The upcoming thread of posts on financial independence is a new series for you! It’s focused on a new approach to retirement planning. WAIT! If you’re NOT 50+, then retirement isn’t crowding your thoughts, we know. But this isn’t your run-of-the-mill, get-ready-for-retirement thing. It’s about your life now. It’s about a whole-family perspective. You see, there are several scenarios where that “retirement” word might come up for you. You might be a family advocate for a retiree. You might be lucky enough to retire early. You might have lost your retirement ticket (like lost a job, spouse, or nest egg.)
We know, we know…you think you’ve got plenty of time to get the retirement planning thing under control. Stick with us here. These next few posts might compel you to rethink.
To raise the awareness of this issue of long-range planning and share insights and solutions, we engaged Chuck Kuster, author of the new Is This Your Plan to Retire? book. We’re honored to bring you his expert insight!
Read on for a Q&A with Kuster.
RBF: What will our readers find relatable in your book about retirement planning?
Kuster: Your Root and Bloom community is full of capable women who are not only managing the day-to-day, but also their family’s futures. They are managing family bank accounts, mapping out major expenses like private school and college tuition, contemplating how much money to put away for the future, and more. The topic of long-range planning is a big one for women – it affects not only the individual, but the family in many ways.
Parents and grandparents can make life richer and more rewarding. Yet, when an aging elder needs hands-on help and perhaps even financial support, there’s no denying that can substantially impact the entire family.
RBF: So, you’re getting at the idea that retirement planning is about more than just figuring out how much money to put into a 401K, IRA, or savings account?
Kuster: Numerous factors exacerbate the challenges families face. Retirees are living longer, so it’s increasingly common for a family to have two generations in different phases of retirement. Their kids are typically fully employed, widely dispersed and not providing support. This can lead to unprecedented financial, emotional, medical, legal and social challenges for the entire clan. Fortunately, there are solutions for those who understand and address the underlying issues.
RBF: Thanks for the teaser! We think a few different elements of your book will pique the interest of our readers. We’re looking forward to learning more about the impact of retirement choices on family, and that piece in your book you call “lifestyle planning” too.
In the next few posts, read more about retirement planning from Kuster’s eBook, Is This Your Plan to Retire? which can be purchased at Book Baby here or other popular eBook platforms.
Charles Kuster is semi-retired from a career as a communications strategist and serial entrepreneur. He’s trained as a business journalist, and spent his formative career in corporate communications management. Kuster and his spouse own an educational publishing company that specializes in children’s books, graphic novels, games, comics and computer apps.
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