#200 INDEX OF BLOG POSTS
LIST OF CATEGORIES
Prologue (what you should know before you start)
Happiness
and the Psychology of Life Two
BLOG POSTS
ON PROLOGUE (WHAT YOU SHOULD
KNOW BEFORE YOU START)
***
#1 WHY BOTHER?
https://donezra.com/why-bother/
Blurb: You may
wonder why you should bother with retirement-related stuff at all. Here’s
why.
Takeaway: Convert
your labor into financial assets. That’s how you enable yourself to retire.
***
#2 YOU
DON’T NEED TO BECOME AN EXPERT
https://donezra.com/you-don’t-need-to-become-an-expert/
Takeaway: You can get all the benefit of the expertise that you need if you’re an informed consumer.
***
#7 TAXES
Takeaway: The subject of taxation is important. Don’t ignore it. You might want to seek advice on this issue even if you choose a do-it-yourself approach on other retirement issues.
***
#9 “I’M RICH!”
https://donezra.com/9-im-rich/
Takeaway: If your assets are enough to support your lifestyle for as long as you live, with something to leave after you’re gone, you’re rich.
***
#13
TEACHABLE MOMENTS AND WAKE-UP CALLS
https://donezra.com/13-teachable-moments-and-wake-up-calls/
Takeaway: Life provides natural teachable moments. If those are what prompted you to read this, that’s good. If your own curiosity prompts you to go further, and treat the blog posts themselves as a series of teachable moments, so much the better.
***
#16 PERCENT
AND DECIMALS
https://donezra.com/16-percent-and-decimals/
Takeaway: Percentages and decimals are just ways of expressing fractions of something bigger.
***
BLOG POSTS ON HAPPINESS AND THE PYSCHOLOGY OF LIFE TWO
***
#3 THERE’S A CONNECTION BETWEEN HAPPINESS AND AGE
https://donezra.com/theres-a-connection-between-happiness-and-age/
Takeaway: That’s a destination in our learning: that it’s natural that these turn out to be the happiest years of your life.
***
#4 LIFE’S ABUNDANCE IS NOT JUST ABOUT MONEY
https://donezra.com/lifes-abundance-is-not-just-about-money/
Takeaway: Let me be explicit about the destination of this stage of the tour of
life after full-time work: there’s more
to life and happiness than money.
***
#8 DREAMING ABOUT LIFE AFTER FULL-TIME WORK
https://donezra.com/8-dreaming-about-life-after-full-time-work/
Takeaway: I’m not sure, to be honest, except that people are different and have different dreams and hopes and fears. But isn’t it nice to dream!
***
#11 IS RETIREMENT COMPLICATED? OR IS IT SCARY?
https://donezra.com/11-is-retirement-complicated-or-is-it-scary/
Takeaway: Being scared is natural. Once you understand why, and what you can do about it, the fear typically goes away. Just take the first step.
Takeaway: Share information with your adult children: about your current finances, about your desires if you should become incapacitated, and about your will.
Takeaway: Access to an independent advisory service is useful and has lessons for us all.
Takeaway: A couple is not just a couple; you’re also two different people.
Takeaway: Put it all together: freedom, time, happiness. This is the BEST of life, for which the rest was made.
Takeaway: Everyone is different, with different things that turn them on. Learn from your own past and from observing others.
Takeaway: When you leave full-time work behind, it’s both scary and an opportunity. But this is a transition you may have made before, and there are many ideas from the experience of others.
Takeaway: Make sure you have some ideas about your post-work life; transitioning to a vacuum is depressing.
Takeaway: Six lessons have enabled 70% of people in this survey make a smooth transition from full-time work. Follow them and you won’t be one of the other 30%.
Takeaway: A retirement “dry run” is unusual, but it could be a great learning experience.
Takeaway: Volunteering helps individuals as well as society. Individuals find fulfillment and shared company. Society benefits from needs filled.
Takeaway: Life provides
natural teachable moments. Here I’ve provided a “to do” list to help you cope
and learn.
***
#113 IN PRAISE OF ED
JACOBSON
https://donezra.com/113-in-praise-of-ed-jacobson/
Takeaway: A small sampling of inspiration from a wise philosopher.
Thank you, Ernie.
***
#122 A WEBINAR INTERVIEW ON
RETIREMENT
https://donezra.com/122-a-webinar-interview-on-retirement/
Takeaway: I’m delighted that an investment-oriented association is devoting some time to thinking about non-financial aspects of retirement.
***
#128 RETIREMENT HEAVEN OR
HELL: WHICH WILL YOU CHOOSE?
https://donezra.com/128-retirement-heaven-or-hell-which-will-you-choose/
Blurb: A review of Mike Drak’s new book
Takeaway: [None]
***
#130 FINANCIAL WELLNESS
https://donezra.com/130-financial-wellness/
Blurb: My takeaways and thoughts after an excellent webinar
Takeaway: [None]
***
#136 I’M FEATURED ON THE
RATIONAL REMINDER PODCAST
https://donezra.com/136-im-featured-on-the-rational-reminder-podcast/
Blurb: The podcast was released on Thursday
Takeaway: [None]
***
Takeaway: Retirement involves much more than just money, though of course financial issues are very important. Money is a means to an end, to allow you to focus on what makes you happy.
Takeaway: Sleep is crucial to our health. It flushes out the waste from our day’s
brain activity. It contributes to learning, creativity and memory. And it
restores our body and helps it to grow.
***
Takeaway: It’s useful to be aware of these nine habits that help improve our
sleep patterns.
***
Takeaway: It’s scary to confront ill-health that seriously affects your future.
But here I’ve outlined some principles to start you thinking, if you’re ever in
those circumstances, about how you can live your future psychological life and
your future financial life, not only to survive but also to thrive.
***
Takeaway: In some ways, the brain is like a muscle. Overall, the connection
between exercise and sleep, on the one hand, and mental and physical health, on
the other hand, is very strong. They help to sustain and build our brain and
our muscles, and also slow down the natural rate of
decline. So, with both the brain and our muscles, the mantra should be: use it or lose it; but don’t abuse it.
***
Takeaway: Mindfulness is a form of brain exercise involving focused attention,
and it helps to calm us down.
***
#162 EXERCISES
FOR THE BRAIN
https://donezra.com/162-exercises-for-the-brain/
Blurb: Fun things to do on your own or in groups
Takeaway: There are many unusual yet fun activities, performed either alone or
with others, that help to preserve and enhance our brain function as we age.
***
Takeaway: If we knew we’d live to 100, we’d pace life differently, our life’s
path would have on-ramps and off-ramps, we’d have more interaction across the
generations, and society would change to accommodate the very positive
attributes that the New Map of Life™ would bring.
***
Takeaway: People naturally interpret lifespan as the healthy years.
***
Takeaway: It’s difficult to be dignified as the end nears, but these approaches
help.
***
Takeaway: Different forms of abundance make us wealthy
in different ways. You have some control over increasing your wealth.
***
Takeaway: Whether you think of many forms of wealth, or many aspects of life’s
abundance, you end up with virtually identical lists.
***
Takeaway: Retirement principles in depth, but expressed
simply and in a way that you can apply them to yourself.
