that mirrors our customer base, but we also are able to hire talented, loyal and reliable employees who can positively impact the customer experience and our results.”

“The RetirementJobs.com Certification Program streamlines the process of connecting older employees with employers who’ll value their experience, addressing the needs of both parties simultaneously” says Robert Skladany, VP of Research and Certification, RetirementJobs.com.

“Our certification program essentially fuses the principles of Consumer Reports with a job board: a codification to label any and all employers that can prove themselves as age-friendly.”

For more on the Age Friendly Employer Certification Program (including a full-length announcement), or to learn whether your company is age friendly--send an e-mail to certify@retirementjobs.com or visit www.retirementjobs.com

RetirementJobs.com is a registered trademark; Age Friendly Employer, Certified Age Friendly Employer, Age Friendly Employer Certification are trademarks of RetirementJobs.com, Inc. All other trademarks or service marks are property of their respective owners.

        

ORLANDO, Fla. (Business Wire EON) June 11, 2008 -- The Newport Group, a national provider of retirement plans, executive benefits and investment advisory services, announced that recent and anticipated company growth has led it to build a new state-of-the-art data center—an expansion of the secure computer area that houses the firm’s core systems, networking and telecommunications equipment.

Due to the recent significant increase in our business, as well as the ongoing growth we expect, we have created a brand-new facility that's over twice as large. This gives us the capacity to expand Newport's data storage systems by hundreds and eventually thousands of servers.

“Presently, Newport’s servers process personal and financial data for 400,000 participants in more than 2,100 retirement and benefit plans nationwide,” said Chief Operating Officer Bryant Kirk. “Due to the recent significant increase in our business, as well as the ongoing growth we expect, we have created a brand-new facility that’s over twice as large. This gives us the capacity to expand Newport’s data storage systems by hundreds and eventually thousands of servers.”

Inside the facility at Newport’s Charlotte, NC service center, a high-tech security system provides video surveillance and monitors the environment and power loads. Newport employs numerous internal and external controls to assure the integrity of client data is protected and its systems are secure, including advanced firewall and backup systems and full disaster recovery planning. Newport’s data center features an uninterruptible power supply and backup power, and systems to maintain and monitor electrical power, fire suppression, humidity and temperature. One new feature, Newport’s in-row cooling unit system, is the largest of its kind in North Carolina.

“Our continuing investment in the latest technology helps keep us at the forefront of the retirement services industry,” Kirk continued. “This in turn allows us to streamline virtually every aspect of client and participant service. Our clients consistently tell us that our technology is second to none in the industry.”

A full service provider of retirement and benefit plans, Newport has earned industry accolades for its plan sponsor and participant technology. With corporate headquarters in Orlando, the firm maintains service centers in Charlotte, NC, Greensboro, NC, La Crosse, WI, Orlando, FL, Richmond, VA, St. Louis, MO, and St. Petersburg, FL.

About The Newport Group

Founded in 1984, The Newport Group is a leading retirement services and asset management firm—specializing in the creative design, funding, and administration of qualified and non-qualified retirement plans as well as co-fiduciary investment advisory services. Through its innovative and customized solutions, Newport is uniquely positioned to satisfy the distinct financial needs of employers and employees, and has done so for hundreds of the country’s largest and best-known companies. For more information, visit www.newportgroup.com.

        

55CommunityGuide.com - Comprehensive Directory of 55+ Retirement Communities

Retirement Media Inc. launches newest site with plans to have 55CommunityGuide.com be the largest directory of retirement communities, active adult communities and 55 plus homes on the Internet.

Alpharetta, GA (PRWEB) August 28, 2007 -- Retirement Media Inc. announces 55CommunityGuide.com has been launched with a good start on its goal of being the most comprehensive directory of 55+ communities and homes on the Internet. Retirement communities and Realtors specializing in 55+ homes may place FREE Premium directory listings on the 55CommunityGuide.com site. This is helping build 55CommunityGuide.com's directory of retirement community listings while giving excellent exposure to the retirement community, according to Robert Fowler, President of Retirement Media Inc.

