After making progress on estate planning, documenting financial records, and updating family history, it suddenly occurred to me that I should make a list of life lessons I have learned along my life journey.   Obviously, these life lessons are a lot more than strictly financial, but certainly they will contribute to overall success and a fulfilling life for the next generation.   I came up with these and put them in a document along with my financial records. Hopefully, someday it will help the next generations in my family.  Here is my list of 10.   1. Live your own dreams, not someone else's 2. Believe and invest in yourself 3. Focus on health, family, financial security and a purpose larger than yourself 4. Be a lifelong learner 5. Be self aware and know who you are and what makes you tick 6. Learn from failures and keep moving 7. Be positive to overcome life's many challenges 8. Give to receive 9. Start small, think big 10. Leave everyone better than you found them   Everyone has different life experiences and value systems. What life lessons would you like to pass on to the next generation?      

MANY FOLKS CLAIM TO be ready for retirement, both financially and psychologically. But they’re often surprised to discover that the reality is different from what they expected. I started planning well in advance of my 2023 retirement. I read dozens of books on the subject, and talked to many classmates and friends who’d already retired. Of all the books and videos that I reviewed, one talk on YouTube stood out: a TEDx Talk by Dr. Riley Moynes on the four phases of retirement. The four phases he identifies are honeymoon, loss of identity, trial and error, and reinvention. Based on my observations of recent and long-term retirees in two 55-plus communities, these four phases do indeed reflect what happens in retirement. But I also think two further phases need to be added. Phase 1: Honeymoon. New retirees start traveling to exotic places, visit long-lost friends and relatives, and splurge on expensive things. Freedom from a nine-to-five job is liberating. Decades of saving and investing provide sufficient cash flow and a big enough nest egg to make retirement feel like one long vacation. This phase can get derailed by unforeseen events. I know many who retired during the pandemic and stayed home for a while. The retirement honeymoon can also get derailed by a sudden change in your health or your partner's, or by the need to care for elderly parents. Moynes says that, “Phase 1 lasts for a year or so, then it begins to lose its luster. We begin to feel a bit bored, and we ask ourselves, ‘Is that all there is to retirement?’” When I retired, I didn’t spend much time in the honeymoon phase. I was clear about what I wanted to do and got busy right away. Phase 2: Loss of identity. This is the phase when folks start regretting that they retired. They feel the loss of their old routine, their interactions with colleagues and their identity. Moynes says that, "Phase 2 is also where we come face to face with the three Ds: divorce, depression and decline, both physical and mental. The result of all of this is we can feel like we have been hit by a bus.” Phase 2 is a challenge that some retirees struggle to escape. Sometimes, health issues crop up, derailing dreams of an active lifestyle. Phase 3: Trial and error. “In phase 3, we ask ourselves: How can I make my life meaningful again?” says Moynes. “How can I contribute? The answer often is to do things that you love to do and do well.” This is a period of trial, error and experimentation. There could be many disappointments as you figure out what works for you. You might find yourself taking classes, trying new hobbies and expanding your social network. You may also decide to downsize or move. This is the phase I’m in now, trying out different things. My writing for HumbleDollar is one such experiment. Phase 4: Reinvent and rewire. This is the stage where we try to get the most out of retirement. Moynes encourages us to ask, “What’s the purpose here? What’s my mission? How can I squeeze all the juice out of retirement?” In this phase, you’re reinventing yourself to make meaningful contributions. This could be one of the happiest phases. I see retirees starting a blog, a business or a charity, or helping the needy and volunteering. There are many ways to make contributions that are deeply satisfying. To the above four phases, I’d add two more phases to cover the entire spectrum of retirement. Phase 5: Routine. As you get older, your energy level decreases. You pick a routine to follow every day. A daily walk, healthy eating and meeting friends become important. I see retirees enjoying the simple things in life. It’s a blessing if you can maintain good health. This is also the time to develop a plan to manage your next phase. Phase 6: End of active life. While you can skip one or more of the previous phases, going through the end of active life is almost inevitable. Your mobility may be affected, and you may need help managing daily activities. Even if you’ve prepared the necessary estate planning and financial documents, you must still come to terms with the fact that your time on earth is limited. The death of a spouse or a terminal health diagnosis are shocks you may need to bear. Major life changes can include moving closer to children or to a continuing care retirement facility. I’ve been lucky so far. The future, however, is impossible to predict—and no doubt many challenges lie ahead. Sundar Mohan Rao retired after a four-decade career as a research and development engineer. He lives in Tampa in a 55-plus community. Mohan's interests include investing, digital painting, reading, writing and gardening. Check out his earlier articles. [xyz-ihs snippet="Donate"]

