Money Archives – Unretirement Project

What We Are UP To – March 2018

March 28, 2018 by Sharlyn Lauby Leave a Comment

Watching | Learn@50+

> Did you know that AARP members have access to an online learning library? Their course catalog covers everything from how to back up your iPhone or iPad to an interactive video focused on the age you should consider drawing Social Security. I’ve signed up for a couple of career related webinar sessions to see what they’re all about. Stay tuned…

Reading | Online Comics

> Keith and I stopped subscribing to the newspaper years ago, but one of the things we miss is the comics. It always feels nice to start off the day with a laugh. Well, did you know that you can get your comics online? We’ve found two sources: GoComics and Comics Kingdom. They’re cheaper than a newspaper subscription and you can even get some classic comics like Funky Winkerbean and Beetle Bailey.

Remembering | All the Houses

> We recently organized our photo collection as part of our upcoming move. It was very cool to see pictures of all of our homes together. And even though they were in different cities, how similar they were in terms of style and color. As much as we might change as individuals and even as a couple, some things stay the same.

Working On | A New Look for Unretirement Project

> Now that the blog is a year old this March, we’ve been working on refining our brand a little. Over the next few weeks, you’ll see some subtle changes. One thing I’m very excited about this the new banner and avatar on our Twitter account. If you’re on Twitter, I hope you’ll follow us at @UnretirementPro.

Feeling | Exhausted

> Thank goodness we’re done with all of the decluttering around the house! Now it’s all about getting the house ready to put on the market. Rearranging furniture, taking down personal stuff, and staging the house. It is kinda weird seeing your home without any mementos, pictures, etc. But March is the time for us to focus on our next adventure.

Planning | Taxes!

> It’s that time of year – March quickly brings April taxes! Getting our files together, meeting with our accountant, filling out forms. When we started consulting, Keith and I made the investment into getting an accountant. And I mean it when I say it’s an investment. If you really want your accountant to help you, they have to get to know you. It’s an investment of time (and money) so they can help you plan and file your taxes.

Loving | Speidel Twist-O-Flex

> My dad had a Speidel Twist-O-Flex band for his watch. I might have even had a Twist-O-Flex band for one of my first watches. Well, now I have a Twist-O-Flex for my Apple Watch. Yep, Speidel is making their famous Twist-O-Flex bands for Apple Watches. I love the juxtaposition of a high-tech watch with a retro band.

Geeking | Amazon Services

> I’d like to think that everyone has ordered something on Amazon at some point. But did you know that you can now order services (like house cleaning) via Amazon?! We saw a deal for a full-day (6+ hours) of house cleaning and decided to give it a try. Keith is an excellent cleaner, but he wanted a little something extra before we put the house on the market. If they do a good job, we’ll try them again when we move into our rental in Gainesville.

What’s UP with you?

Image captured by Sharlyn Lauby while exploring the Wynwood Art District in Miami, FL

How to Start a Blog In Your Unretirement

February 14, 2018 by Keith Lauby 2 Comments

Blogging started back in 1994. At that time, they were mostly the work of a single individual about a single subject. In 2017, it’s estimated there are more than 440 million personal and corporate blogs in existence. And they cover far more subjects that we can even begin to imagine.

Blogging can be a very satisfying pastime. Sure, there’s a learning curve – just like there is for everything. But today, it’s easier than ever and there are plenty of resources to help you along the way. Done right, a blog can even be monetized to provide a source of revenue in your unretirement.

If you are considering blogging, there are 5 things I would recommend giving careful thought:

Think about the platform. There are many places to blog. Sites like Google’s Blogger have been around since 1999. In recent years, Tumblr has become extremely popular. This blog (and our first one, HR Bartender) are on a self-hosted WordPress site and it has worked very well. Just do your homework about what platform you want to blog on.
Figure out why you want to blog. Maybe it’s because you have something you want to say. It might be to find clients for your consulting business. Or to directly make a little extra money. But it’s important to know why you’re blogging, because it will drive other decisions along the way.
Never say never. Be open to opportunities as they arise. The reasons you blog may change over time. Just understand how that change impacts other aspects of blogging. For instance, if you just blog for fun, you can immediately publish whatever comes to mind. If you want to monetize, your readers and potential sponsors may have different expectations.
Carefully choose your blog’s name because, no matter why you blog, you will need to market So, develop a name that helps you accomplish your blogging goals (see #2). Just remember, it can be very hard to successfully change your blog’s name and rebrand down the road.
Think about how much time you want to spend. Blogging can sometimes take a lot of work. You might start off slow – maybe once a week. Then put yourself into the shoes of your audience. Knowing what your audience wants is important when deciding how long a post should be or how frequently to publish.