I had no idea how nice these new Active Adult Communities are and think they will be a big hit to Boomers my age.

Retirement Media Inc. was created in 2006 by Robert Fowler after he sold his home rental ads and property management sites to Consumer Source Interactive. Fowler, age 59, looked at other opportunities and decided his new focus would be retirement sites, especially those related to Boomers and the question of where to live in their retirement.

SmallTownRetirement.com was Fowler's first site in this new endeavor and has done quite nicely showing up organically in the search engines, a skill Fowler developed with his previous sites. SmallTownRetirement.com includes a blog where reviews of active adult communities, small towns and retirement communities are made. Fowler says "A representative of Pulte/Del Webb read our blog and contacted me requesting I review their three new Georgia communities." Fowler was impressed. "I had no idea how nice these new Active Adult Communities are and think they will be a big hit to Boomers my age."

Noting there is no one place to see information on all retirement communities, 55CommunityGuide.com was begun to fill that niche. The site provides Boomers, Seniors and pre-retirees a resource to locate retirement communities and places to retire. The types of properties in 55CommunityGuide.com's directory are 55+ communities, active adult retirement communities, retirement communities, 55+ friendly homes and subdivisions, 55+ condos, manufactured homes, second and vacation homes and brokers/agents catering to 55 plus homes. We even have a category for affordable retirement communities.

55CommunityGuide.com is always free for those looking for a retirement community or a place to live. Communities and agents can place their free premium ad by clicking the "Advertise with Us" link on top of the home page. 55CommunityGuide.com also includes classifieds ads for agents with individual 55 homes to advertise and sections where open houses and preview events can be scheduled, retirement articles and promotional advertising.

About 55CommunityGuide.com
55CommunityGuide.com is a national on line service which provides a directory of retirement communities, 55 + communities, active adult communities. Also the site provides retirement articles, classified ads for 55 Plus Realtors, events and promotional advertising. Based in Alpharetta, Georgia 55CommunityGuide.com is part of the Retirement Media Inc. family of sites which includes SmallTownRetirement.com and others. For more information, visit 55CommunityGuide.com

        

Helping Boomers Take Action to Realize Their Retirement Dreams

Michael Dinich a 1-year MDRT member to hold retirement workshops throughout the month of August in conjunction with MDRT's Retirement Preparedness week. MDRT is a leading non-profit association representing more than 35,000 of the best financial services professionals around the world.

Sayre, PA (PRWEB) July 26, 2007 -- Although thousands of Baby Boomers throughout the Southern Tier of New York celebrate their 60th birthday each day, research shows that a vast majority are not financially prepared for retirement. To help local Baby Boomers better understand -- and overcome -- the unique financial challenges they face in retirement, financial expert Michael Dinich of Sayre is planning educational efforts as part of the Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT) Baby Boomer Retirement Preparedness Week, August 6-10, 2007.

MDRT is a leading non-profit association representing more than 35,000 of the best financial services professionals around the world. During Baby Boomer Retirement Preparedness Week, MDRT members are partnering with local media, governments, businesses and community groups to conduct educational activities and events. Michael Dinich, a 1 year MDRT member is planning special retirement workshops throughout the Month of August, for specific dates and locations please call 1-800-729-1564.

It is never too late to take steps that will improve your financial future.

Baby Boomers face financial challenges no previous generation has encountered, including pension terminations, skyrocketing healthcare costs, uncertainty about government programs such as Social Security, decreased personal savings rates and significantly increased life expectancy during retirement.

"To overcome their unique financial challenges, Boomers must take action on their own behalf to prepare for retirement," said Michael. "It is never too late to take steps that will improve your financial future."

MDRT Baby Boomer Retirement Preparedness Week
During Baby Boomer Retirement Preparedness Week, Michael Dinich and other MDRT members will be armed with information and tools presented at the recent MDRT Boomertirement Summit. At that event, Dr. Alan Greenspan (U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman - 1987-2006) and other financial experts, scholars, researchers and thought leaders came together for two days of discussion about solutions to the retirement challenges facing Baby Boomers.