***
#177 USING TIME TO IMPROVE
HAPPINESS
https://donezra.com/177-using-time-to-improve-happiness/
Blurb: Cassie Holmes tells us how
Takeaway: Your happy times probably share certain
characteristics, as do your less happy times. Cassie Holmes helps you to
identify those characteristics and then rearrange your time to make yourself
happier.
***
#178 DO YOU NEED A LIFE OF
PURPOSE?
https://donezra.com/178-do-you-need-a-life-of-purpose/
Blurb: Big P or little p?
Takeaway: It’s great to have a Purpose that
motivates you and gives your life meaning. But it’s also possible to be very
happy with little-p purposes.
***
#179 “YOUR HUNDRED YEAR
LIFE”: AN OUTSTANDING DOCUMENTARY FILM
https://donezra.com/179-your-hundred-year-life-an-outstanding-documentary-film/
Blurb: My film debut!
(In a very minor way)
Takeaway: I’ll repeat the final words of Theo’s
script. “Getting older is what we do. How we get older is always up for grabs.
We need to retire retirement. We need to look at the whole idea with fresh
eyes, find new ways of working, new ways of living, and pay more attention to
our future selves. Think about how we’ll survive financially, live socially and stay physically healthy and mentally fit.
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer, but it’s time to question old-fashioned
assumptions about the way humans work and what we’re capable of. As we get
older, interacting with others, embracing new challenges, finding fresh purpose
– these will be key to helping millions to live an active, fulfilling
and happy hundred-year life.”
***
#180 WHY SAVE FOR
RETIREMENT?
https://donezra.com/180-why-save-for-retirement/
Blurb: You don’t nave to … if you’re prepared
to work forever
Takeaway: Saving gives you control over the
ability to generate your own paycheck to replace your work paycheck – in other
words, the ability to retire and enjoy its benefits.
***
#181 THE JOYS AND BENEFITS
OF DANCING
https://donezra.com/181-the-joys-and-benefits-of-dancing/
Blurb: … and other forms of exercise
Takeaway: Dancing brings joy as well as physical
benefits. That’s a great way to spend part of your journey to Life Two.
***
#182 SOME OTHER POSSIBLE
FORMS OF EXERCISE
https://donezra.com/182-some-other-possible-forms-of-exercise/
Blurb: Walking, swimming, gardening
Takeaway: Discovering what form of exercise you enjoy is a big step to that feeling that you’re
dancing on your way to freedom.
***
#183 YET MORE FORMS OF
EXERCISE
https://donezra.com/183-yet-more-forms-of-exercise/
Takeaway: Dancing brings many joys and benefits.
But if you don’t like it, there are many other forms of exercise to choose
from, for example walking, swimming, gardening, in addition to organized
exercises like yoga, t’ai chi and pilates. The overall physical benefits are
endurance, strength, balance and flexibility.
***
#190 OUR THINKING CHANGES
AS WE AGE
https://donezra.com/190-our-thinking-changes-as-we-age/
Blurb: And being aware of how it changes makes
me feel freer!
Takeaway: As we age our shrinking time horizon
influences us to focus more on gain than on loss, and on emotional rather than
material satisfaction.
***
#191 WHAT A RELIEF TO BE
CALLED NORMAL!
https://donezra.com/191-what-a-relief-to-be-called-normal/
Blurb: It’s not the same as economically
rational
Takeaway: We all have non-financial goals as well
as financial goals that contribute to our overall wellbeing. Making financial
decisions with our overall wellbeing in mind is not an error – it’s sensible
and totally normal.
***
#192 AN ADDED DECADE OF HEALTHY
LIFE
https://donezra.com/192-an-added-decade-of-healthy-life/
Blurb: That’s what Dr Peter Attia says we can
get
Takeaway: To live longer, you need risk
management right from the start, not waiting until you show symptoms and then
starting to manage yourself. There are five areas of life in which this mantra
holds: exercise, sleep, nutrition, exogenous stuff (like drugs and other
treatments) and emotional health. Dr Peter Attia, in giving this perspective,
says that we can get an additional ten years of healthy life from it.
***
#196 THE BENEFITS FROM
RUNNING
https://donezra.com/196-the-benefits-from-running/
Blurb: Particularly as we age – and what’s a
good pace for running a mile?
Takeaway: Running (if we avoid overtraining and
taking risks) brings great physical and mental benefits.
***
#197 GET TO KNOW YOUR
FUTURE SELF
https://donezra.com/197-get-to-know-your-future-self/
Blurb: … who will seem like a stranger to you
Takeaway: It’s well worthwhile to get to know
your future self, because you can make that future self healthier and happier.
But closing the time travel gap is difficult.
***
#198 HOW TO BRING YOUR
FUTURE SELF CLOSER
https://donezra.com/198-how-to-bring-your-future-self-closer/
Takeaway: Hal shows us how to make the future
closer, how to use commitment devices to avoid current temptations, and how to
combine a sacrifice for the future with a good feeling today.
***
BLOG POSTS ON INVESTMENT
***
#6 THOUGHTS ABOUT INVESTING
https://donezra.com/post-6-thoughts-about-investing/
Takeaway: Investing means setting aside money today in the hope that it will produce more in the future. There are basically two kinds of investment: safety-oriented (where relative certainty of the outcome is more important than growth prospects) and growth-oriented (much more profit hoped for – but less certain).
***
#14 FOUR COMMONSENSE BUT PROFOUND INVESTMENT PRINCIPLES
https://donezra.com/14-four-commonsense-but-profound-investment-principles/
Takeaway: There’s no mystery to investment principles. People behave just the way you’d expect. They’ll play the investment game (many times) if they think they’re likely to win. They don’t like to lose, particularly not large amounts. Put a lot of people together figuring out the chances, and there won’t be any easy money to be made.
***
#15 HOW TO THINK ABOUT DIFFERENT KINDS OF INVESTMENTS
https://donezra.com/15-how-to-think-about-different-kinds-of-investments/
Takeaway: Investment outcomes aren’t as predictable as tossing a coin or drawing a card, where the odds are known and the number of possible outcomes is limited. But there are still similarities. And the odds help us to decide whether an investment is oriented more towards safety or towards growth.
***
https://donezra.com/36-historical-investment-return-patterns/
Takeaway: Historically, equities have behaved like a good growth-oriented strategy, Treasury bills like a good safety-oriented strategy. But neither strategy is absolutely safe. And the past hasn’t been a good predictor of the near-term future.
***
https://donezra.com/37-active-or-passive-three-separate-issues/
Takeaway: Whether to be an active or a passive investor is a discussion that typically confuses three separate questions: how much you pay, what you’re paying for, and whether the choice should be “active and passive” rather than “active or passive.”
***
https://donezra.com/38-unbundle-the-fees/
Takeaway: It is reasonable to be charged for financial advice and assistance. You pay for these services in many possible ways, some direct and some indirect. Only if you are aware of exactly what you are being charged can you compare the charges with what others might charge.
***
https://donezra.com/39-is-there-investment-skill-if-so-what-is-it-worth/
Takeaway: Yes, there is investment skill, but locating it is very difficult, and typically it isn’t worth paying for.
***
https://donezra.com/40-broaden-the-discussion-framework/
***
https://donezra.com/42-your-fundamental-investment-choices-eat-well-or-sleep-well/
Takeaway: How much safety and how much growth should you seek? That depends on how you balance your goals of eating well and sleeping well.