Don’t worry, these considerations aren’t designed to scare you. Taking a little dedicated time on the front end should help eliminate a few frustrations down the road. And, if you’re curious why the list has little to do with writing, it’s because we all have something to say. That part you’ve already taken care of!

Do you have any questions about blogging? Let us know and we’ll try to answer them!

Goal Setting Doesn’t Stop When You Retire

December 13, 2017 by Sharlyn Lauby 3 Comments

It takes a lot of planning to get to retirement. We have to set financial goals. It’s also possible that we set goals about where we want to live, having an encore career, and hobbies we want to pursue. The good news is we know how to do this because we often have to set goals, monitor our progress, and work toward accomplishing those goals.

But when we retire, goal setting doesn’t stop.

We’re going to have small goals, like getting regular exercise. If you’re in Corporate America right now, you don’t even think about all the steps you’re getting walking from one meeting to the next. In retirement, you have to think about getting in steps or closing those circles. Or staying hydrated. Again, when you’re working, you probably always have a cup of coffee or a bottled water nearby. Once you retire, you might need some prompts to get enough liquids.

We also have to think about financial planning. In retirement, I imagine living on a budget different than I do today. I’ll have to think about how much I can spend. Are my investments creating the kind of income that I expected? And of course, there’s Social Security. Can I rely upon it as an income source or supplement?

In addition, I might want to have unretirement goals like volunteering on boards, traveling to some place I’ve always dreamed of, and creating a little side hustle to earn a few dollars. All of these things involve goal setting. So, because we don’t get to ever stop setting goals, it’s a good idea to learn a good goal-setting model. One that you can always use. For me, that’s S.M.A.R.T.

SMART is an acronym used in project management. It was coined by George T. Doran in 1981.

Specific represents exactly what you would like to accomplish. Think of it as the who, what, where, when, which and why of the goal.

Measurable answers the question of how success is measured.

Actionable (also seen as Achievable, Attainable) outlines the steps it will take to complete the goal.

Responsible (some versions use Realistic or Relevant) identifies the people needed to reach this goal,

Time-bound (or Trackable) establishes the time frame to achieve the goal.

I have to tell you that I learned about SMART in the worst way possible. Years ago, I worked for a company that, every time something went wrong, our company president wanted a meeting to discuss how we were going to fix the problem. Afterward, we had to create something called “a SMART plan” explaining the steps we were going to take. Sad to say, we developed a lot of SMART plans. I thought it was some sort of punishment.

It wasn’t until I started studying for my human resources certification that I learned SMART plans have been around for many years and weren’t some dreamt up form of torture from senior leadership. Over the years, I’ve found the SMART acronym easy to remember, so I mold it for setting goals and creating plans. Here are the questions that I ask when using SMART:

What are we going to do? (Specific)
How will we measure our success? (Measurable)
What are the steps that will help us attain our goal? (Attainable)
Who will be responsible for each step? (Responsible)
When will the task be completed? (Timely)

I know that goal setting and plans can sometimes be the bane of our existence. Many organizations don’t know how to properly set goals and monitor their progress towards those goals. Unfortunately, goal setting and planning don’t end when we retire. So, it’s time to find a process that we can embrace. Because we will want to use it for a long time.

Image captured by Sharlyn Lauby on the streets of Chicago, IL

Help End Domestic Violence and Financial Abuse

November 1, 2017 by Sharlyn Lauby Leave a Comment

Did you know that 1 in 4 women will experience domestic violence in her lifetime?

The number one reason that women in abusive relations can’t “just leave” is because they are financially abused. Meaning that the women don’t have the financial security to leave their abuser. According to PurplePurse.com, financial abuse holds victims in abusive relationships 98 percent of the time.

During this year’s BlogHer conference, I learned about the Allstate Foundation’s Purple Purse Project, the longest running national campaign focused on ending domestic violence through a proven solution: financial empowerment. They’ve invested over $50 million dollars since 2005.

In this powerful video, Allstate shows that you can’t always see financial abuse. To help people notice it, bystanders were offered a glimpse into a victim’s life through a lost purse.

Tennis star Serena Williams spoke at the conference about her support for the purple purse project. For organizations, a friendly fundraising competition is starting in October. If you know of a non-profit organization that offers domestic violence and financial empowerment services, tell them to check it out and consider becoming a community partner.

For individuals, consider showing your support with a purple purse charm. I’m sporting mine on my new Herschel backpack.

No one should be subjected to abuse and have their financial freedom taken away from them. The Purple Purse Project website has resources for victims and for individual wanting to help. I hope you’ll take a moment to learn more.

Relocation? 8 Things to Consider When Deciding Where to Retire

October 18, 2017 by Sharlyn Lauby 2 Comments

At some point, everyone thinks about where they want to retire. Even if it’s for a fleeting moment, we ask ourselves the question. I know many people who are downsizing – the kids are gone and they just don’t need the space. Or they want relocation to someplace where it’s warmer. Regardless of what prompts the conversation, there are a few things to consider when thinking about where to retire.

