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Planning a Prosperous, Healthy, and Happy Future

Table of Contents

Preface . . . . . viii
What to Expect from This New Edition . . . . . xii

Chapter ONE       
Retirement Is Dead—Long Live Retirement!     1
The retirement we knew is disappearing. Do you want a finish line or a marker on your journey? Ten ways to customize your transition.

Chapter TWO
The Retirement You’ve Always Wanted but Forgot About     23
What we all want in life. Six fields of knowledge that support well-being.
What are the elements of your ideal retirement?

Chapter THREE
The Life You Can Live (Right Now)     41
How we make big life decisions. Are you buying a “lifestyle” or creating a life? Ten steps to activate your core values.

Chapter FOUR
Retirement Economics Is More Than Personal Finance     73
A family approach to retirement economics. The original pyramid scheme.
Your three-legged stool is wobbly. The spending-saving seesaw.

Chapter FIVE
A New Approach to Retirement Security     101
Five pillars are better than three legs. How to use automatic systems for saving, investing, and income. Where to find a fiduciary advisor.

Chapter SIX
The Nature of Space and Time     127
Four layers of retirement geography. Is your dream home a nightmare? Calling it a community doesn’t make it one. Your essential region.

Chapter SEVEN
Medicine—Who’s in Charge?     155
How much medicine will you buy? Your medical philosophy, and what it costs. Choose medical relationships before you need them.

Chapter EIGHT
Health from the Inside Out    173
Our biology plus medicine equals health. What’s your biological age? The longevity class reunion. Three practices for biological vitality.

Chapter NINE
A New Chapter in Psychology 189
Are you trying to fix your weaknesses? Three paths to happiness. Staying engaged in work—and retirement, too! Your greatest strengths.

Chapter TEN
Happiness Is Only Real When Shared                     217
Work connections wither and die. Build relationships in advance. Your three levels of social connection. Retirement with that special someone.

Chapter ELEVEN
The New Retirement—an Undivided Life     235
Connect your life circles for well-being. Do you have a calling? Don’t wait for retirement—start living your ideal life now!
 
Appendix: The Retirement Well-Being Profile . . . . . 252
Resources . . . . . 254
Acknowledgments . . . . . 264
Index . . . . . 266
About the Authors . . . . . 274

About the Author

JOHN E. NELSON is a speaker and seminar facilitator on retirement and life-stage planning, well-being, and core values. He is an instructor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he is also earning a PhD. He lives in Madison, Wisconsin.

RICHARD N. BOLLES is the author of the best-selling job-hunting book in the world, What Color Is Your Parachute? He has been a leader in the career development field for more than thirty-five years. He lives in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Reviews

“offer(s) exercises to help you map your future.”
—SmartMoney magazine, 2/1/11

“Nelson and Bolles provide worksheets galore, and lots of introspective exercises, but this is more than a feel-good read. There’s also some substantive financial and healthcare information--including a section about fiduciary advisors--making this book a great gift for clients and prospects in midlife who may be getting ready to think about next steps.”
—Financial Planning Magazine, 10/1/10 

“so relevant to today’s maturing workforce. Grab a pen and complete the many questionnaires included in the book as you explore the financial, geographic, medical, biological, psychological and social aspects of your perfect retirement.”
—Better Investing, 10/1/10

“an excellent book. ...Both Parachute books provide useful insights and a number of exercises to help you make the best choices for this new stage in life.”
—Steve Vernon, blogger, CBS MoneyWatch
 
"it should calm your fears and put you in the right frame of mind to pursue a fulfilling retirement despite all the new challenges."
—David Carpenter, Associated Press

"A useful, practical roadmap for anyone thinking about retirement, no matter how distant."
—USA Today

"Filled with exercises and resources on such matters as making lasting friendships, evaluating medical treatment plans, and finding the ideal place to settle down."
—Employee Benefit News

"Retirement researcher and writer John Nelson argues that there are at least five other key components of a successful retirement, in addition to the financial one."
—Investment Advisor

“Parachute for Retirement isn’t just a book—it’s a step-by-step guide to planning your retirement life.”  
—Wall Street Journal
 
“A nice compliment to the more typical IRA-intensive school of retirement planning.” 
—Washington Post