MDRT has also established a Web site -- www.boomertirement.com -- that provides Baby Boomers with tools and information to help them take action in preparing for retirement. Content includes:

• Information about steps Boomers of various ages should be taking to prepare for retirement.
• A report that provides a summary of each Boomertirement Summit session, as well as links to video/audio of these sessions, audience handouts and other resources.

To get involved in Baby Boomer Retirement Preparedness Week, please contact Michael Dinich at 1-800-729-1564 or online at www.MichaelDinich.com.

ABOUT MDRT AND BOOMERTIREMENT
MDRT is The Premier Association of Financial Professionals. Founded in 1927, MDRT is an international, independent association of more than 35,000, or less than 1 percent, of the world's best life insurance and financial services professionals. With membership from 77 nations and territories, MDRT members demonstrate exceptional professional knowledge, strict ethical conduct and outstanding client service. MDRT membership is recognized internationally as the standard of sales excellence in the life insurance and financial services business.

Through Boomertirement, MDRT is providing leadership that will help the financial services industry provide solutions that will encourage the biggest generation in history -- Baby Boomers -- to take action to navigate the financial challenges they confront as they retire.

        

You Can Retire in a Weekend Says America's Retirement Strategist

Personal financial expert, Bill Losey is the author of Retire in a Weekend! The Baby Boomer's Guide to Making Work Optional and boldly claims anyone can learn how to retire in a weekend. The book is based upon real life and filled with honest feedback from pre-retirees.

Wilton, N.Y. (PRWEB) February 27, 2008 -- There are many books on personal finance and retirement but none based on feedback from over 5,000 pre-retirees and retirees nationwide. Over the past year, Bill Losey, author of Retire in a Weekend! The Baby Boomer's Guide to Making Work Optional, surveyed his clients, hundreds of people who've attended his retirement and investing workshops, as well as thousands of subscribers to his free, award-winning newsletter, Retirement Intelligence®. With more than 12,000 responses, Losey discovered their biggest retirement concerns and the most significant questions they wanted answered.

Most couldn't make sense of all the information. They didn't know what did or didn't matter to their situation, and they didn't know how to synthesize and apply it all. Most importantly, they were hungry for straight talk, not some fear-based sales pitch. As a result, my book is short, simple, easy-to-understand, and laced with humor.

"When I listened to my seminar attendees express how they were confused, and sometimes overwhelmed with all the conflicting financial information available, I knew I had to do something," Losey explains. "Most couldn't make sense of all the information. They didn't know what did or didn't matter to their situation, and they didn't know how to synthesize and apply it all. Most importantly, they were hungry for straight talk, not some fear-based sales pitch. As a result, my book is short, simple, easy-to-understand, and laced with humor."

Losey's book provides straight answers and sound advice in a user friendly, humorous format. It is easy to read in a few hours over the course of a weekend. It shows people how to do what they want, when they want, where they want so they can truly make work optional.

Some of the topics Retire In A Weekend! covers include:

• The five biggest retirement concerns - and exactly what you can do about them
• Answers to the 10 most common questions about retirement
• How to bullet-proof your retirement plan
• How to retire today
• Everything you wanted to know about money, inflation, social security, but didn't know to ask
• The absolute best and proven investing strategy

"It doesn't matter who I am speaking to: male, female; high or low net worth; married or single; widowed or divorced," says Losey. "All of their concerns and questions are exactly the same. My book addresses them all and provides real world solutions to retirement."

"Stop asking yourself if you can retire. It may be a bold statement, but with my book you'll learn how to actually do it."

The book also includes a free DVD, The 10 Biggest Mistakes People Make When Retiring & How You Can Avoid Them. For more information, about the book and retirement planning, visit www.retireinaweekend.com or www.myretirementsuccess.com

Bill Losey is a graduate of Marist College and obtained his certification in financial planning from The College for Financial Planning in Denver. He is a member of the Financial Planning Association, the Society of Certified Senior Advisors and the National Ethics Bureau. Losey has nearly 20 years experience in the financial services industry and is a Certified Financial Planner™ practitioner, a Certified Senior Advisor and Certified RSP-Trained Retirement Coach. He is the founder of National Retirement Planning Month, and publishes Retirement Intelligence ®, a free weekly award-winning newsletter that reaches thousands of subscribers worldwide. As a qualified professional in the areas of retirement strategies and investment alternatives, Bill has been interviewed on CNN, FOX News and Bloomberg Business Radio. He is a former guest host of "Money Matters", a financial commentator for RNN-TV, and guest host of the "Issues on Aging" radio program. He currently lives in upstate New York with his wife and children.

