We're celebrating the end of summer with a special bonus episode, Meet the (Un)Retirement Experts. It's a little different from the typical I Used to be Somebody episode. Instead of just one guest who's had a really interesting second act, we're talking to 3 great minds in the (un)retirement world. A little twist is that they are from 3 different age perspectives too. Paul is in his 60's, Gary is in his 70's and Ron is in his 80's!

Paul Long

As founder-creator of New Way Forward, Paul helps retired people pursue a new life of relevance, impact and income that is aligned with what they truly want. Paul grew up in Dallas, Texas and says he literally grew up in the radio business, going with his dad to work. He had careers as a TV reporter and TV weathercaster. 

After 20 years, Paul pivoted to the production side of the business and founded Paul Long Productions, developing Emmy-award-winning content, executing video, live, events, campaigns and more. In his 50's, Paul noticed more and more people were looking to pivot their lives from the default one to a life that was right for them. Now, as an experienced storyteller and journalist, New Way Forward has given Paul his own fulfillment as he helps people transition and realize their best life.

Paul's Tips on Unretirement:

•   "Take some time, self-evaluate, look for relevance and purpose."

•   "When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change."

•   "Ask yourself: What do I want holistically in my life, not just professionally or about earning income?"

Gary Sirak

Gary is an author, speaker and financial advisor from Canton, Ohio. Growing up his parents struggled financially for years until his dad turned his American dream into a reality, becoming very successful in the insurance business. "I got to see both sides, having a little and a lot," Gary tells us. After graduating from Miami University in Ohio, Gary worked so hard that he realized he was at the peak of his career and he wasn't happy. A friend told him to look back to where he came from. Gary says he had been pushing so hard he never took the time to celebrate his successes. "That really opened up a light I hadn't seen."

He lost some friends almost right after retirement and Gary felt there must be a better way. He wrote the successful book, How to Retire and Not Die, to help others have a better life in retirement. When not consulting, writing or speaking, Gary also enjoys mentoring and writing songs--he's written 35 so far. Gary says, "If I can impact people in a positive way, how important is that!"

Gary's Tips on Unretirement:

•  "Look for someone you know who is successfully retired, and take them to lunch, or coffee. I call them 'retirement mentors.' You can learn from them."

•  "Have a purpose, a passion, a plan" Stay active, be involved in community service and have financial peace of mind."

Dr. Ron Kaiser, Ph.D.

"Dr. Ron" is 87 and lives in Philadelphia, PA where he is now the Chief Immersion Officer at Better Age. He is a psychologist, coach, author, podcaster, keynote and TEDx speaker. He is author and host of the podcast of REJUVENAGING: The Art and Science of Growing Older with Enthusiasm.

Ron grew up in Minneapolis in a middle-class, close-knit community. He had a successful, decades-long career in psychology, (he's still doing it in addition to everything else), but in his 60's he noticed that some of his peers seemed to thrive after retirement while others thought retirement meant decline. "We've now got the science that people are retiring and living 30 years or more. I felt an obligation to spread the word." He tells us that after he wrote his book, he assumed everything would fall into place, which it did not. "I needed to learn social media, use my voice for good, be more assertive and teach," he says.

Dr. Ron's Unretirement Tips:

• "You have to discipline yourself. When you're retired, you don't have to go somewhere at a certain time, eat at a certain time, etc. But if you want to be productive, the stuff that got you there is the same thing that's going to get you further in life."

• "Age is a number, not an excuse!"

• "If you're looking for purpose, you have to find it within yourself. It's important to set goals through every stage of life."

There's a common thread with these wise guys. They all have a driving force to help people live their best life. How cool is that? 

• More about Paul Long

• More about Gary Sirak

• More about Dr. Ron Kaiser

• I Used to be Somebody World Tours - Tuscany, Portugal, Pickleball Adventure

Diana Landau is the Content Wrangler for Pickleball Media. After 15 years in corporate marketing, in 2012 she pivoted to write and wrangle content for Niche Media's weekly blog. She now manages the "I Used to be Somebody" blog.

Tags:    blog   (Un)Retirement   Ask The Experts   Paul Long interview   Gary Sirak interview   Dr. Ron Kaiser interview   storyteller   author   speaker   financial advisor   coach   psychologist   keynote speaker  

Finding the right financial advisor at this stage of your life that can answer those questions for you is critical. Can you afford that dream trip or helping your grandson through college? How do you maximize what you have now for your long-term plans? We asked Ian Castille, CFP®, to give us some tips on how to choose the right financial advisor. Ian specializes in helping his clients navigate the financial transition to retirement.

Here’s what Ian had to say:

“Here are a few comments/considerations I would provide to someone looking for a financial advisor:

1. You are the priority: Make sure you find someone who is obligated to put your interests first. (Not the brokerage company they work for, not their potential sale commission, etc.) The financial services industry refers to this obligation as a "Fiduciary Standard of Care"

2. Understanding your financial situation: As uncomfortable as it may be at first, you want someone who is going to "get in your business". Within the first 30 minutes of an introductory meeting with a financial advisor, they should be asking questions that lead you to reveal more about your personal finances than your best friend or family members know about you. Good advice comes from a deep understanding of personal circumstances and applying expertise within that context.

3. Personality matters: A good financial advisor will be part of your "inner circle" and you should enjoy working with them and soliciting their input. If you dislike someone or they rub you the wrong way, you are less likely to implement their recommendations.

4. Specializations and niche focus: If you happen to find an advisor that specializes in serving your particular career/industry or life circumstance, chances are they have a deeper understanding of your situation and challenges.

5. Certifications, education, and experience: This can be important, but it's last on the list for a reason. Credentials help establish a certain level of competence and commitment but more credentials doesn't always translate to better advice.”

About the author: Ian Castille, CFP®, is a Principal and Senior Financial Advisor at Capital Advantage, Inc. Ian specializes in helping his clients navigate the financial transition to retirement. His work usually includes personalized strategies to reduce taxes, make smarter investment decisions, and optimize income streams. Capital Advantage, Inc. is a Fee-Only Registered Investment Advisory firm, founded in 1982.

Tags:    blog   financial planning   financial advisor   retirement