Wall Street Journal

What gift would you give a soon-to-be retiree?   MARC AGRONIN: Blacksmith, cobbler and travel agent: What do these jobs have in common? I would present a copy of the book “Jazz” by the great French painter Henri Matisse, with the following explanation. In 1941, the 71-year-old Matisse experienced a forced retirement after undergoing a … [Read more...] about Why Retirees Should Read ‘Jazz’ by Henri Matisse

What’s the best way to “test drive” a retirement before you leave the office? MARC AGRONIN: Retirement can be one of the most significant and challenging life changes. What is initially gained in terms of leisure time and reduced stress can be offset by the loss of daily routines, socialization and purpose. Several studies, including the ongoing … [Read more...] about Retirement Should Be a Transition, Not a Hard Stop

What’s the biggest lie we tell ourselves about retirement? MARC AGRONIN: Many people fear retirement because they imagine it to be the beginning of old age. If a few wrinkles and gray hairs didn’t already herald this concern, retirement rings it in with all of its glory. Too often the “old age” they envision is a downward slide into a void that … [Read more...] about Don’t Be Afraid of Retirement. Embrace the Possibilities.

What is the single difference you see between retirees who are happy and those who are not? MARC AGRONIN: The good news is that most retirees are happier than at any other stage of life. Don’t believe it? Consider a 2010 survey of over 340,000 individuals ages 18 to 85 that found some of the highest levels of wellbeing (and lowest levels of … [Read more...] about The Warning Signs of an Unhappy Retirement

What should companies do, if anything, to retain veteran workers and/or ease the transition to retirement? MARC AGRONIN: Aside from the likes of several exceptional quarterbacks, football is a game of replacement. When the task at hand is primarily a physical feat, youth is always favored. In this realm, experience counts, but only as long as the … [Read more...] about Retirement Is Becoming Obsolete

Do retirees have too much political clout in the U.S.? MARC AGRONIN: Not by a long shot. Consider the following facts: We currently spend upward of $10 billion annually for research into heart disease and cancer combined in the U.S., and it’s money well spent. In contrast, we spend only about $500 million on Alzheimer’s research—despite the fact … [Read more...] about Aging Baby Boomers Are About to Change the Political Math

What will the Affordable Care Act mean for retirees? MARC AGRONIN: Despite the outpouring of both ecstatic paeans and anguished teeth gnashing by pundits and doomsayers alike about the Affordable Care Act, there is no crystal ball large enough or clear enough to predict its ultimate impact on retirees. Whether Medicare will fall, limp along or be … [Read more...] about Desperately Needed: More Geriatricians

My ideal retirement party playlist includes songs familiar to most baby boomers, many representing rock ‘n’ roll icons from the late 60s and 70s, that give voice to the exuberance of starting a new stage in life coupled with reflection (and a little bit of sadness) on what has already gone by. “When I’m 64” by The Beatles “Take It Easy” by The … [Read more...] about A Retirement Party Playlist With Hits From the 60s and 70s

Access to good medical care. Make certain there are good internists (preferably with geriatric experience), lots of specialists and a major medical center which specializes in both cardiology and oncology. Too many retirees end up moving away from a supposed paradise because of acute or chronic medical issues that require more intensive expertise … [Read more...] about In Picking a Retirement Destination, Don’t Forget Medical Care

It’s easy to come up with lots of jaw-dropping beaches (after all, I live in Florida) but in terms of finding interesting and amazing places that you would certainly not known about, I recommend the Atlas Obscura website at www.atlasobscura.com. Billing itself as the “definitive guide to the world’s wondrous and curious places,” Atlas Obscura has … [Read more...] about A Great Online Guide for Retiree Travel