The Secret to Success in Retirement- Odunze Reginald C

  

Henry Ford said “Think you can, think you can’t , either way you will be right” and according to Robert Schuller 1988 “ I can ! Said the retired postman.  He was a rural mailman for twenty years” Schuller (1988:64)

But when retired after two decades of postal service in Makanda, Illinois Wayman has acquired a small pension and $1100 savings. His travel company does nearly $7 million in sales a year with Presley Tours. How does a retired mail man become a prosperous businessman and according to Schuler, he did it by believing in himself and his abilities and by making people happy. Schuller (op cited)

But in my own opinion Wayman succeeded because he was doing what he loves most, and he has a positive mental attitude. Positive attitude in life is that all that matters and secondly doing whatever you have been assigned to do with dedication and happiness irrespective of how much you are paid. According to research it has been discovered that people who continued whatever they spend many years doing are more likely to succeed than those who change vocation, job after retirement.

On how many people fail during retirement, is a function of their ability to kick starting whatever they are used to even on a smaller scale during old age. Old age comes with it issues, problems, non  acceptance , health issues and  a disconnect with current happenings in life, there is also the generation gap, and so doing what you love most or whatever you have been doing most is the key to survival. So a retired policeman, or army officer can comfortable operate a security outfit and consultancy.

And how Wayman did arrived at that, “one day someone said to him” I would love to see the ocean. That simple wish enthusiastically  expressed to Wayman led to a tour of 546 people to Miami Beach , Wayman made $120  and had such a good time that he decided to go into business” Schuller op cited.

But from my interaction with retirees within my six years in pension industry, I want to believe that what drove Wayman was not the money but the actual sharing of one’s thought and deepest hopes fulfilled. And as Chinua Achebe will say the sharing  of one’s thought and deepest hope fulfilled can drive human beings to success. And the keen desire to return and do what he was doing before was the actual driving force for Wayman Presley.

It has been proved that people always wish for what they don’t have, I believe that Wayman was looking forward to his retirement during his working career but it did not take time for him to realize that he could have love going back to work may be after staying for the initial period of six months. That is the irony of life. The irony of life is that people tend to be what they are not, that is why you see the whites sun tanning and the blacks bleaching.

What this is indirectly saying is that within the working career ,work with zeal and dedication, know all that you need to know about the job, because you may never can tell, that you are indirectly  developing a business for yourself during old age.

In an article captioned “You may never retired” that appeared in wall street journal it states” that sum sizable number of retirees  may continue to work after retirement due to so many reasons like their pension pot  was not enough, they were ripped off  of the retirement savings and majority because they love what they do.

And according to Walter Updegrave in an article captioned “ Three Little mistakes that can sink your retirement,  which appeared in Yahoo Finance it states that “It’s almost become a cliché. Virtually every survey asking pre-retirees what they plan to do in retirement shows that the overwhelming majority plan to work. Indeed, a recent Merrill Lynch survey found that nearly three out of four people over 50 said their ideal retirement would include working. Which is fine. Staying connected to the work world in some way can not only offer financial benefits, it can also keep retirees more active and socially engaged”

But a more interesting story was the story of life of Mary Calendar, “Mary was making potato salad in an inn in Los Angeles during world war 11, her boss asked her to make pies for a large crowd. That was the start of a new career for Mary” Schuller (op cited). Continuing he stated that in 1948, she and her husband sold their car, to buy a refrigerator and an oven “in 1964 they open their first pie shop in Orange county and by 1986, they sold the family business about 115 restaurants to Ramada Inn Inc for $90 Million “What a tremendous accomplishment as that business may be hitting 2 billion Dollars in 2014.

Finally life during retirement is a great and rewarding life and what you make out of it is a function of the zeal, knowledge and experience, you acquired during your working career and when you are happy you are more likely to live long, and others will be jealous of your state and according to Dave Bernard in an article captioned “Finding Retirement state of mind”  which appeared in US News .he stated that “they appear to be genuinely happy with their state of affairs and making the most of each day. When you ask about their retirement experience they shine a genuine smile and are happy to regale you – often at length – about how wonderful it is to be in their shoes. Their happiness is infectious and you may find yourself caught up in their joy. Although it is safe to assume not everything is perfect in their world, their overall outlook is positive”. But when these are lacking, the retiree may likely not live long, thereby prompting others to fear retirement.

 

Odunze Reginald is the Lead Consultant, Chareg Consulting, a management and marketing  consultant  a social media and social marketing consultant , you can visit our twitter anchor @dunzreg, find us on Facebook @ Reginald odunze and reginaldodunze.com, at google+ @ Reginald Odunze and at Linkedin@reginald odunze.

