Are you starting to plan your retirement?
Think like a canoeist, says retirement expert Donna McCaw, of Elora.
According McCaw’s recently published book It’s Your Time: Information and Exercises to Get You Ready for a Great Retirement, successful retirees approach their retirement the way an experienced canoeist plans a safe yet exciting canoe trip – by over-preparing and then going with the flow.
McCaw’s approach helps people plan wisely but empowers them to make changes once they’re into retirement and realize that their plans may not entirely fit the reality.
Her new book, which focuses on retirement advice for Canadians, shows future retirees how to plan the retirement that fits them; how they can enter this fulfilling time of their life with confidence and flexibility, prepared for some nice surprises.
It’s Your Time offers a valuable heads-up in the areas of:
– getting started: the emotional issues of moving from the work world to the world of retirement; people’s retirement plans and expectations; what people need to consider before making the leap into retirement;
– finances: the importance of knowing the financial facts about retirement, including current net worth and future needs;
– health and wellness: the top health issues affecting women and men and how to prevent or manage them; understanding the aging process; dealing with the financial considerations of health care;
– leisure: different leisure styles; passive vs. active leisure; the value of volunteering; making dreams come true;
– relationships: the importance of keeping in touch with family and friends and understanding the next steps for primary relationships; and
– transitions: considerations for managing the first year of retirement; how some retirees “re-vocate, re-locate, and re-generate”; the secrets of the successfully retired.
McCaw retired at age 54 after a career in education and counselling at high schools and colleges and with adult education programs.
She says her master’s degree in applied psychology, a joy for storytelling, and a wry sense of humour combine to make her an effective educator and entertainer.
Her writing and presentations on retirement readiness, retirement planning for women and other topics are straightforward, down to earth, and accessible as well as spirited and fun, she adds.
McCaw’s mission is to inspire people to have the retirement they are passionate about with confidence in their decisions and choices.
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A celebration of McCaw’s release of It’s Your Time will be held at the Elora Centre for the Arts on June 19 from 2 to 4pm. All are welcome at the event.
