As a Vision Coach, I have helped hundreds of people over the last 18 years envision and plan for a secure, comfortable retirement -- always using very conservative projections and over-estimating all the "what ifs". So far, this has proven very smart.

Many of my Baby Boomer clients are just beginning to retire and their idea of retirement, is turning out to be much different than their parents. These baby boomers are retiring younger and healthier with goals of doing something else in their lives. This may be working part time, volunteering, making a difference in the world, focusing more time on a hobby, traveling or even starting a home-based business.

In one of my recent meetings, a client told me that he and his wife had not needed to tap their savings, even though they were living the same lifestyle as when they were working. Also, he had started a new home based network marketing business and was looking forward to building an income stream.

They were also considering moving to a condo in the south to enjoy lake style living with several of their friends. When they sold their home in Michigan, they would no longer have a mortgage. He was pretty excited about making the decision to retire a year ago while they were both young and healthy.

Be sure to get proper advice and planning so you too can "retire happy, wild and free". Be sure to read this month’s recommended book. It could just change your life! And feel free to call or email me if you are interested in creating a vision for your ideal retirement at kabbott@smartwomenscoaching.com

Peggi Tabor Letters

Dear Family and Friends,

There is so much beauty here; it may be the beauty and peacefulness of this place that makes the tragedy bearable. Yesterday one of my English students died. She was seventeen and she was eight months pregnant. She was a beautiful girl. Her unborn child died with her.

The Sangoma (traditional healer) had brought her to my house two weeks ago because her legs were swollen and she was feeling ill. I tell the villagers that I am not a doctor and know nothing of medicine but they come anyway. During training we were told not to even try to help in medical situations but that directive is difficult to follow, especially with my big black medical bag filled with things these people need a lot more than I do.

In Mpheng's case, the girl who died, I urged her to get to the clinic, told her to stop eating salt, drink lots of boiled water and to raise her feet up and rest. The terrible fact is that she could not go to the clinic because she had no money and no insurance. Now, of course, I wish I had given her the money. I wish I had taken her to the clinic myself. I've done it for others; why didn't I do it for her? She was found unconscious in her hut and died as her family rushed her in the village's one vehicle to the clinic.

She was one of my advanced students.

Due to the length of Peggi's letter this month, it will be sent to you in full, as a separate "plain text" email.

This month’s recommended book is "How to Retire Happy, Wild, and Free: Retirement Wisdom That You Won't Get from Your Financial Advisor " by Earnie J. Zelinski. So many books are focused on the nuts and bolts of retirement planning and investments. This book is focused on so much more; how to really enjoy life and not get bored, how to make a difference, stay fit and healthy, and how to find one's true purpose in life. I am now recommending and giving it to all my financial planning and coaching clients who are planning for retirement. I was pleasantly surprised to see that personal coach, Kelly K found the book as "Likely the best retirement book in the world." Here is her comment from January 21, 2005:

It's the best one I've read on retirement. I had been looking for a book that dealt with aspects of retirement that weren't tied up with all the financial gobbledygook. As a personal coach who often gives advice to the newly retired, I have already purchased over a hundred copies to give to my clients and will continue to purchase more. Moreover, How to Retire Happy, Wild, and Free has given me the inspiration and incentive to make my own retirement happen earlier than I had planned for.

Ernie Zelinski has an off-the-wall sense of humor and is a master of one-liners that catch your attention and open you up to new concepts. You may be surprised to find out that "You don't have to watch one minute of TV when you retire - and perhaps you shouldn't given that the probability of having a happy and successful retirement is inversely proportional to how much television you watch."

According to Zelinski, if you manage to retire happy, wild, and free, then your retirement will be more rewarding than your career ever was. The ingredients in such a retirement are likely to include great friends, a sense of purpose, some structure in your day, plenty of exercise, something to stimulate your mind, and spiritual growth.

If you don't have these ingredients in your life at this time, Zelinski has a number of suggestions for finding and incorporating them. For those who haven't cultivated interests outside the workplace, filling all that time may be a challenge. The Get-a-Life Tree in Chapter 3 provides the answer.

Other chapters are devoted to the consideration of activities that enhance body, mind, and spirit. Zelinski quotes from many sources, but his attitude is reflected in a quote from the Buddha. "In the end, these things matter most. How well did you love? How fully did you live? How deeply did you learn to let go?"

Better still, Zelinski's own words in How to Retire Happy, Wild, and Free are worthy of being quoted as much as the Buddha. For example: "When money is lost, little is lost. When time is lost, much more is lost. When health is lost, practically everything is lost. And when creative spirit is lost, there is nothing left."

Another example: "Retirement life is a game in many ways. Ensure that you laugh and have fun, even when the score is not in your favor. This way, you will always end up winning at the most important game you will ever play."

My edition of How to Retire Happy, Wild, and Free indicates that it will be published in seven other languages. No wonder. Although I can't prove it, this is likely the best retirement book in the world.