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Life

Coach Richard Leider says Life Planning is something that everyone could use as they face 20 or 30 years in late midlife.

See More Interviews

Life Planning Takes on a Whole New Meaning in Retirement.


In Late 2007, an assembly of the nation's leading baby boomer and retirement gurus descended on Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, Fla., for a first-ever "life planning summit," of sorts.

At issue? How to best address the multitude of concerns - some might say fears - facing the nation's "silver tsunami" - the 78 million baby boomers on the cusp of transitioning into retirement.

The Third Age Event

The event, called Third Age Life Planning: A Holistic Approach, was a pre-conference gathering connected with the first ever 2007 Positive Aging Conference and drew professionals from a variety of fields who provide services and programs for older mature adults.

Boston-based boomer think tank and non-profit Life Planning Network (LPN) was behind the pre-conference summit, with sponsorship and financial backing from Transamerica Retirement Management, Inc., a provider of SecurePath by Transamerica. The goal was to stimulate collaboration among a new breed of consultants - "life-planning" professionals - who are on the front lines helping boomers work through their retirement-transition issues.

And those issues are profound. Unlike previous generations, many baby boomers will be leaving fulfilling careers, have much higher expectations for their retirement lifestyle and will potentially face a much longer third-age. According to LPN president, Betsy Cole, most boomers haven't adequately thought through how to fulfill - and fund - those expectations.

Creating Professional Standards

In fact, LPN's view is that these challenges are profound enough to perhaps necessitate an accreditation process and new professional designation - "certified life planner," if you will - for life-planning professionals. Portions of the summit were dedicated to establishing a support for standards and competencies for these professionals and initiating steps toward creating a national network.

SecurePath by Transamerica took an interest in LPN and decided to sponsor the summit after both sides realized sympathetic approaches each was taking to help boomers examine all of the vital aspects of retirement, most of which go well beyond merely the financial concerns.

Leaders in the Field

LPN's pre-conference summit attracted many notable attendees, many of whom have written books on the subject of aging and life planning. Attendees included:

  • Gene Cohen, M.D., Ph.D. and author of The Mature Mind: The Positive Power of the Aging Brain and The Creative Age: Awakening Human Potential in the Second Half of Life and director of the Center on Aging, Health and Humanities at George Washington University.
  • John Nelson, co-author of What Color is Your Parachute in Retirement?
  • Richard J. Leider, co-author of Repacking Your Bags
  • Ken and Mary Gergen, writers and facilitators in the field of positive aging.
  • Harry R. Moody, Ph.D., Director of Academic Affairs for AARP in Washington, DC.
Video Interviews

Each of these notables was captured on video, and we asked them their opinion about positive aging, life planning, and the myriad issues related to transitioning into retirement.

Take a video tour of each of these key individuals to find out the very latest in thinking on these topics and more.

Life Planning

Richard Leider on Life Planning:

Coach Richard Leider says Life Planning is something that everyone could use as they face 20 or 30 years in late midlife.

Richard Leider on Work:

If you're tired of work and worried that designing a new "retirement career" is just too much right now, life coach Richard Leider explains why you might need to take a break.

John Nelson on Location Choices:

If you're dreaming of that perfect home in the right location for the next stage of your life, author John Nelson offers a formula to help you make the right choice.

Dr. Gene Cohen on Social Portfolios:

Have you designed a balanced social portfolio for later life? Dr. Gene Cohen tells you how to do it and why it's important.

Ken and Mary Gergen on Empty Nesters:

We've all heard that the "empty nest" years are challenging for couples. But they can also be some of the best times, according to scholars Ken and Mark Gergen.

John Nelson on Phased Retirement:

Have you considered phasing into retirement? Author John Nelson explains that the new retirement will be a process rather than an event.

Retirement Your Way Workshop:

Mark Luis Foster, director of marketing for SecurePath by Transamerica, provides a preview of the Retirement Your Way Workshops that help people give additional thought and planning around the many life choices that await them in the retirement phase of their lives.

Positive Aging

Dr. Gene Cohen on the Aging Brain:

Did you know that your aging brain is actually getting better in some significant ways? Dr. Gene Cohen says our brain goes into "all wheel drive" in later life.

Harry R. Moody on Learning in Life:

If you keep learning, you'll keep growing and have a more positive later life. AARP's Harry R. Moody shares the story of his dad, who set a great example.

Richard Leider on Vitality:

Coach Richard Leider has a formula for living with vitality at any age. Time in "retirement" can give us more freedom to live with passion and purpose.

John Nelson on "Retirement":

Many Boomers shrink from the word "retirement" and don't imagine themselves living the "rocking chair" life. Author John Nelson explains why we still need the "R" word.

Ken and Mary Gergen on Positive Aging:

Scholars Ken and Mary Gergen are scholars who have been researching all the good things about growing older. They say there are lots of "positives" about aging.

Dr. Gene Cohen on Creativity:

Living in "retirement" often brings out the artist inside. Dr. Gene Cohen explains his theory of why we often discover our creative side later in life.

Dr. Bill Sadler on Portfolio Living:

Many people are striving to design a retirement life that reflects their values and strengths. Sociologist and author Dr. Bill Sadler discusses how these values can be put together in a unique design for a "Third Age Life Portfolio."


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