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3 Retirement Challenges the Experts Never Told You About

New research finds Boomers demanding a new set of values as they near retirement.

CHICAGO, IL (PRWEB) July 15, 2004 -- Its not what you have for retirement that matters, but how you reinvent yourself so you retire with vigor, finds new research reported in the new retirement planning book, Boomers: Visions of the New Retirement," by a 30-something university dean and retirement transition expert.

Baby Boomers, who will live another 20 or more years after retirement, are demanding a full and rewarding second life that will be much different than the one they left behind," said Dr. Maria Malayter, PhD., who wrote Boomers: Visions of the New Retirement," published this spring by iUniverse. This new vision of retirement is going to force major changes to the services human resources professionals offer to their retiring employees."

An assistant dean for the College of Arts and Sciences at National-Louis University, Chicago, and previously a professor there in Applied Behavioral Science, Dr. Malayter – Doc Maria, as shes know to her students and colleagues – has studied and tracked retiree and retirement trends since 1993. She also owns the consulting practice, Innovations in Change (www.DocMaria.com).

Older workers are bombarded with retirement advice about money, health and relocation issues, yet somehow we have forgotten that in retirement, the need for relationships, the thirst for learning and the desire for meaning become major challenges that retirees struggle to fulfill," said Doc Maria, who, as transitions instructor at Great Lakes Naval Training Center, Great Lakes, IL, conducted considerable research with men and women transitioning out of the workforce.

Doc Maria said she recognizes that basic human needs such as housing, income and good health are the foundation of any life. But my research with retirees and Boomers now exiting the workforce shows they face three important challenges to a fulfilling second life that no research or advice has supported until now."

Based on her studies of retirement trends and retirees, Doc Maria said those retirees whove found retirement richly rewarding had to first reinvent themselves for this new cycle of their life. Those challenges are, she said:

-The deep desire and continued need for relationships and companionship: Retirement is a period of soul-searching and transformation. Companions help us find the way and help us define our new identity outside of work. This desire often extends beyond what spouse or life partners can offer. Many Boomer retirees find they need to forge new relationships and develop new companions through hobby-related activities, volunteer work or social activities. Some return to part-time jobs or second careers to fulfill this need.

Such social supports help retirees keep track of each others lives, which provides another reason to live and stay healthy so they can continue to contribute," Doc Maria said.

-A continued yearning to learn: To validate this finding, one need only look at the number of older Americans and retirees attending college or continuing education programs. In fact, Doc Maria notes in Boomers: Visions of the New Retirement," more than 300 U.S. colleges – including Northwestern University in Evanston, IL, have established learning in retirement" programs to meet older adults need to be intellectually challenged.

-Spiritual and holistic well-being: To find meaning in retirement, retirees will return to faith-based endeavors or pursue personal spiritual matters to address well-being issues. Many find such endeavors help to replace the emptiness that comes with retirement after the prestige, position and power of career no longer give purpose.

The time spent in retirement is to make up for perceived missed opportunities due to work commitments," Doc Maria said. Embracing spiritual matters helps many experience self change and self happiness as they enter retirement."

Boomers: Visions of the New Retirement" has special emphasis for human resources professionals who will need to better understand how to deliver the type of retirement planning services retiring Baby Boomers will demand.

The Baby Boomer generation is approaching retirement age, and society will be surprised if preparation is not considered," Doc Maria said.

Boomers: Visions of the New Retirement" is available online at www.amazon.com.

Media Contact
Jim Leman
LemanBizWriter.com
847-543-1090
jimleman@comcast.net