***
https://donezra.com/43-your-risk-tolerance-depends-on-psychological-and-financial-factors/
Takeaway: Your risk tolerance depends partly on psychological and partly on financial factors. When considering your risk tolerance, think not in terms of how you react to a fall in market prices (which is likely to be highly emotional), but to how you react to the impact it has on your spending potential (which is a much more sober set of considerations).
***
https://donezra.com/44-sometimes-partners-have-different-attitudes-towards-risk/
Takeaway: We’re different human beings, with different views on life and what’s important and what’s risky, some more tolerant of risk and some more fearful. And it can be tough to reconcile our differences — particularly if we’ve never shared them.
***
https://donezra.com/45-can-partners-reconcile-different-attitudes-towards-risk/
Takeaway: It’s natural for partners to have different attitudes towards risk. It may be difficult to find a single approach that leaves both reasonably comfortable. But remember that this difference is a personal issue, not an issue requiring investment expertise.
***
#75 HOW RELIABLE AN INCOME STREAM CAN YOU GET FROM
EQUITY DIVIDENDS?
https://donezra.com/75-how-reliable-an-income-stream-can-you-get-from-equity-dividends/
Takeaway: The equity dividend stream has an important potential use as a source of investment safety.
***
#84 SOMETIMES BAD THINGS HAPPEN FOR LONG PERIODS
https://donezra.com/84-sometimes-bad-things-happen-for-long-periods/
Takeaway: To try to guess how we’ll feel if the future is like a bad outcome from the past, rather than just the average outcome, we should also consider much lower investment returns than historical averages.
***
# 103 HERE’S THE STATE OF
THE ART REGARDING ESG
https://donezra.com/103-heres-the-state-of-the-art-regarding-esg/
***
#115 ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW
ABOUT INVESTING
https://donezra.com/115-all-you-need-to-know-about-investing/
Takeaway: My friend Tom Philips helps you to keep both the
principles behind lifetime investing and their implementation simple.
***
#118 WHAT’S THE ROLE OF
FIXED INCOME IN A PORTFOLIO TODAY?
Takeaway: I think of low-to-zero interest rates as a world of
higher taxation. There are no magic new solutions to the problems. We’re just
worse off than before. Or, in search of a higher return, the new you can also
accept higher risk.
***
Takeaway: See which of these frameworks makes you feel most
comfortable. Perhaps you think of it as a stand-alone asset. Perhaps you think
of it as part of your decumulation pot. Perhaps you’re not affect by the
investment income. One of those frameworks should incline you towards a
solution that makes the most sense to you.
***
#133 BEWARE! INVESTING IN
THE STOCK MARKET IS NOT A GAME!
https://donezra.com/133-beware-investing-in-the-stock-market-is-not-a-game/
Blurb: I expand on a warning given by Warren Buffett
Takeaway: I hope the takeaway is clear: there’s a difference between investing and betting, and there’s no easy money to be made in a (genuinely) efficient market.
***
#136 I’M FEATURED ON THE
RATIONAL REMINDER PODCAST
https://donezra.com/136-im-featured-on-the-rational-reminder-podcast/
Blurb: The podcast was released on Thursday
Takeaway: [None]
***
#144 ANNUITIES, LONGEVITY
RISK AND INVESTMENT RISK
https://donezra.com/144-annuities-longevity-risk-and-investment-risk/
Blurb: A framework for thinking about some financial
implications of long life
Takeaway: If by male age 75 or
female age 80 we’re in at least average health, don’t have enough to lock in
our needs and wants until the end of the longevity table, and are uncomfortable
being 100% in equities (and most of us would be, at that age), we should be even
more uncomfortable if we haven’t hedged the long end of our longevity
distribution, with at least a deferred annuity.
***
#146 FIRST TRAVEL IN
NINETEEN MONTHS!
https://donezra.com/146-first-travel-in-nineteen-months/
Blurb: Some reflections – plus what I learned about responsible
investing
Takeaway:
·
International travel
now involves unforeseen complications and requires a lot of patience.
·
“Responsible”
investing is in the institutional mainstream, and for the leaders it takes the
form of classification of investments into “yes, this qualifies,” “no, this is
to be totally avoided,” and “OK to invest, but in order to improve ESG
outcomes, engage directly or by voting.”
***
#152 EQUITY RISK IN THE LONG
TERM
Takeaway: Artificial or incomplete measures of
risk are what cause many people to wrongly believe that time diversifies their
equity risk exposure. Once you understand that the risk increases with time,
what do you depends on your risk tolerance.
***
#159 USING STOCK DIVIDENDS
FOR RETIREMENT INCOME
Takeaway: We’ve known that a stock dividend stream has an important use as a
source of investment safety. Now we can identify a particular subset of
companies as having the desirable characteristic of being successful
middle-aged companies with a demonstrated willingness to pay out, as dividends,
cash they don’t need for reinvestment.
***
#165 WHAT CAN PENSION SAVERS
DO IN BLEAK MARKETS
Takeaway: There are ways to manage inflation and recession, but safety comes at a
price.
***
#185 A DIFFERENT WAY TO
REPORT RETIREMENT PLAN ACCUMULATIONS
https://donezra.com/185-a-different-way-to-report-retirement-plan-accumulations/
Blurb: More meaningful, with a sense of both
the passage of time and volatility
Takeaway: Instead of just reporting dollar values
for the most recent period, convert the values to the proportion of current pay
that the accumulation will support as post-retirement income, in order to make the accumulation meaningful. And show a
sequence of those income numbers for many years, for a sense of perspective as
well as volatility.
***
#186 2022, A GREAT YEAR FOR INVESTMENTS!
BLOG POSTS ON LONGEVITY
***
#5 WHAT DOES LIFE EXPECTANCY MEAN?
https://donezra.com/what-does-life-expectancy-mean/
Takeaway: Life expectancy is not only uncertain, it’s also typically underestimated, particularly for a couple.
***
#12 HOW LONG SHOULD YOU PLAN TO MAKE YOUR MONEY LAST?
https://donezra.com/12-how-long-should-you-plan-to-make-your-money-last/
Takeaway: Use a life expectancy table (such as the one here) that shows you what proportion of people or couples similar to you survive for what length of time.
***
#52 ONE PARTICULAR LONGEVITY TABLE
https://donezra.com/52-one-particular-longevity-table/
Takeaway: Now you understand and know how to find the 50%, 25% and 10% longevity estimates for you and your partner.
***
#53 WHAT IF YOU HAVE A BETTER ESTIMATE OF YOUR OWN
LONGEVITY?
https://donezra.com/53-what-if-you-have-a-better-estimate-of-your-own-longevity/
Takeaway: All you need to do is find the age at which your independent longevity estimate matches one in the table. Then continue with the table as if you are an American of that age.
***
#76 HEALTHY LIFE EXPECTANCY
https://donezra.com/76-healthy-life-expectancy/
Takeaway: In most countries, the average person can expect to spend something up to 80% of our expected future lifespan after age 60 in reasonably good health.
