Baby Boomer Women
Part 3 of 3 of Interview
with Jan Cullinane, author of
"The New Retirement--The Ultimate Guide to the Rest of Your Life"
"Baby Boomer Women" is the third part of a 3-part series of interviews with Jan Cullinane, author of "The New Retirement--The Ultimate Guide to the Rest of Your Life." Jan Cullinane is the Retirement Expert for "National Association of Baby Boomer Women." To fully enjoy the incredible wealth of information for baby boomers and older adults, please also read the other two parts:
Part 1 - Review of Book and Discussion of Topics for Baby Boomers, Seniors and Retirees
Women's Issues Different from Men's
BG: Do you find that women are different, have different issues from men in retirement.
Jan: Well, of course, women live longer, on average, than men, so women need to save longer for retirement so they won't run out of money before they run out of life.
Women, as a group, tend to be more conservative investors, and that can work for or against them. Single women do not have a back-up if they are downsized or right sized, so they need to learn about finances, or get good advice (I recommend a fee-based certified financial planner). And, since women have often been in and out of the work force more than men, and are generally lower-paid than men, this works against them financially, too.
On the other hand, women tend to be better at social relationships, so that is a plus in retirement. How you define yourself - are you defined by your job? - can affect how you weather retirement as well - more men define themselves by their jobs than do women.
National Association of Baby Boomer Women
BG: What does the organization "National Association of Baby Boomer Women," do for women.
Jan: I invite you to look at their site - www.nabbw.com. To quote one portion of their site:
NABBW is dedicated to:
Empowering women to explore their passions and live life to the fullest. Connecting, encouraging, and supporting baby boomer women.
NABBW promises:
- A membership package that includes information on self-improvement skills
- Free legal and financial advice using e-mail
- An annual FREE subscription to "More" Magazine
- Exclusive member discounts on a variety of products and services
- Easy ways to connect with other boomer women, and MORE..
- A sense of belonging to a creative, powerful, encouraging group of women that will leave you feeling refreshed, revived, and renewed.
- Access to information from an enthusiastic, energetic, wise, and warm panel of experts who have written books, founded Web sites, and coached women on a variety of topics.
It's a great organization, with a great founder, Dotsie Bregel.
BG: Bestguide recommends that the sooner women start planning for retirement, the better. A support group can help you on your way to success.
The Current Economy and Ability to Retire
BG: What impacts have you noticed in the current economy on seniors and their being able to retire.
Jan: Of course, the losses in the stock market have played havoc with many people's retirement, and the difficulty in selling one's home (not to mention losing equity) makes it more difficult as well.
(Update: the economy is still uncertain and more people are working part-time or full-time instead of retiring.)
Healthcare in Retirement
Health care is another factor - for some people, having to fund their own health care until Medicare kicks in, well, it's a deal-breaker - people will have to continue working.
Jan: I loved a quote I saw that said people could choose to live with voluntary simplicity or involuntary poverty - thought there is a lot of truth in that statement.
BG: Let's stop and think of the truth behind that statement -- that applies to more and more baby boomers in today's economy.
Jan: There are also a number of part-time jobs with health benefits people should consider - places like Starbucks, Trader Joes, and Lowes. Not that you'll get rich, but again, the health care issue can be huge.
Plans for the Future
BG: Any new books on the horizon.
Jan: I do lots of talks for companies about the non-financial aspects of retirement - not only relocation, but all the other facets as well. This is keeping me busy - and I love it. I have a few ideas for other books, but right now, I'm having a great time doing seminars and workshops.
BG: Yes, and I think this is what the new retirement is all about--keeping busy and doing something you have a passion for. "The New Retirement" is the best book I have read lately on the subject of retirement and places to retire. Written with authority and is interesting as well.
Summation of "The New Retirement" Book Review
BG: Thank you so much again for your time, and I hope we can followup sometime with another interview. So everyone, get the book.
Jan:Thanks, Carol - I appreciate the opportunity to be interviewed by you!!
See Part 1 and Part 2 of Interview:
Part 1 - Review of Book and Discussion of Topics for Baby Boomers, Seniors and Retirees