I’m sharing this list with you because these are the items Keith and I thought about when we made our decision to move. Yep, at some point next year, we will be moving to Gainesville, Florida (Home of the Florida Gators football team.) We’re very excited about the relocation and promise to share more as things happen.

Arts, Culture, and Sports – Does the city offer the types of activities you like to do? If you like the theater, there’s no sense in moving to some place without it. If you enjoy museums, does the city have some? We’re excited that Gainesville has several parks and nature trails. And while neither of us graduated from UF, my guess is we will get caught up in college sports. (I think it might be a requirement of living there.)

History, Demographics, Religion, and Politics – It’s pretty easy to look up the history of a city on Wikipedia. You can also check out census information and demographics in terms of gender, age, etc. It could also make some sense to look at the last election results. Do you feel your voice will be heard? And make sure you feel you can openly practice your faith in the city you choose.

Family and Friends – Most people already think of this, but it needs to be on the list. On a personal note, relocation is a little bittersweet for us. We will be moving away from terrific friends, but we are moving a little bit closer to family. The good news is we’re staying in the state, so hopefully, we can visit often. And Orlando is a great halfway point to connect.

Finances and Cost of Living – I think it’s hard to figure out actual cost of living. We looked at those online indexes but I think you can get a better feel when you’re actually spending time in the city. Go to a grocery store and check out prices. Eat dinner at a few different types of places. We’ve been told that property taxes are higher in GNV because of the university, but food and housing are definitely less expensive.

Health Care – Does the city you’re considering have enough health care options? And if this is what you’re calling “your final relocation”, do they have senior or elder care options? I know we don’t like to discuss these things but, at some point, you have to.

News – What makes the news in your chosen city? We added a section to our Google News feed so we could see what people in Gainesville were talking about. Interestingly, it also gave us some perspective about crime in the area, because crime makes the news.

Travel – Since we’re still working full-time, having access to an airport is essential. We’re only a couple of hours from Jacksonville, Tampa, and Orlando. Gainesville has a small airport that flies to Atlanta. And from ATL, you can get anywhere. We also enjoy cruising, so lucky for us there are several cruise ports nearby.

Weather – I know a lot of people want to retire in the warmer temperatures. That’s great, just realize there are tradeoffs. We’re giving up wearing shorts in December, but we don’t have to deal with putting hurricane shutters on our house when we’re in our 70’s. Every city has something.

You probably noticed that I intentionally put the list in alphabetical order. That’s because the priority you attach to each one could be different. For some people, family might be the number one consideration. And for others, it might be finances or weather or something else.

Making the relocation decision for retirement is a big one. It takes time. Keith and I easily spent over a year talking about it. Hopefully, a list like this will give you a few things to consider as you’re making decisions about how to spend your unretirement.

Image captured by Sharlyn Lauby at the 34th Street Graffiti Wall in Gainesville, FL

What We’re UP To – September 2017

September 27, 2017 by Sharlyn Lauby Leave a Comment

Disclosure: Occasionally we receive free products for review or include advertising links in posts, but no one impacts the honesty of our opinions.

Watching | The Matrix Trilogy

> Keith and I are binge watching some classic movies like Oceans 11, Star Wars, etc. I had to admit that I hadn’t seen The Matrix until recently. So, we’re watching the entire trilogy in September. Better late than never. (Oh, and Blade Runner is next…)

Reading | Social Security Strategies: How to Optimize Retirement Benefits

> This book, in its third edition, is a very detailed explanation about how social security works including the best time to file for benefits. I’m quickly discovering that the best way to understand social security and the benefits available to you is by doing your homework way in advance.

Working On | Internet Security

> I don’t know that I have all the answers with this one, but the recent Equifax security breach has left us evaluating our internet security. What action should we take as a result? The Federal Trade Commission has posted some information. Moving forward, are there steps we should take to protect our online information?

Feeling | Empathy

> We are sending lots of positive vibes and prayers to those impacted by Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria. We were very fortunate. Planned for the worst and hoped for the best. Here’s a great article from Suzanne Lucas titled “9 Ways Your Business Can Help Hurricane Harvey’s Houston Victims”. It applies equally for individuals looking to help.

Planning | Apple Walks

> I learned something new during the most recent Apple event. Besides learning about the new products Apple is introducing in the fall, I discovered Apple Walks. These are free photo walks that Apple Store employees conduct to teach you more about the camera features in your iPhone. I’m planning to take one soon!

Loving | BeatsX Wireless In-Ear Headphones

> With my transition to a Mac computer, I’ve decided to go all in and get a pair of Beats headphones. We’ve been toying with the idea of getting rid of our landline at some point, and these neckbuds would be easy to wear on phone calls. I also like listening to music when I write and this will allow me to do so without annoying Keith.