***
#129 AN UNUSUAL BUT VERY
USEFUL FORM OF LIFETIME INCOME
https://donezra.com/129-an-unusual-but-very-useful-form-of-lifetime-income/
Blurb: In Australia, QSuper launches a modern version of a
tontine
Takeaway: A new lifetime income product pools longevity risk while offering growth-oriented investing. I hope more will follow, around the world.
***
#138 CANADA NOW HAS A
LONGEVITY POOL!
https://donezra.com/138-canada-now-has-a-longevity-pool/
Blurb: Here’s why and for whom it could be particularly useful
Takeaway: Products of this
sort are very useful to help get around the financial risk caused by longevity
uncertainty, and I hope to see them proliferate.
***
#143 “U.S. LIFE EXPECTANCY
PLUNGED IN 2020”: NEW YORK TIMES HEADLINE
https://donezra.com/143-us-life-expectancy-plunged-in-2020-new-york-times-headline/
Blurb: No, it didn’t
Takeaway: Three reasons why the odds are greatly in favor of our
readers outliving those ages
***
#144 ANNUITIES, LONGEVITY
RISK AND INVESTMENT RISK
https://donezra.com/144-annuities-longevity-risk-and-investment-risk/
Blurb: A framework for thinking about some financial
implications of long life
Takeaway: If by male age 75 or female age 80 we’re in at least average health, don’t have enough to lock in our needs and wants until the end of the longevity table, and are uncomfortable being 100% in equities (and most of us would be, at that age), we should be even more uncomfortable if we haven’t hedged the long end of our longevity distribution, with at least a deferred annuity.
***
#153 AN INTERVIEW TO WATCH …
https://donezra.com/153-an-interview-to-watch/
Takeaway: My Steadyhand webinar is a convenient
way to listen to (instead of reading) my thoughts on many of the topics covered
in these blog posts. And longevity is a topic that a few professionals appear
to be thinking about … and obviously I hope the proportion will increase
rapidly, as otherwise customary financial planning decisions for decumulation
may be highly inappropriate.
***
Takeaway: Now you know all about longevity insurance: why it’s valuable, how it
works, and some features (selection of the advanced commencement age, return of
premium and inflation). If it’s available and you’re in at least average
health, you might want to consider making it part of your portfolio and your
life financial plan.
***
Takeaway: If we knew we’d live to 100, we’d pace life differently, our life’s
path would have on-ramps and off-ramps, we’d have more interaction across the
generations, and society would change to accommodate the very positive
attributes that the New Map of Life™ would bring.
***
Takeaway: People naturally interpret lifespan as the healthy years.
***
Takeaway: In most countries, the average person
can expect to spend something up to 80% of our expected future lifespan after
age 60 in reasonably good health.
***
#190 OUR THINKING CHANGES
AS WE AGE
https://donezra.com/190-our-thinking-changes-as-we-age/
Blurb: And being aware of how it changes makes
me feel freer!
Takeaway: As we age our shrinking time horizon
influences us to focus more on gain than on loss, and on emotional rather than
material satisfaction.
***
#192 AN ADDED DECADE OF
HEALTHY LIFE
https://donezra.com/192-an-added-decade-of-healthy-life/
Blurb: That’s what Dr Peter Attia says we can
get
Takeaway: To live longer, you need risk
management right from the start, not waiting until you show symptoms and then
starting to manage yourself. There are five areas of life in which this mantra
holds: exercise, sleep, nutrition, exogenous stuff (like drugs and other
treatments) and emotional health. Dr Peter Attia, in giving this perspective,
says that we can get an additional ten years of healthy life from it.
***
#195 ARE YOU YOUNG, MIDDLE-AGED OR OLD?
https://donezra.com/195-are-you-young-middle-aged-or-old/
Blurb: You may be pleasantly surprised by what
I’m about to tell you
Takeaway: Consider yourself young until you reach
age 60 (male) or 65 (female), then middle-aged until age 75 (male) or 80
(female). See, you’re much more youthful than you thought!
***
BLOG POSTS ON RETIREMENT FINANCE
***
#10 HOW MUCH INCOME DO YOU NEED, TO SUPPORT YOUR CURRENT
LIFESTYLE?
https://donezra.com/10-how-much-income-do-you-need-to-support-your-current-lifestyle/
Takeaway: Having even a single aggregate number as a spending target is very useful. You can change it and refine it over time, but without it there’s no financial goal to measure progress towards.
***
#17 A FIRST EXPLORATION OF SAVING
https://donezra.com/17-a-first-exploration-of-saving/
Takeaway: We need to save because otherwise we won’t have enough money to last the rest of our lives. Our retirement ambitions are typically such that we need not only to save, but also to take investment risk in the hope of adding to our savings.
***
# 18 THE 10-30-60 RULE SHOWS THE HUGE MULTIPLIER EFFECT
OF INVESTING
https://donezra.com/18-the-10-30-60-rule-shows-the-huge-multiplier-effect-of-investing/
Takeaway: Over time, investment returns multiply our savings enormously. And much of that effect takes place after retirement, so continuing to focus on our investments after retirement is vital.
***
#21 DAN DISCUSSES HOW FAR HE’S GOT WITH HIS RETIREMENT
PLANNING
https://donezra.com/21-dan-discusses-how-far-hes-got-with-his-retirement-planning/
Takeaway: Two points, really. One is that paying off a mortgage is itself a form of saving for retirement. The other is that it’s possible to find ways to save money via curtailing unnecessary everyday expenditures that we incur without thinking.
***
#22 FINANCIAL STAGES IN PLANNING FOR LIFE AFTER FULL-TIME
WORK
https://donezra.com/22-financial-stages-in-planning-for-life-after-full-time-work/
Takeaway: Think of five stages in your financial life: the first goes up to 20 years before retirement, then the period taking you to 5 years before retirement, then the 5 years taking you to retirement, then the transition into a retirement lifestyle, and finally the point at which you downsize your lifestyle well into retirement. There are different levels of preparedness that I identify for each stage.
***
#23 TWO OTHER CONSIDERATIONS: BUYING A HOME, AND LIFE
INSURANCE
https://donezra.com/23-two-other-considerations-buying-a-home-and-life-insurance/
Takeaway: A home, if bought at a rational price, satisfies many potential needs: a roof over your head, emotional fulfillment, retirement savings. Decreasing term insurance can inexpensively hedge the chance that an early passing away deprives your dependents of the work income you would otherwise have earned.
***
#28 WHAT DOES SPENDING MONEY DO FOR YOU?
https://donezra.com/28-what-does-spending-money-do-for-you/
Takeaway: We get three kinds of benefits when we spend money. There’s the utilitarian benefit that something is useful to us. There’s the emotional benefit that something makes us feel good. There’s the expressive benefit that our purchase says something we consider positive about ourselves to others. They’re all valid reasons for decision-making.
***
#30 GOOD ADVISORS WILL SPEAK OUR LANGUAGE
https://donezra.com/30-good-advisors-will-speak-our-language-2/
Takeaway: The important financial outcomes are not investment returns. Rather, they’re measured in terms of the impact on our desired lifestyle. That’s the language a good advisor will use, in talking to retired clients.
Takeaway: Be aware of three things that could derail your plans: outliving your assets; becoming very sick; and dementia. The first one will be dealt with in future posts; the second one has a cost that varies with a country’s healthcare systems; the third one suggests that you should make decisions early in your retirement and inform your adult children about them.