 

The 4 major factors that may derail a happy Retirement ?- Odunze Reginald C

INFLATION

According to investopedia, it stated that “Inflation is defined as a sustained increase in the general level of prices for goods and services. It is measured as an annual percentage increase. As inflation rises, every dollar you own buys a smaller percentage of a good or service”.  While Wikipedia noted that “In economics, inflation is a sustained increase in the general price level of goods and services in an economy over a period of time.”

And according to Wikipedia, Nigeria’s inflation rate stood at 8.3 percent as at July 2014 and as at December 2014 stood at 9.2 percent according to Trading Economics, the country of Venezuela has the highest inflationary rate of 60.9 percent as at May 2014 while Italy has the lowest inflationary rate of -0.9 percent as at July 2014 according to Wikipedia. But the recent study keeps the inflationary at 17.9 percent as at September 2016 and as at October 2016 to 18.9 percent, the highest.

And according to Trading Economics in an article titled ” Nigeria Inflation Rate  1996-2016" they noted that

“Nigeria's consumer prices increased by 18.3 percent year-on-year in October 2016, following a 17.9 percent growth in the previous month and above market expectations of 18.2 percent. It was the highest inflation rate since October 2005, as prices for food continued to rise. Annual core inflation rate went up to 18.1 percent, the highest since January 2007. On a monthly basis, consumer prices went up 0.8 percent. Inflation Rate in Nigeria averaged 12.24 percent from 1996 until 2016, reaching an all time high of 47.56 percent in January of 1996 and a record low of -2.49 percent in January of 2000.”

But according to Michelle McGagh  of citywire.com she observed that “Pension savers are still in the dark about the impact the ‘inflation switch’ brought in by the government two years ago will have, despite the possibility that it could wipe 25% off their retirement income.” They went on to say that “Research by human resources business, Aon Hewitt shows Brits do not understand what effect the switch from the retail price index (RPI) to the consumer price index (CPI) has had” .
The article went on to say that “Two years ago, the government announced plans to move the indexation of pensions from RPI to CPI. It did this because CPI rises a lot slower than RPI, as the latter includes housing costs, so it means the state pension will rise more slowly, as will public sector pensions, costing the government less money.  When it comes to private pensions, the amount they pay out could also increase more slowly as many are tied to inflation, and would have adopted CPI instead of RPI.”

Although the article based their research on the situations in Britain, but the aftermath of globalization does indicate economy does not exist in isolation stressing that  what affects one economy will definitely affects the other. And according to Nathalie Bonney  in article captioned “How rising inflation can destroy your pension” which appeared in money observer, the article noted that “Anyone who has bought a fixed annuity [which provides a regular income for life] could see the value of their pension erode significantly over time,' says Dr Ros Altmann, director general of Saga.

She adds: 'The longer they live, the poorer these pensioners become, as the real value of their fixed pensions is reduced by inflation.'
So how does inflation affects your pension pot?  Nathalie noted that “Any cash savings are hit because the low interest returns on savings accounts cannot compete with the rate of inflation. Pension pots face a similar challenge with money losing value over long timescales”
If inflations are hitting Europeans and American who at times have negative inflationary rate what happens to Africans with one or two digits inflationary rate.
What it portends is that your pension pot may not carry you through during retirement. This is because during period of inflation, what N100, 000 can buy in previous years may not purchase up to N 75,000 during period of inflation. How then do you protect your pension pot during inflation? You may have nothing or less to do to protect your pension pot during inflationary period.  But the decision you take in either choosing programme withdrawal or annuity will offer the necessary succor.   Because those who are more likely to be hit by inflation are those on annuity as they have a regular income without investment, as the investment that comes into their pension ; go to the pool of fund and not the annuitant; although they may continue to receive pension throughout their life time, but the value over time may be eroded by inflation.
What happens then, when the situation described above hit the retirees, coupled with the delicate health nature of men and women above 65 years? Will it shorten their lifespan? Will it impact negatively on them? Definitely yes, but the survival of the individuals involved is a function of their ability to absorb situations and their mindset, for those who have positive outlook; it will definitely not affect them.

Fraud

Avoid financial scam According Sheiresa Ngo of the wall street journal , she noted that “Unfortunately, seniors are often the targets of financial scams. The FTC recently refunded more than $2.4 million to investors who were tricked out of millions of dollars in a precious metals scheme. The FTC says many of the victims were senior citizens”

Schuller (1988:112) noted that success without social respect can be an ultimate and dismal failure.

