Be sure to watch our continuing video blog on this topic here:  https://youtu.be/RXdZf2TAwRs   “The business of life is the acquisition of memories. In the end that’s all there is.” Carson, the butler from Downton Abbey The above quote is central to the book: “Die with Zero: Getting All You Can from Your Money and Your Life” by Bill Perkins I have included ideas from this book in our Retirement Renaissance series because I think these ideas   may help retirees live their best possible retirement. The author, Bill Perkins, is a former energy trader and professional poker player. Note: he is not a financial planner, which brings a different perspective to how one should manage their finances. His focus is on maximizing experiences and life enjoyment rather than maximizing wealth. Three of the key concepts in the book: Spending on experiences brings more happiness than buying things*. In fact, memories keep paying off in what...

Be sure to watch our continuing video blog on this topic here: https://youtu.be/BLFxnUbKumQ   Most of us have grown up with the standard American diet and lifestyle. It is probably not news, but this lifestyle is not the best for good health. It may seem overwhelming to think about changing. Fortunately, Dan Buettner understands this and ends his book, “The Blue Zones” with some interesting guidance.   The first recommendation is to start with the longevity test on the Blue Zones web site: https://www.bluezones.com/ This will give you an idea of your healthy life expectancy and offer some helpful suggestions that focus on the “Power 9” items listed in the previous blog.   Don’t try to change everything at once, start with one or two at a time. Any one change offers a chance to improve your long term health. Change is hard and changing habits takes 5 to 12 weeks, so give it time.   Most importantly,...

Be sure to watch our continuing video blog on this topic here: https://youtu.be/D7SVh1RFj9U A recent study by the Employee Benefits Research Institute (EBRI) found that maintaining health and wellness in retirement is by far the most important goal of retirees. Eighty-one percent of those studied said it was either very or extremely important.   Therefore, I can think of no better starting point for our Retirement Renaissance series than discussing the book “The Blue Zones: 9 Lessons for Living Longer From the People that Lived the Longest” by the National Geographic explorer Dan Buettner.   For those who have not heard of the Blue Zones, they are the 5 areas of the world that have the most centenarians (people who are 100 years old or older). The scientists who originally studied these locations circled them in blue on the map and started calling them “Blue Zones.”   The Blue Zone lessons may seem to focus on longevity...

Be sure to watch our continuing video blog on this topic here:  https://youtu.be/D7SVh1RFj9U “The important thing to you is not how many years in your life, but how much life in your years." --  Edward J. Stieglitz,  M.D. I will never forget Saturday, March 21, 2020. An email message from my doctor reported that a recent calcium scan of my heart showed I had atherosclerosis (plaque buildup in arteries). Actually, a dangerously-high buildup of plaque. I was immediately put on a statin drug and told to schedule an appointment with a cardiologist as soon as possible. How does this relate to a new blog post on retirement living? Because, it was at that moment, at age 54, I realized that if I wanted to optimize the “life in my years” things would have to change. I enjoy my life, and my career, and I want it to continue for as long as possible. So, over...