***
Takeaway: There are four ways to generate retirement income from a lump sum: buy an annuity; draw down an amount each year that depends on your future life expectancy; calculate a sustainable drawdown until some fixed advanced age; buy longevity insurance and use the fixed period until it kicks in as the period over which you calculate a sustainable drawdown. It’s important for you to choose between them because they have very different characteristics.
***
#35 IS YOUR HOME PART OF
YOUR PORTFOLIO FOR LIFE AFTER WORK?
https://donezra.com/35-is-your-home-part-of-your-portfolio-for-life-after-work/
Takeaway: There are four ways to use your home to generate income after you retire: sell, downsize, rent it out or take out a reverse mortgage.
***
https://donezra.com/46-your-personal-funded-ratio/
Takeaway: Your personal funded ratio measures how much money you already have, and are likely to have after your future savings, relative to the amount you’ll need to support your post-retirement ambitions. Over 100% is good, under 100% suggests that you ought to think about doing something about it.
***
https://donezra.com/47-inheritances-and-bequests/
Takeaway: Inheritances are likely to play an important part in every generation’s retirement funding. But they come from other people’s desires, so it’s difficult, if not unwise, to take them into account explicitly in planning for your retirement. Bequests, on the other hand, arise from your own desires, and there are ways of accommodating them in your financial planning.
***
https://donezra.com/48-how-to-use-the-personal-funded-ratio-calculator/
Takeaway: You should now be ready to use the calculator to help you find out what point you’ve reached, as far as retirement finances are concerned.
***
https://donezra.com/49-an-example-of-the-use-of-the-personal-funded-ratio-calculator/
***
https://donezra.com/50-variations-on-a-theme/
Takeaway: Using all the possible calculators allows you to see which changes have a big impact and which ones a small impact, as well as which changes might be feasible and which really aren’t possible to implement.
***
#51 WEALTH ZONES: ESSENTIALS, LIFESTYLE, BEQUEST,
ENDOWED
https://donezra.com/51-wealth-zones-essentials-lifestyle-bequest-endowed/
Takeaway: It’s useful to find out which “wealth zone” you’re in, because your practical choices vary a lot from one zone to another. So the earlier you know, the longer you have to think about your choices.
***
#66 RISK: THE RUBBER MEETS THE ROAD
https://donezra.com/66-risk-the-rubber-meets-the-road/
Takeaway: In practice you can estimate, reasonably objectively, how much risk you need to take in pursuit of a goal, and whether you have the financial capacity to withstand the consequences if things turn out badly. But you also need to think about how you’ll feel if things turn out badly, and remind yourself whether, in the past, your feelings were a good predictor of how you actually behaved when bad things happened.
***
#67 HAPPINESS COMES FROM CERTAINTY ABOUT NOT OUTLIVING
YOUR ASSETS
https://donezra.com/67-happiness-comes-from-certainty-about-not-outliving-your-assets/
Takeaway: The biggest fear retirees have is outliving their income. And it’s a fear that’s virtually hard-wired into us. The safer your income and the higher the likelihood it’ll outlive you (rather than the other way around), the happier you’ll be.
***
#68 SAFETY AND GROWTH AS INVESTMENT GOALS
https://donezra.com/68-safety-and-growth-as-investment-goals/
Takeaway: If we understand safety and growth as being at opposite ends of a spectrum, we can decide where on that spectrum to place ourself.
***
#69 WITH TWO EXTREME PHILOSOPHIES, EITHER/OR IS A BAD
WAY TO FRAME THE CHOICE
https://donezra.com/69-with-two-extreme-philosophies-either-or-is-a-bad-way-to-frame-the-choice/
Takeaway: Beware of finding yourself in a situation in which your financial professional only uses insurance instruments or only focuses on investments.
***
#70 THREE GOALS, THREE INSTRUMENTS
https://donezra.com/70-three-goals-three-instruments/
Takeaway: Typically you’ll have three goals: investment safety, investment growth and some form of protection against the financial impact of a long life. This suggests the use of three different instruments, one for each goal.
***
#71 A LIQUIDITY RESERVOIR CREATES FLEXIBILITY
https://donezra.com/71-a-liquidity-reservoir-creates-flexibility/
Takeaway: A pool of cash can fulfill many purposes, from being a source of emergency funds to being a way to insulate your lifestyle spending plans to some extent from the inevitable fluctuations in the value of your pension pot.
***
#73 WHEN THE TIME COMES TO MAKE DECISIONS
https://donezra.com/73-when-the-time-comes-to-make-decisions/
Takeaway: If you push crucial decisions into the future, you may well find it very difficult to face them when the time comes.
***
#78 GLIDE FROM YOUTH INTO LIFE TWO (WALK 20)
https://donezra.com/78-glide-from-youth-into-life-two-walk-20/
Blurb: This is for those who are still accumulating assets, and haven’t yet transitioned into Life Two. Through the story of how the global financial crisis and market crash of 2008 affected different members of a family in different ways, this Walk draws lessons for how the goals of growth and safety typically change as we age.
Takeaway: When should we take investment risk? Mostly when we’re young and have little financial capital at stake, less so when we mature and have much more financial capital at stake. So the shape of our risk-taking during our years of saving should follow a sort of glide path, from higher risk to lower risk.
***
#81 TARGET DATE FUNDS AND HOW TO IMPROVE THEM
https://donezra.com/81-target-date-funds-and-how-to-improve-them/
Takeaway: A typical glide path can be improved by customizing it to the investor’s circumstances and goals, recalibrating it periodically, and focusing on inexpensive investments.
***
#83 “SEQUENCE OF RETURNS” RISK IN DECUMULATION
https://donezra.com/83-sequence-of-returns-risk-in-decumulation/
Takeaway: In decumulation, an invested pension pot carries risks. One is sequence-of-returns risk. Regardless of the average long-term investment return, it’s bad news, in decumulation, if low or negative returns occur early.
***
#85 A CASE STUDY ON THE INVESTMENT GLIDE PATH IN
DECUMULATION
https://donezra.com/85-a-case-study-on-the-investment-glide-path-in-decumulation/
Takeaway: In this case study, a couple prefers a falling glide path, for purely psychological reasons. They’re willing to take their highest risk in the early retirement years (provided they have a ladder that enables them to climb to safety over the short term), and rely on safe investments as their lifestyles settle down and they become older.
***
# 107 HOW MUCH FINANCIAL
CERTAINTY DO YOU WANT?
https://donezra.com/107-how-much-financial-certainty-do-you-want/
Takeaway: There are degrees of certainty you can seek, as regards lifetime income and short-term asset preservation.
***
#110 LOW INTEREST RATES ARE A TAX ON SAVERS
https://donezra.com/110-low-interest-rates-are-a-tax-on-savers/
Takeaway: Having separate safety and growth components in your
retirement portfolio is simpler, more flexible and superior to the concept of a
combined do-it-all portfolio.
***
#117 EMERGENCY SAVINGS ARE
THE NATURAL STARTING LINE FOR RETIREMENT SAVING
https://donezra.com/117-emergency-savings-are-the-natural-starting-line-for-retirement-saving/
Takeaway: An emergency fund helps you to survive; retirement savings then help you to thrive.
