Victory Lap

Once you achieve Financial Independence, you may choose to leave salaried employment but with decades of vibrant life ahead, it’s too soon to do nothing. The new stage of life between traditional employment and Full Retirement we call Victory Lap, or Victory Lap Retirement (also the title of a new book to be published in August 2016. You can pre-order now at VictoryLapRetirement.com). You may choose to start a business, go back to school or launch an Encore Act or Legacy Career. Perhaps you become a free agent, consultant, freelance writer or to change careers and re-enter the corporate world or government.

Must-See Places in Mexico

Posted By |

1 map of 8 places to seeBy Billy and Akaisha Kaderli

Special to the Financial Independence Hub

Mexico is a huge country and it’s hard to know where to go if you only have a limited time to visit this nation. Some people prefer the beaches, some might want to take advantage of the culture, history and international restaurants, and others could consider emigrating to spend their retirement years there. Below are must-see towns and cities along with useful notes to help you get an idea of what Mexico offers.

2 Chapala, MexicoChapala, Mexico , located in central Mexico, has the largest expat community in the world and offers lots of activities to keep one busy. If you like to play tennis, golf, bridge or get involved in garden clubs, animal rescue or theater, this lovely town with year-round spring climate is a good bet. Chapala’s location, just 20 minutes from Guadalajara’s international airport and an hour from the capitol city itself, is a good home base to travel to the beach, to the mountains, or to the States or Canada. Continue Reading…

Tips for Older Travelers

Posted By |
older_travelers3
Akaisha with Billy

By Akaisha Kaderli

Special to the Financial Independence Hub

Billy and I have been on the road meandering through continents for over two decades. While we like to think of ourselves as spry, flexible and ready to take on the world, truth is, we are no longer twenty or thirty years old. Traveling at our age of 63 presents challenges that we didn’t have when we were younger. Energy levels have changed and our bodies require different comforts in order to feel well.

If you are in your fifties and sixties with active wanderlust, independent journeying is still possible. Take advantage of what we have learned over the years.

The Importance of Sleep

The value of sleep is a priority that we protect, since its absence is felt for the next day or two – creating havoc in moods, energy level and even decision making. Whenever possible, we no longer take red-eye flights. Air travel has become more complicated in recent years and it’s enough to handle the new requirements, the lines, and the disorientation of time zones without adding severe sleep schedule interruptions. Besides, what’s the rush? Continue Reading…

Create a Money Machine: The Effect of Compounding

Posted By |
effect_of_compounding1
Billy Kaderli, RetireEarlyLifestyle.com

By Billy Kaderli, RetireEarlyLifestyle.com

Special to the Financial Independence Hub

Our adventures around the world allow us to interact with many younger travelers in cafes and restaurants. Travelers are a great source of information about where they have been, places to stay and where to avoid. Things to do and the best way to get to a destination are often the topics of conversation.

Many times we are asked about how we can afford to travel for so long and then there’s the predictable wistful response: “I wish I could do what you’re doing.”

That’s when I tell them they can.

I explain in simple terms about investing and how they can create their own pension or annuity or as I like to call it a “personal money machine.” It is right about now when their eyes glaze over like they are speaking with their crazy uncle at a Thanksgiving Dinner.

I bring their attention back by saying they have something that I do not have; time. Usually I get a nod and a blank stare. I go on and ask if they know what “compounding” is. More often than not, they do not have a clue. These are college grads or they are taking a break from school to pursue their traveling bug. But to my surprise they do not understand the concept of compounding, which, in my opinion, is the easiest way to build wealth.

According to Investopedia, the definition of compounding is “the ability of an asset to generate earnings, which are then reinvested in order to generate their own earnings. In other words, compounding refers to generating earnings from previous earnings.”

Bingo!

Sweet simplicity.

The earlier you invest, the sooner Findependence

Continue Reading…

How Business Owners can level pension Playing Field with the Public Sector

Posted By |
jplaporte
Jean-Pierre Laporte

By Jean-Pierre Laporte

Special to the Financial Independence Hub

The Great Recession of 2008 had many consequences, but in the world of pensions, it truly highlighted the chasm separating private-sector from public-sector retirement plans.

The “Great Divide” boils down to this: civil servants have back-stopped, defined benefit pension plans that will provide a comfortable level of pension benefits in retirement, whereas the tax payers responsible to fund such great plans are largely relegated to RRSPs with much lower contribution limits and a limited ability to weather financially volatile markets.

For most, this state of affairs is immutable and lamentable. For those who have made pensions their passion or profession, there are solutions. The difficulty is to make them accessible to the majority, who happens to be the marketplace. What are some of these solutions that put the private and public sectors on an even keel?

The Dividend Route

Continue Reading…

Sudden Retirement Syndrome (SRS)

Posted By |

'Mr. Bennett has left the firm abruptly'By Michael Drak

Special to the Financial Independence Hub

Sudden retirement syndrome is not a real medical condition as far as I’m aware but for me it best describes the shock of withdrawal that occurs when a person leaves their corporate job.

This can occur through either downsizing, formal retirement or can even occur when a person is leaving after many years spent with the Corp to do something else.

The shock from going unprepared from a busy work-life to nothing can be very stressful and in extreme cases can even result in premature death. We all have heard stories of people in retirement who lost their motivation to do much of anything, started drinking heavily, and died within a short time.

I’ve known quite a few people who have suffered from SRS. My father suffered through it, a close friend died because of it, and I even had a taste of it after leaving my corporate job of 36 years — which is crazy in itself because I already had a game plan in place for my next move. I clearly remember the ringing in my ears, the feeling of uncertainty, the feeling of living in a fog for a period of time. It’s hard to break away from something that has become a piece of you over the years.

It’s important to note that not everyone will suffer from SRS. People who are able to detach themselves successfully from work when they walk out the door are usually spared. An example would be an assembly line person who is able to leave their job when the whistle blows and not think about work until the next day. While an assembly line worker may be burned out physically and mentally, as they are not challenged intellectually, the Corp does not own their soul, unlike corporate executives who are linked to their work 24/7 and whose self-identity is tied to the job that just ended.

Retirement shock can be hell

Continue Reading…