My Retirement Journal: A BLUEPRINT for a KICK-ASS 2nd ACT LIFE

By Gary A. Weuve

There are no do-overs in life.

And that’s a blessing in disguise because the 1st Act of your life was chock-full of valuable personal and professional experiences. My Retirement Journal is your honest, comprehensive blueprint to building on that foundation and creating a kick-ass 2nd&nbsp

• Language: English
• Publisher: 2ND ACT LIVES Publishing, LLC
• Release date: Sep 19, 2018
• ISBN: 9781732420922

Gary A. Weuve

Gary A. Weuve is a certified business coach and financial planner who has helped thousands of clients navigate the murky waters of retirement. He learned early on that building portfolios and estate planning weren't enough. Weuve dedicated his servant leadership years to developing a holistic approach that also considers the lifestyle, emotional, and financial aspects of retirement planning. Recently retired from his day job, Weuve truly understands the unique challenges facing new retirees because he's been through the process himself.

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My Retirement Journal: A Blueprint for a Kick-Ass 2ND ACT LIFE

Copyright © 2018 by Gary A. Weuve

All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

This book is sold with the understanding that neither the author nor publisher is engaged in the rendering of medical, nutritional, legal, tax, or investment advice. For these matters the reader is encouraged to first consult with a licensed professional before making any changes to his or her current situation.

For information about this title or to order other books, contact the publisher:

2NDACTLIVES Publishing, LLC


9901 Brodie Lane, Suite 160, PMB 258

Austin, TX 78748

[e-mail]

LCCN: 2018906717

ISBN: 978-1-7324209-2-2

Cover/interior design and composition: Kim Scott, Bumpy Design

Cover illustration: Aleutie

Editing: Elisabeth Chretien of Chretien Wordsmithery, LLC Christina Roth

Printed in the United States of America First edition

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Our Mission: Committed to enriching the retirement experience.

www.2NDACTLIVES.com

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Dear Reader,

Thank you for downloading My Retirement Journal: A BLUEPRINT for a KICK-ASS 2nd ACT LIFE. As you work through the book you will find several worksheets we share to assist you as you evolve into your amazing, authentic, and abundant life in retirement. So you have access to these valuable tools in a usable format, I have included a link to our website for downloadable versions.

Just click here and use the password Abundant.

Enjoy your journey!

Gary A. Weuve, CFP®

Founder and CEO

2NDACTLIVES, LLC

To all retirement warriors seeking to live their passions, experience their dreams, and make a difference in their

2ND ACT LIFE.

Contents

Introduction

My Journey

Are You Ready for Your 2ND ACT?

How to Use this Journal

Disclaimer

Are You Emotionally Ready?

Where’s Your Head and Heart?

Emotionally Retooling for Retirement

The Evolution of a Retired Life

Your Personal Retirement Readiness Assessment

Happiness

Thinking Right

How Will You Spend Your Time?

You Will Have the Time—Make It Count

It Starts with Your Vision

Know Your Values

Values Exercise

Activities to Enhance Your Kick-Ass Retirement Experience

Volunteerism: Put Those Skills to Work

Internships: Not Just for Junior Any Longer

Journaling: The Four-Lane Highway to Self-Expression

Meditation: A Workout for Your Brain

Yoga: Improving Your Strength, Flexibility, and Balance

Cardiovascular Fitness: Becoming Heart-Healthy

Nutrition: Eating Your Way to a Better Life

Intimacy and Sex: Holding on to the Summer of Love

Let’s Get Your Brain Firing

The Three Lists

List One: Things You Like to Do

List Two: Things You Don’t Like to Do

List Three: Your Bucket List

Your Ideal Kick-Ass Retired Life Vision

Achieve Peak Performance

Family and Friends

Health and Fitness

Finances

Personal Growth

Recreation and Fun

Love and Romance

Work and Volunteerism

Spirituality

The Balance Wheel of Life

Maintaining a Balanced Life

Are You Financially Prepared?

The Fuel for Your Kick-Ass Retired Life

Personal Balance Sheet

A Primer on the Basics of Social Security

Retirement Credits

Who Else Can Qualify for a Retirement Benefit?

Primary Insurance Amount

Full Retirement Age

Taxation of Social Security Retirement Benefits

Ready. Set. When?