Takeaway: Inflation is much the same for all – possibly slightly
higher for retirees than for workers, but there’s nothing you can do about it
and it’s not worth worrying about.
***
#120 WE’VE EXPERIENCED HUGE
INFLATION
https://donezra.com/120-weve-experienced-huge-inflation/
Takeaway: We’ve had huge inflation, but in asset prices, not in
consumer goods and services.
***
#121 INFLATION PROTECTION
DURING LIFE TWO
https://donezra.com/121-inflation-protection-during-life-two/
Takeaway: (1) The typical pattern of activity in Life Two goes from
go-go to slow-go at some stage. No-go is less likely, about one chance in
three. (2) Dr Blanchett suggests building in 1% less than inflation, as you
project your annual increase in spending. (3) In many countries you already
have a base income automatically linked to full inflation. (4) If so, the rest
of your spending requires less than full inflation protection. (5) Action steps
could involve some purchase of a guaranteed lifetime income (whether
or not linked to inflation), or simply self-insuring your longevity
risk, in which case you might also consider the purchase of
inflation-index-linked government bonds.
***
Blurb: Five aspects of generating income for life
Takeaway: Tough issues, not yet settled in any generally accepted
form.
***
#129 AN UNUSUAL BUT VERY
USEFUL FORM OF LIFETIME INCOME
https://donezra.com/129-an-unusual-but-very-useful-form-of-lifetime-income/
Blurb: In Australia, QSuper launches a modern version of a
tontine
Takeaway: A new lifetime income product pools longevity risk while offering growth-oriented investing. I hope more will follow, around the world.
***
#131 YOUR PENSION, YOUR
RISK, YOUR CHOICE
https://donezra.com/131-your-pension-your-risk-your-choice/
Blurb: How to make your pension last: an age-old conundrum
Takeaway: [None]
***
#132 FOLLOW-UP ON PERSONAL
PENSION CHOICES
https://donezra.com/132-follow-up-on-personal-pension-choices/
Blurb: Answering readers’ questions on the previous (FT Money)
post
Takeaway: [None]
***
#134 SOMETHING NEW
https://donezra.com/134-something-new/
Blurb: I hope this is the precursor to many helpful financial
simulators
Takeaway: [None]
***
#136 I’M FEATURED ON THE
RATIONAL REMINDER PODCAST
https://donezra.com/136-im-featured-on-the-rational-reminder-podcast/
Blurb: The podcast was released on Thursday
Takeaway: [None]
***
#137 FINANCIAL LITERACY: I
INTERVIEWED PROF. ANNAMARIA LUSARDI
https://donezra.com/137-financial-literacy-i-interviewed-prof-annamaria-lusardi/
Blurb: What it is and why it’s so important to include it as a
fundamental part of our education. And a test you can take
Takeaway: [None]
***
#138 CANADA NOW HAS A
LONGEVITY POOL!
https://donezra.com/138-canada-now-has-a-longevity-pool/
Blurb: Here’s why and for whom it could be particularly useful
Takeaway: Products of this sort are very useful
to help get around the financial risk caused by longevity uncertainty, and I
hope to see them proliferate.
***
#141 HOW TO HELP PEOPLE WITH
DECUMULATION DECISIONS
https://donezra.com/141-how-to-help-people-with-decumulation-decisions/
Blurb: Australian issues under consideration apply throughout
the world
Takeaway: It’s time to create default decumulation decisions.
***
#142 DIGGING DEEPER INTO
DECUMULATION PLANNING
https://donezra.com/142-digging-deeper-into-decumulation-planning/
Blurb: I respond to readers’ comments and questions
Takeaway: [None]
***
#144 ANNUITIES, LONGEVITY
RISK AND INVESTMENT RISK
https://donezra.com/144-annuities-longevity-risk-and-investment-risk/
Blurb: A framework for thinking about some financial
implications of long life
Takeaway: If by male age 75 or
female age 80 we’re in at least average health, don’t have enough to lock in
our needs and wants until the end of the longevity table, and are uncomfortable
being 100% in equities (and most of us would be, at that age), we should be
even more uncomfortable if we haven’t hedged the long end of our longevity
distribution, with at least a deferred annuity.
***
Takeaway: Retirement involves much more than just money, though of course financial issues are very important. Money is a means to an end, to allow you to focus on what makes you happy.
***
#151 DETAILED
EXPLANATION OF MY PERSONAL DECUMULATION APPROACH
https://donezra.com/151-detailed-explanation-of-my-personal-decumulation-approach/
Blurb: Finally, in one place, including some aspects itemized
for the first time
Takeaway: Each year, adjust the number of years in the insurance pot as well as
the following year’s withdrawal. Yes, there’s a lot of detail to be implemented,
in practice. Setting it all up at the start and then leaving everything alone
isn’t how this works.
***
Takeaway: Now you know all about longevity insurance: why it’s valuable, how it
works, and some features (selection of the advanced commencement age, return of
premium and inflation). If it’s available and you’re in at least average
health, you might want to consider making it part of your portfolio and your
life financial plan.
***
Takeaway: It’s scary to confront ill-health that seriously affects your future.
But here I’ve outlined some principles to start you thinking, if you’re ever in
those circumstances, about how you can live your future psychological life and
your future financial life, not only to survive but also to thrive.
***
Takeaway: Inflation-protected lifetime income streams are both feasible and
desirable.
***
Takeaway: We’ve known that a stock dividend
stream has an important use as a source of investment safety. Now we can
identify a particular subset of companies as having the desirable
characteristic of being successful middle-aged companies with a demonstrated
willingness to pay out, as dividends, cash they don’t need for reinvestment.
***
Takeaway: This simulator has useful output and is easy to use – I think it’s much
better than the Calculator on the top line of this website.
***
Takeaway: There are ways to manage inflation and
recession, but safety comes at a price.
***
Takeaway: Convert large lump sums into
sustainable purchasing power, in order to really
understand how much potential they give you.
***
Takeaway: Retirement principles in depth, but expressed simply and in a way that you can apply
them to yourself.
***
Takeaway: It’s a huge uplift in a retiree’s
lifestyle if the retiree can spend not only the income generated by accumulated
savings, but also the capital itself – without the fear of running out of
capital by living too long. A simple way to achieve this is through a formula
known in the US by the acronym RMD: the minimum distribution required by the
IRS for US income tax purposes.
***
Takeaway: Longevity uncertainty eventually
becomes a more serious issue than investment uncertainty. Ensure that you
create lifetime income before you focus on asset allocation.
***
#180 WHY SAVE FOR RETIREMENT?
https://donezra.com/180-why-save-for-retirement/
Blurb: You don’t nave to … if you’re prepared
to work forever
Takeaway: Saving gives you control over the
ability to generate your own paycheck to replace your work paycheck – in other
words, the ability to retire and enjoy its benefits.
***
#184 FINANCIAL LITERACY IS
LOW, BUT HIGHLY DESIRABLE
https://donezra.com/184-financial-literacy-is-low-but-highly-desirable/
Blurb: I’ll explain what it is, and why many people wrongly
think it’s just higher math
Takeaway: Financial literacy involves applying
basic numeracy (the ability to use numbers) in the context of financial
situations. It is highly desirable, I believe, that this should be made an
essential part of high school education, because it is fundamental and brings
great benefits to those who possess it.
