About LifeScape Solutions™
Alan Spector and Keith Lawrence have been studying and practicing retirement for some time and have had a vision for the book that would become Your Retirement Quest. The book is based upon the LifeScape Solutions™ model, which was developed to capture the essential elements of a fulfilling retirement and to be the basis of a holistic retirement planning program to meet the growing needs of Baby Boomers.
As the LifeScape Solutions™ planning program and Your Retirement Quest continued to be developed, we recognized that each would be valuable to both prospective retirees and their employers. The fastest growing segment of the workforce in the U.S., Europe, and Japan are employees between 55 and 64, many who are delaying retirement because of the economic downturn. Importantly, for these most experienced employees, uncertainty about their future is at the foundation of a trend. They are becoming increasingly distracted and disengaged at work; a trend that is good for neither the employees nor their employers.
As we noted in the book's Introduction, "Our contention is that one key to reengaging the experienced employee is to create more clarity of vision and a plan for his or her future; years which have the promise of being the best years of his or her life." Your Retirement Quest enables individuals to gain greater insight and confidence through the development of their personal and holistic plan; helping them in their "Quest" for a meaningful future. The book and other resources from LifeScape Solutions™, such as "The 3E (Experienced Employee Engagement) Audit," enable employers to rejuvenate the engagement of these extraordinary employees. Our intent is that both the employee and the employer will benefit.
Along with the 10 Secrets for Creating and Living a Fulfilling Retirement, the basis of moving forward toward a more certain future is the LifeScape Solutions™ model.
LifeScape Solutions™ Model
The model, designed to help you plan for a full and fulfilling retirement, was developed using the best known information and practices and has been successfully shared with future and current retirees in the United States and Europe. This is a brief overview of the model.
Most people go through five stages of retirement: Anticipation, Honeymoon, Disenchantment, and Rejuvenation, represented by the steps leading up the side of the pyramid on the way to the fifth stage, a Fulfilling Retirement.
These are the foundation building blocks and other key elements of the model:
LifeScape Plan: a practical and holistic approach to achieving your dreams in retirement
Well-Being: the energy to live fully today and throughout your retirement
Financial Security matching your lifestyle to your financial resources
Purpose/Values: your reason for being and what is truly important to you in life
Attitude: the mindset with which you approach life and meet the challenges and opportunities of retirement
Connectedness: initiating and nurturing the many relationships that are important in life
Giving Back: making a valuable contribution to others (friends, family, community, world); being part of something greater than yourself
Passions: activities that give you a sense of energy, provide you with a sense of achievement, and play to your strengths
Growth: being mentally stimulated with new activities, learning, and challenges to keep your life fresh and exciting
Fun: drawing excitement, pleasure, recreation, and satisfaction from life