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Do You Know?

Do You Know?	Yet	In Your Retirement Quest, Learn about:
Most retirees say they want a life of purpose; one that improves their communities and helps others.	<30% of retirees volunteer <4% volunteer more than nine hours/week The average retiree watches TV for 43 hours/week	Giving Back
After age 30, we lose 2% of our capacity (energy) to live life if we don't take steps to offset the loss.	90% of people exercise <30 minutes/day 81% of Baby Boomers are overweight	Well-Being
One of the most important predictors of a successful retirement is whether a person has a plan.	Most people spend more time planning a two-week vacation than planning their retirement Only about 30% have a plan (mostly only a financial plan)	Planning
Having close personal relationships can add years and quality to your life.	On average, a person has only 1.5 close friends; was three a decade ago Virtual networks are replacing face-to-face relationships	Connectedness
Having fun and laughing improves the immune system, relieves stress, and builds relationships.	Children laugh 300-400 times/ day; adults laugh 10-15 times/ day Few people are comfortable acting spontaneously	Fun
Many people want to make changes in their lives.	Change is difficult <10% of New Year's resolutions yield results Only 20% who have had a heart attack make meaningful long term changes in important behaviors	Doing What You Plan
Those with a positive attitude live eight years longer on average and are less likely to become frail.	Many allow their age to prematurely limit their activities Many exhibit pessimism, negativity, hopelessness, and disengagement	Attitude
Financial security is an important element of a successful retirement.	Only 10% of one's happiness is determined by materialistic factors Financial security is not determined by the size of the nest egg, but by living at or below one's means Only 35% of pre-retirees have a written plan for their future finances	Financial Security
Identifying and pursuing your passions will keep you energized and feeling younger.	One of the top three regrets of people nearing death is to wish they had taken more risk to pursue their dreams Many do not reach back to their youth to recall what sent their spirit soaring	Passions
Keeping your mind active and growing can have a significant effect on your quality of life.	Most do not know of or take advantage of low-cost lifelong learning opportunities It has been said the only difference between a rut and a grave are the dimensions	Growth
Having an initial retirement plan is important but only the beginning; keeping it fresh over time is most beneficial.	Life circumstances inevitably change-75% of families will be involved with elder care; 60% return home after college graduation; 44% between the ages of 45 and 55 have both living parents and children under 21 Over 40% of people ages 50 to 64 report difficulty with at least one daily physical function	Renewing Your Plan
Life purpose and core values are critical for a fulfilling retirement and central to retirement planning.	Only 20% of people say they "certainly knew the purpose of life" Companies that succeed over time have a core purpose and values that remain fixed	Purpose and Values
Retirement is the first time many people are truly free in their lives.	Many do not take advantage of their new-found freedom Many think of freedom only as freedom from work, but not as freedom of discretionary choice and action and freedom to discover more about what they want in life	Freedom
Most believe they are prepared when they retire	The two most dangerous years of your life are the year you are born and the year you retire Retiring is as stressful as getting married, losing your job, or having a close family member become ill One-third of retirees suffer from depression at some point	Stages of Retirement

• There is no word for "retirement" in Okinawa-they have a related word that translates to "purpose."
• The late American clergyman, Harry Emerson Fosdick, said, "Don't simply retire from something; have something to retire to."
• Holding other things like income, gender, race, religion, politics, and family status constant, those who feel free are nearly 20 percentage points more likely to say they are very happy.
• Two-thirds of Americans define freedom as doing what they want and being able to make their own choices.
• Sixty-seven percent of 100-year olds live below the poverty level; however a full 95% feel they have enough money to meet their needs and 96% feel they are better off than others of their age.
• Weighing the same at age 55 as you did when you were 18 reduces the risk of serious disease by 80%.
• Only about 30% of well-being and longevity is dictated by genetics-the remainder is a function of personal daily habits and environment.
• Those who attend to their well-being are 14 times more likely to survive major surgery, are at a 20% lower risk of heart disease, and will have a slower progression of dementia.
• Older adults who are socially engaged are more likely to keep their intellectual skills and less likely to experience losses of motor skills like strength, speed, and dexterity.
• Sixty percent of couples are not aligned about when each partner should retire. Nearly half do not agree on whether one or both partners should work in retirement. More than 40% do not agree on their expectations of lifestyle.
• Eighty-three percent of people do not have clearly defined goals. Fourteen percent have goals, but they are not written down. The remaining 3% that have written goals and a plan earn, on average ten times more.
• Having a plan helps you get clear about what you want to do, and writing it down helps you hold yourself accountable to do it.
• A common denominator among those who successfully change their lives is having someone to help them be accountable for the change.