***
#185 A DIFFERENT WAY TO
REPORT RETIREMENT PLAN ACCUMULATIONS
https://donezra.com/185-a-different-way-to-report-retirement-plan-accumulations/
Blurb: More meaningful, with a sense of both
the passage of time and volatility
Takeaway: Instead of just reporting dollar values
for the most recent period, convert the values to the proportion of current pay
that the accumulation will support as post-retirement income, in order to make the accumulation meaningful. And show a
sequence of those income numbers for many years, for a sense of perspective as
well as volatility.
***
#186 2022, A GREAT YEAR FOR
INVESTMENTS!
https://donezra.com/186-2022-a-great-year-for-investments/
Blurb: Actually true for most workers in “defined contribution” plans
Takeaway: When interest rates change, bond
values, stock values and annuity purchase prices also change. Remember to take
them all into account in retirement reports, because the traditional
assets-only retirement report often produces exactly the opposite perspective
from what a report on salary replacement produces.
***
#187 MATT SMITH’S NEW
WEBSITE, “THE RETIREMENT SPACE”
https://donezra.com/187-matt-smiths-new-website-the-retirement-space/
Blurb: My former colleague has a new website, and an interview
with me is the first podcast on it
Takeaway: You can access an interview with me on
creating a lifetime income stream, on Matt Smith’s new website The Retirement
Space.
***
#188 HOW WOULD INFLATION
HAVE CHANGED 2022 PERSONAL FUNDED RATIOS?
https://donezra.com/188-how-would-inflation-have-changed-2022-personal-funded-ratios/
Blurb: I’ve been asked to say more about future inflation and
its effects
Takeaway: Income streams in the after-retirement
payout phase can, in principle, be adjusted to try to keep pace with inflation.
Such streams start out lower than nominally-constant
payout streams.
***
#189 WHAT IF YOUR SAVING IS
NOT PROGRESSING FAST ENOUGH?
https://donezra.com/189-what-if-your-saving-is-not-progressing-fast-enough/
Blurb: Let’s examine what you can do if you’re disappointed with
your progress
Takeaway: If you’re disappointed with your
projections of the sustainability of your current income after retirement, the
first thing to do is to see how much (really, how little) of your current
paycheck reflects your actual lifestyle. Typically
this reduces your target, compared with rules of thumb that we tend to use. If
you’re still disappointed with your progress, you can plan to postpone
retirement, or increase your retirement contributions now, or (dangerous!)
increase the riskiness of your asset portfolio.
***
#191 WHAT A RELIEF TO BE
CALLED NORMAL!
https://donezra.com/191-what-a-relief-to-be-called-normal/
Blurb: It’s not the same as economically
rational
Takeaway: We all have non-financial goals as well
as financial goals that contribute to our overall wellbeing. Making financial
decisions with our overall wellbeing in mind is not an error – it’s sensible
and totally normal.
***
#193 SOME FUNDAMENTAL
ATTITUDES REGARDING YOUR RETIREMENT FINANCES
https://donezra.com/193-some-fundamental-attitudes-regarding-your-retirement-finances/
Blurb: Dr Wade Pfau calls them features of your “retirement
style”
Takeaway: Would you like your financial solution
to retirement to be locked in, or do you prefer to keep your options open?
Would you like contractual protection, or are you happy with how markets play
out? Your answers to these two questions lead logically to identifying which
approach to retirement finance suits you best.
***
#194 MORE ON RETIREMENT
STYLES FROM DR WADE PFAU
https://donezra.com/194-more-on-retirement-styles-from-dr-wade-pfau/
Blurb: And (at the end) an announcement of an upcoming event in
Toronto
Takeaway: In addition to the two primary
questions that determine your “retirement income style,” Dr Wade Pfau suggests
that you consider four additional issues. If you want to lock in an income
stream, is it for a specific time period or for the
rest of your life? In retirement, are you still focused on asset growth, or do
you prefer a more predictable income stream? Would you rather spend more in the
early years, or save it for the possibility of a long life? Would you prefer to
set aside a specific emergency fund, or adjust your spending to cope with
emergencies?
***
BLOG POSTS ON FREEDOM, TIME, HAPPINESS
***
#87 THE OUTLINE OF FREEDOM, TIME, HAPPINESS
https://donezra.com/87-the-outline-of-freedom-time-happiness/
Takeaway: Preface, Where the route takes us, and the Destinations – your overview of FTH.
***
#88 THE PROLOGUE TO FREEDOM, TIME HAPPINESS
https://donezra.com/88-the-prologue-to-freedom-time-happiness/
Takeaway: [None]
***
#89 EXPLORE HAPPINESS AND THE PSYCHOLOGY OF LIFE TWO
https://donezra.com/89-explore-happiness-and-the-psychology-of-life-two/
Takeaway: [None]
***
#90 EXPLORE INVESTMENT (AND A LITTLE BUT IMPORTANT NOTE
AT THE END)
https://donezra.com/90-explore-investment-and-a-little-but-important-note-at-the-end/
Takeaway: [None]
***
#91 THREE ITEMS: EXPLORE LONGEVITY, THE PODCASTS, AND A
GIFT SUGGESTION
https://donezra.com/91-three-items-explore-longevity-the-podcasts-and-a-suggestion/
Takeaway: [None]
***
#92 EXPLORE RETIREMENT FINANCE
https://donezra.com/92-explore-retirement-finance/
Takeaway: [None}
***
#94 ON THE TRAIL FOR ENTHUSIASTS
https://donezra.com/94-on-the-trail-for-enthusiasts/
Takeaway: [None]
***
BLOG POSTS ON THE PODCASTS
***
#90 EXPLORE INVESTMENT (AND A LITTLE BUT IMPORTANT NOTE
AT THE END)
https://donezra.com/90-explore-investment-and-a-little-but-important-note-at-the-end/
Blurb: [This post introduces Episode 1, The Best Time of Life, featuring Chris Battaglia and Jeremy Cooper; Episode 2, The Retirement Life Cycle, featuring Jonathan Clements; and Episode 3 Get Started, featuring David John]
Takeaway: [None]
***
#91 THREE ITEMS: EXPLORE LONGEVITY, THE PODCASTS, AND A
GIFT SUGGESTION
https://donezra.com/91-three-items-explore-longevity-the-podcasts-and-a-suggestion/
Blurb: [What I said at the launch event, and an overview of the 10 episodes]
Takeaway: [None]
***
#95 VOLUNTEERING IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR INDIVIDUALS AND
FOR SOCIETY
https://donezra.com/95-volunteering-is-an-opportunity-for-individuals-and-for-society/
Blurb: [This introduces Episode 4, Get Serious, featuring Fred Vettese]
Takeaway: [None]
***
#98 TWO REPORTS ON MY ACTIVITIES
https://donezra.com/98-two-reports-on-my-activities/
Blurb: [This introduces Episode 5, Get Set, featuring Ernie Zelinski]
Takeaway: [None]
***
Blurb: [This introduces Episode 6, Transition into Retirement, featuring Jon Glass]
BLOG POSTS ON UNCATEGORIZED TOPICS
***
#19 BEHIND THE SCENES AT THE WORLD PENSION SUMMIT
https://donezra.com/19-behind-the-scenes-at-the-world-pension-summit/
Takeaway: I just wanted to convey something of the atmosphere at a global conference, and to confirm how much I love attending and speaking at conferences, even all these years into my graduation from work. Stopping work does not mean stopping thinking!