I WAS WORRIED ABOUT what we’d be giving up when, a few years ago, we moved to a 55-plus community in Atlanta. We downsized from a large home to a small apartment, plus all our neighbors were considerably older. It was obvious we had to adjust and start enjoying our unfamiliar environment or we’d end up miserable. My wife and I made a conscious decision to slow down, and make every effort to get to know other residents and their life stories. Within several weeks, we felt more comfortable living there. One conversation during the first week transformed my thinking about retiree life. The man was much older, struggled with mobility and was constantly in pain. But he was always cheerful and would say “hello” whenever he saw me. One morning, I ran into him in the corridor. I greeted him with, "Good morning. Have a great day.” His reply, said with a smile: “Any day above ground is a great day.” This simple statement had a profound impact on how I thought about life’s day-to-day struggles. A day could be bad for many reasons: a dead car battery, a traffic jam, a parking ticket, a client canceling a contract, office politics and more. But the important thing is, I’m still above ground, living and breathing, which isn’t always a given for a senior. I’m thankful for this fact, and it makes all other problems seem small, trivial and not worth worrying about. We’re told to “count your blessings,” which helps us keep things in perspective when they don’t go well. This gratitude—especially the gratitude that we’re still above ground—can allow us to get some distance from life’s day-to-day hassles. Such thoughts can also help with investing. Legendary investor Warren Buffett has said that it's wise for investors “to be fearful when others are greedy and to be greedy only when others are fearful.” Investment opportunities often arise when others are fearful and share prices are beaten down. I think of the price I pay for a beaten-down stock as the “ground.” When the stock moves above the price I paid, I’m happy it’s “above ground.” If I buy a stock at $100 and it goes to $150, I’m certainly happy. What if it then drops to $125? I tend to be unhappy, and may be tempted to sell. But I try to avoid this temptation by telling myself I’m still “above ground” and I need to stay the course. It’s a way for me to get some distance from the stock market’s daily price gyrations.

There have been many discussions about assisted living and CCRC in HD. As I learn about how they staff and manage these facilities, there are many unanswered questions. Currently, about 65% of elderly are cared for by their families at home. For 13% of those who aren’t living with family, the gap is partially filled by assisted living establishments. The median cost of care is $5,900/month, but ancillary services are extra. That can bring that cost over $15,000/month. Every extra service is billed for maximum profit. Staffing shortages, more medical needs of patients due to older age, sparse state regulations, and profit driven private equity and corporate ownership has created an environment where compassionate care is not easy to find. Choice of such facilities has to be made carefully. However, this is not always possible. In most cases, one has a week or so to make a decision which is "crisis driven." When you visit such facilities, you are shown beautiful buildings, with nice lawns, fountains, and shuttle buses. I visited about half a dozen such facilities in multiple states and they are, no doubt, impressive. But the ground reality on daily care may be very disappointing due to staffing shortage and profit mind set. Here is an article that provides a good overview of the industry and issues. https://www.theguardian.com/society/ng-interactive/2025/may/01/nursing-home-assisted-living-costs-care Here are my questions: What have been your experiences with assisted living facilities? Are non-profits any better? How will you choose a facility for a loved one or yourself? Is assisted living in a CCRC any better?

From an early age, we are influenced by our parents, friends, relatives and society in general to get us on the treadmill of achieving success. By the time we are in college, career choice and what we want to do with our life have been heavily influenced by everyone around us.  After several decades of pursuing someone else's dream, it is hard to switch and focus on what we really want to do. It is too late and most just carry on.  I am no exception. I followed what was expected of me, worked hard and achieved some success in my career. No regrets. If I had chosen a different path, would it have been better? Not sure, and I will never know. Retirement gives me freedom to ask fresh questions now and choose what I want to do.  Did you just fulfill the expectations that others had for you, or did you go against the grain and chart your own course? This could include choosing a career, partner, buying a home, having children or making investment choices. How did it turn out?         

The obvious answer is that it depends on your financial situation, age, net worth and risk tolerance. I am trying to decide on the right amount of cash I should hold. I found this through internet search on this topic: "According to the U.S. Trust Survey of Affluent Americans, investors with over $3 million in investable assets typically hold around 15% of their portfolios in cash and cash equivalents. However, the amount of cash an investor holds can vary depending on their age and net worth:   The Silent Generation Investors in this age group (ages 77 and up) tend to hold around 23% of their portfolio in cash.This is because they prioritize capital preservation and stability.   Millennials Younger high-net-worth Millennials tend to hold around 11% of their portfolio in cash. This is because they have a greater appetite for risk and growth. Here is a link that provides more details: https://finance.yahoo.com/news/guess-percentage-wealth-rich-keep-170015736.html   What has been your strategy to decide on what % cash to hold in your investment portfolio?