Geeking | SFMOA Text a Picture

> The San Francisco Museum of Art recently rolled out a new feature called “Send Me”. Simply text them a word and they will text back a work of art. I love the idea. What a great way to start a September day or take a quick distraction to enjoy a piece of history.

Lots going on and we haven’t even started pumpkin spice season this early in September. So, what’s UP with you?

Image captured by Sharlyn Lauby at the Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Gardens in Las Vegas, NV

A Career Coach Can Help You Find Your Encore Career

September 20, 2017 by Sharlyn Lauby Leave a Comment

One of the great things about unretirement is that you don’t have to go it alone. For example, there are dozens of retirement-related blogs that you can read for inspiration and information. There are also professionals who can help you.

Let’s say you’re considering an encore career in your unretirement but aren’t sure yet what you’d like to do. Do you want to be a consultant? A writer? Or maybe just take a part-time job as a barista at Starbucks? All of those options are possible. But realistically, the decision could be tough. If you’d like help making decisions about your encore career, consider getting a career coach.

To understand more about what career coaches do, I reached out to Hannah Morgan (aka Career Sherpa). She is a nationally recognized career coach and author of the book, “The Infographic Resume”. I’ve had the opportunity to work with Hannah over at HR Bartender. Her suggestions on “What to do if You’re Stuck in a Dead-End Job” are worth a read.

Hannah, first of all, briefly describe what a career coach does? I could see someone saying “I’m already employed. What do I need a career coach for?”

[Morgan] There are times in your life when need expert advice. Let’s say you wanted recommendations on what to do with your financial investments. Would you get advice from a friend or would you consult with a financial planner? You might do both, but you would probably rely on the recommendations of someone who manages investments for a living. This is why tapping into the expertise of a career coach is so valuable.

A career coach is someone who has expertise in helping people evaluate career options, not just find jobs. A career coach regularly consults with clients on career decision making issues from identifying the right opportunities to planning future career moves. A coach can help you see alternatives and is qualified to help map out a solution that’s right for you.

Many workers are considering a new second career (also known as an encore career) as they get older. How should a person decide if an encore career is for them?

[Morgan] When deciding what you will do for your encore career, there are many things to consider:

What are you interested in (or passionate about)?
What skills do you enjoy using?
What is the market demand for those skills?
How much do you want to work? And,
What are your income requirements?

For the first time in your life, you have the opportunity to choose a career move that will serve your wants and needs. As you can see, identifying what you may want to do as an encore career is a complicated decision and one you will need assistance evaluating.

Is it better to have an encore career in a field related to your current profession? Why or why not?

[Morgan] If you loved the work you did in your last role and love the industry, then it would make sense to stay within it, perhaps as a consultant or working as an advisor. However, if you are no longer excited by the type of work you are doing, you may want to tap into your outside interests for ideas which would provide options for an encore career.

Sometimes collecting a big fat paycheck isn’t the main driver- people may just want something to keep busy. Taking a retail job, seasonal work or even tapping into the sharing economy, with Airbnb, Uber or Lyft provide social and mental stimulation.

Whatever direction you go in, you should be interested and engaged in the work. Breaking into an encore career may require assistance to help you define what is most important to you during this point in your career and can take effort. A career coach can help you identify opportunities that meet your needs.

I assume pursuing an encore career takes time. How long should people expect to prepare for an encore career?

[Morgan] Finding encore opportunities is going to be challenging. You may have to invent the position or start your own business in order to get what you are looking for. This will take time. How much time will depend on factors like the viability of your idea, your messaging and announcement, and the strength of your network.

Before you do anything, you also want to speak with your accountant and financial advisor about social security regulations and access to investments in your 401(k) or pension. You don’t want to be penalized by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for making too much or early withdrawal of funds.

Is applying for an encore career job the same as applying for a regular, full-time job now? How should a candidate explain they are transitioning to their encore career?

[Morgan] You can’t go to Indeed or any job board and find a listing of encore careers. Well, not at this time. Your encore career may be an existing role within an organization. You might be able to slip into an existing role if you have the right connections. But a question that any interviewer wants to know is whether or not you’ll stick around for a couple of years. It is your responsibility to anticipate this question and proactively address why you are looking for an encore career.

Your explanation should include your motivation or why you want to make the transition into a new role at this point in your career. You also need to convince the interviewer that you are dedicated to this new career path, so explain why you are pursuing that company and that type of job.

A HUGE thanks to Hannah for sharing her expertise. If you want to learn more, follow Hannah on Twitter and read her blog.

Encore careers can be an exciting and fulfilling part of unretirement. But deciding what your encore career will be could take some time. And some planning. Using a career coach could help you focus on your goals so you make the right decision.

Image captured by Sharlyn Lauby somewhere in her South Florida offices.