One seminar was largely about setting up your estate for tax efficiency – so your heirs get more money while the government gets less. With no spouse or kids, my basic plan is use it all up going out the door. The other was about social security and things to consider when applying for benefits. Both meals were very good, and of course, these seminars are really presented to market for clients or market specific financial vehicles. I got a lot to think about, but I won’t jump into anything. Just learning and pondering right now. The whole retirement thing is clearly simplified when you’re alone. Of course, the one thing that really demands attention is long-term care, should that become necessary.
I have a three friends dealing with elderly alone parents right now and it’s either super-hard or super-expensive, sometimes both. According to Social Security Administration, if a woman makes it to age 65, she can expect to live, on average, until age 86.6! The average life expectancy for all women is 81.2. That could make for a good, long retirement – and one hopes, a healthy and active retirement.
Forbes Magazine did a report on the 10 best towns to retire in. Their analysis was based on things like access to good doctors and taxes. I decided to go visit three of those places sometime this year on a roadtrip I’m calling the Daisy Hill Retirement Tour. Daisy Hill was the name of farm Snoopy was rescued from and it sounds like the awful name of a retirement home to me. I’m not really sure that I want to leave where I am, but I won’t know that for sure without some research. So I will spend a week, maybe two, visiting Morgantown, WV; Clemson, SC and Brevard, NC. (Anybody got an opinion on those places?) I’m going to find a realtor and learn the towns, explore parks and trails, and talk to strangers in diners. My old boss would be proud of me…