***
#20 COLLECTIVE WAYS TO HELP EMPLOYEES IN RETIREMENT
PLANNING
https://donezra.com/20-collective-ways-to-help-employees-in-retirement-planning/
Takeaway: Employers, associations and unions can form or join longevity pools, to spare their members the risk caused by uncertain longevity. And they can permit retirees to benefit from the lower cost of pooled investment arrangements.
***
#25 LOOK HOW FAR WE’VE COME
https://donezra.com/25-look-how-far-weve-come/
Takeaway: Just a summary of the first 24 posts, organized by topic.
***
#26 NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS RELATED TO LIFE AFTER
FULL-TIME WORK
https://donezra.com/26-new-years-resolutions-related-to-life-after-full-time-work/
Takeaway: Depending on your personal situation and preferences, there are many areas in which you can identify a possible new year’s resolution related to life after full-time work.
***
#27 THANK YOU, MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR
https://donezra.com/27-thank-you-merry-christmas-and-a-happy-new-year/
Takeaway: My gratitude!
***
#29 LOOKING FORWARD TO THE NEXT FEW MONTHS
https://donezra.com/29-looking-forward-to-the-next-few-months/
Takeaway: A list of
possible ideas to discuss in the future.
***
https://donezra.com/41-a-summary-of-1q2018-posts/
Takeaway: Just a summary of the posts in 1Q2018, organized by topic.
***
#54 AU REVOIR! (READ THIS FIRST, BEFORE YOU CATCH UP)
https://donezra.com/54-au-revoir-read-this-first-before-you-catch-up/
Takeaway: Thanks for staying with me. I’ll give you a chance to catch up, and will resume at a slower pace in September. Enjoy the next couple of months!
***
#58 A PERSONAL UPDATE AND A QUESTION FOR YOU
https://donezra.com/58-a-personal-update-and-a-question-for-you/
Takeaway: [None]
***
#60 YOUR RESPONSES TO MY QUESTION
https://donezra.com/60-your-responses-to-my-question/
Takeaway: [None]
***
#61 READINESS FOR LIFE AFTER FULL-TIME WORK
https://donezra.com/61-readiness-for-life-after-full-time-work/
Takeaway: [None]
***
#62 CONVERSATIONS AT DC WEST 2018 ABOUT EDUCATION FOR
LIFE TWO
https://donezra.com/62-conversations-at-dc-west-2018-about-education-for-life-two/
Takeaway: The need for education for Life Two seemed to resonate, particularly when people thought about themselves on life’s journey.
***
#65 HAPPY HOLIDAYS, AND ALL THE BEST FOR 2019!
https://donezra.com/65-happy-holidays-and-all-the-best-for-2019/
Blurb: [None]
Takeaway: [None]
***
#72 A LOOK BACK AT 1Q2019, AND A PREVIEW
https://donezra.com/72-a-look-back-at-1q2019-and-a-preview/
Takeaway: [None]
***
#74 REFLECTIONS ON BEING (AND NO LONGER BEING) AN
ACTUARY
https://donezra.com/74-reflections-on-being-and-no-longer-being-an-actuary/
Takeaway: I wonder if it’s possible for a professional to elect to be formally classified as having retired.
***
#77 THE LIFE TWO BOOK HAS BEEN PUBLISHED
https://donezra.com/77-the-life-two-book-has-been-published/
Takeaway: [None]
***
#79 A REVIEW OF 2Q2019, AND WHAT’S COMING
https://donezra.com/79-a-review-of-2q2019-and-whats-coming/
Takeaway: [None]
***
#80 VICTORY LAP RETIREMENT
https://donezra.com/80-victory-lap-retirement/
Takeaway: [None]
***
#82 LONDON NOTES
https://donezra.com/82-london-notes/
Takeaway: [None]
***
#86 WEBSITE REDESIGN!
https://donezra.com/86-website-redesign/
Takeaway (for me): A journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step. Not everyone wants to travel the whole thousand miles.
Blurb: An interview for the Saskatchewan Pension Plan (and a podcast about the transition to retirement)
Takeaway: The brain is like a muscle. Exercise it in a variety of ways to build resiliency.
Takeaway: One thought unites the reflections: that it’s worth doing some forward thinking, when times are less stressed. It helps survival through tough times.
Takeaway: Remember 18-year intervals after World War 2, and the names Boomers, X, Y and Z.
Takeaway: FI yes, RE no.
https://donezra.com/111-whats-innovative-in-pensions/
https://donezra.com/123-once-again-happy-holidays-and-best-wishes-for-2021/
Takeaway: [None]
***
#124 THE BULL MARKET SONG
https://donezra.com/124-the-bull-market-song/
Blurb: A dream, for your amusement
Takeaway: [None]
***
#135 MANY FORMS OF INTELLIGENCE
https://donezra.com/135-many-forms-of-intelligence/
Blurb: There’s more to your mind than just IQ
Takeaway: Different kinds of intelligence make us good at different kinds of things.
***
#140 WHERE DID THE NOTION OF PENSION CONSULTANTS COME
FROM?
https://donezra.com/140-where-did-the-notion-of-pension-consultants-come-from/
Blurb: I feature in a short podcast episode on its origins and current status
Takeaway: [None]
***
#145 EARLY DAYS AT RUSSELL INVESTMENTS
https://donezra.com/145-early-days-at-russell-investments/
Blurb: The excitement of building a legend
Takeaway: [None]
***
#147 MORE ANECDOTES FROM MY TIME AT RUSSELL INVESTMENTS
https://donezra.com/147-more-anecdotes-from-my-time-at-russell-investments/
Blurb: Including working with a Nobel Prize winner
Takeaway: [None]
***
#149 THE MEANING OF LIFE (JUST KIDDING!)
https://donezra.com/149-the-meaning-of-life-just-kidding/
Blurb: A light-hearted fable
Takeaway: [None]
***
Takeaway: [None]
***
#153 AN INTERVIEW TO WATCH …
https://donezra.com/153-an-interview-to-watch/
Takeaway: My Steadyhand webinar is a convenient
way to listen to (instead of reading) my thoughts on many of the topics covered
in these blog posts. And longevity is a topic that a few professionals appear
to be thinking about … and obviously I hope the proportion will increase
rapidly, as otherwise customary financial planning decisions for decumulation
may be highly inappropriate.
***
Takeaway: It’s useful to be aware of these nine habits that help improve our
sleep patterns.
***
#175 HAPPY NEW YEAR!
https://donezra.com/175-happy-new-year/
Blurb: I’m still very lucky.
***
#199 WHICH IS THE BEST
PENSION SYSTEM IN THE WORLD?
https://donezra.com/199-which-is-the-best-pension-system-in-the-world/
Blurb: And how do you judge something like that?
Takeaway: A wealth of information is contained in
the annual Global Pension Index report, with each of 47 pension systems rated
on multiple aspects, and the system in The Netherlands coming out on top in
2023.
***