Old age has one problem according to psychologist, it tend to make old people vulnerable to issues of money making, as they have dream idea of trying to achieve what they fail to achieve during their working career. They now want to achieve it     during old age and by so doing enter into one wrong investment decision or the other.

Whatever they have not achieve they tend to believe that retirement fund will afford them that opportunity, by so doing they enter into wrong hands who will fleece them of their hard earned money. The result is that most of the retirees return back to work in order to survive and enjoy their old age. But what these scammers do not know is that wealth do not bring happiness as it is stated in Ecclesiastics 5 verse 10-11 “ How absurd to think that wealth brings happiness, the more you have, the more people come to help you spend it and  continuing  in Ecclesiastics 5 verse 12, 14, it sates “ But the rich are always worrying  and seldom get a good night sleep” Riches are sometimes hoarded to the harm of the saver, or they are put into risky investment that turn sour and everything is lost”

And continuing in Ecclesiastics 5 verse 19 and 20, “And it is good thing to receive wealth from God and the good health to enjoy it” “To enjoy your work and accept your lot in life- that is indeed a gift from God, people who did this rarely look with sorrow on the past, for God has given them reason for joy”.

And so in making wealth, it is pertinent for us to have that God given joy that gives one  happiness- a lasting happiness.

Anything short of that may not augur well especially for con artist as Robert Kiyosaki in his book Rich dad Poor dad, noted that there are so many ways, one can be rich, and he included the following, through inheritance, playing lottery, investing or by being a crook or an outlaw but there is a price, you risk going to jail. Kiyosaki  (1995:351) continuing he stated that ‘A great story must interest , excite and cause people to look into the future and dream a little, there should also be integrity behind the story, because our jails are filled with great story tellers without integrity”.

Health

The desire of every pensioner is to take care of his or herself during old age, but is it  the  retiree financially stable to shoulder such responsibility , bearing in mind that the period 60 and above comes with various lingering issues including medical health problem.

The medical and health challenge is of varying dimensions, high blood pressure, stroke, obesity, heart attack, cancer of the breast, prostate cancer   that and other medical issues comes with old age.

With the developing state and coupled with the inability of the African governments to have a viable medical programme for old people as prevalent in other continents like Europe, North and South America, Asia , Australia etc. Africa countries with the exception of few African countries like South Africa, Egypt etc have not been able to develop a medical programme for old people and senior citizen. Even where it is said to be existing, there are bottlenecks, corruption and other vices militating against it.

So what do they do in such economy where there are little on non existing medical program for old people, what will the old people do in such a situation, will they resort to the little or no  contribution of their pension pot.

Investment decision Tom Macphail in 10 costly Pension Mistakes noted that “If you have a pension, have you ever reviewed it? Millions of people haven't. Moreover, recent research revealed more than two in five adults (41%) - 8 million people - cannot remember how their pensions are invested. Why is that alarming? Performance can vary quite dramatically across investments and even a seemingly small difference could have a significant impact on the size of your pot” Continuing he stated that these are just projections. Investments will not always go up in value, they also go down, so you could get back less than you invested; what is certain is that they won't perform as predicted. Also, these values are in today's terms, without considering inflation, which will reduce the spending power of your money over time “According to several researches, people invest for two basic reasons; they are follows, to make provision for old age and to be wealthy. Being wealthy is a function of the state of mind of the owner and the generosity of the individual.

So many people cling to their money as if their life depends on it. While some are willing to give almost half of their possessions but that is not our subject of discussion.

Venita Van Caspel according to schuller noted  while studying investment “heard a very startling statistics of every people reaching age 65, only 2 percent were financially independent” continuing  Schuller op cited opined that Venita was raised in a Christian home without money, which she claims gave a health respect  for a dollar.

From the startling revelation, it all means that many are bound to fail should they kept deaf ear to investment.

What the article is saying is that apart from your pension contribution, you can also embark on one or two investment instruments to protect your age.

And in embarking on investment, it is wise to consult the professionals in that field, these investment advisers, analyst is able to study trends and be able to make informed decisions to that effect.

Odunze Reginald is the Lead Consultant, Chareg Consulting, a management and marketing  consultant  a social media and social marketing consultant , you can visit our twitter anchor @dunzreg, find us on Facebook @ Reginald odunze and reginaldodunze.com, at google+ @ Reginald Odunze and at Linkedin@reginald odunze.