Lessons from the Lost Decade

Spending Plans in Retirement

Your Spending Plan

Creating Better Retired Lives

Downsizing

Key End-of-Life Documents

Last Will and Testament

Trusts

Beneficiary Designations Forms

Durable Power of Attorney

Advanced HealthCare Directive

HealthCare Proxy

HIPAA Release

Checklist of Documents

Your Legacy

Finding a Financial Advisor

Your New Life

You’re Ready, So Let’s Get Started

Join the 2ND ACT LIVES Community

Resources

The Journey Continues

Bonus Section

The Shaping of a Generation

About the Author

Introduction

Sooner or later I’m going to die, but I’m not going to retire.

—Margaret Mead

If we think of the concept of retirement solely as a time of leaving one’s job, career, or occupation permanently, usually because of age, I can see why cultural anthropologist Margaret Mead didn’t want anything to do with it.

However, instead, let me suggest that it is this common definition of retirement that is what really needs to retire. At first blush, it may seem that retiring is all about disengaging from what is going on around you. But let me propose a different idea: retirement is really a new beginning, a rejuvenation, a new chapter, a 2ND ACT in the story of your life.

Think of your decision to retire as a wonderful gift, giving you the flexibility to do whatever you wish. And the possibilities that come with that flexibility are endless. Do you want to learn a new skill? Take a class or apply for an adult internship. Do you feel a need to hone your computer skills? Ask a millennial to mentor you. Do you have a desire to get in better shape? Join a gym and attend a skill-­level-appropriate exercise class. With a little research on the internet, you can access many options and opportunities. You are limited only by your imagination and determination.

If you’re not fully ready to give up your career, you can continue working part-time. Approach your employer and investigate the possibilities. Use the extra time to fulfill other passions you may have wanted to explore but never had the time for.

If finances are not an issue, you can volunteer! Not-for-profit organizations can always use someone like you, a steely-eyed veteran of life with wisdom, awareness, and experience.

Or maybe it’s time for a slash career, engaging in several jobs or activities at once. You can build a collection of part-time jobs that interest you. For example, if you work a few hours a week as a barista at your local coffee shop, write a column for your neighborhood newsletter, and help serve meals at your local Ronald McDonald House, you would be a barista/writer/volunteer. Think of ways you can combine your unique skills and interests into something rewarding.

Whatever activities you choose, really think about what impact you can have on others. Over your lifetime, you have built an inventory of knowledge, skills, and experiences. The sum total of that know-how and those capabilities gives you the tools for guiding others and can empower you to become an influential mentor, someone who really makes a difference in others’ lives.

The pages ahead will provide you with a guide, a blueprint for designing your 2ND ACT LIFE. This journal is filled with exercises, lists, ideas, and suggestions on how to build a kick-ass retired life that is filled with anticipation, challenge, and fulfillment—one that is aligned with your goals, values, and passions.

The poet Dylan Thomas said it best when he wrote:

Do not go gentle into that good night,

Old age should burn and rave at close of day;

Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Now is not the time to check out but rather to sign up. Start today!

Have any preliminary thoughts or ideas come to mind? If so, write them down here:

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My Journey

Dear past, thanks for all the lessons. Dear future, I’m ready…

—Unknown

I made the decision on a Wednesday, after thirty-five years with the same organization. I decided that I was going to retire, and the timing could not have been better. I was ready; after all, thirty-five years is a long time. But that left me with the question: So now what? What is my next step, my ensuing chapter, my 2ND ACT? In my new life as a retiree, when I now had the time and freedom to do whatever I wish, it was time to examine, question, and determine my encore career.

My entire professional life had been dedicated to the service of others. I have a passion for servant leadership. So, it made sense that I somehow continue on that path. That is why I launched 2NDACTLIVES.™ In the more than forty years I worked in financial services, I saw the issues baby boomers, and now Gen Xers, faced as they planned for and entered into retirement.

My career had been devoted to training financial advisors to assist individuals in preparing for the financial side of their retirement. But as I spoke to folks from all types of backgrounds, from every economic group, and in every region of the country, I discovered the issues surrounding retirement go beyond merely accumulating enough in your savings and investments.

Today’s retiree could spend twenty years or more in retirement, so what will you do? How will you fill your time? Why will you join in and participate in life? What pursuits will enrich your retired life?

I want to assist and guide you through that process by not only providing you with the financial information you need, but also by helping you find activities to fill your time that are fulfilling and rewarding. And I won’t be doing it alone. My goal is to build a community of 2ND ACT people, active baby boomers I call Zoomers, as well as the upcoming Gen Xers—a community we can all draw upon for ideas and inspiration.

This is my why, the reason