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I have learned that there are some wonderfully warm and kind people here. I cherish my "friendships" with them.
OTOH, I have also learned there are some snobs in this forum. They take away from the enjoyment of reading these posts.
Nygal, take those folks with a grain of salt. I have never understood that type of behavior/attitude, but then again, worked mainly in nonprofit. Even though I feel that sometimes I've posted without thinking it through & end up apologizing, it is normally a habit to think of what words can do to people. I think if anyone worked in a homeless shelter, they would be more careful with their words.
Or even thought, There but by the grace of God...
Ive learned about medicare Pt B and D. What plan to purchase. Even though i work for a large insurance company, I still needed hepl
I sometimes think stuff like Medicare and MediGap policies, long-term care insurance, and various retirement investment options like IRAs in all their various flavors are deliberately made to be more complicated and confusing than necessary in order to trick older people into spending money unnecessarily. How hard does this stuff really need to be, after all?
Sure they can, IF they work hard to develop new non-work friendships (preferably with other people who are single, or childfree couples). I think the folks who get in trouble are those who (either single or married) center their life on work; when they retire, there's nothing there to fill the void.
I emphatically agree! The implication for those of us who are still "pre-retirees" is to perhaps throttle back on our ambitions to upgrade from Director to VP in say our final decade of employment, and instead to direct our energies toward honing the social-skills necessary to build meaningful friendships outside of work. A sly duplicity and almost pathological level of manipulation is useful for success in the modern Western white-collar workplace. Practice this too much, and it bleeds over into one's life outside of work. Smiling and thanking people whom we loathe are required "social skills" in the office. Not so in our personal lives. Making that distinction is a crucial transition, requiring preparation and a revision of one's world view… just as much as spendthrift middle-aged person needs to revise his/her worldview, saving for retirement and cutting back on expenses.
I sometimes think stuff like Medicare and MediGap policies, long-term care insurance, and various retirement investment options like IRAs in all their various flavors are deliberately made to be more complicated and confusing than necessary in order to trick older people into spending money unnecessarily. How hard does this stuff really need to be, after all?
I decided to go with an agent. I think it was the wisest decision and feel that as a professional I always worked for the client, and think she will do the same.
I guess the main thing I have learned so far is that there is no objective way to decide the "optimal" time when you would retire if you are still able to work well past your "nominal" retirement age. And, you know, like the Mickelson-Morley experiment that indicated the "ether" long thought to exist up to that point was not there, sometimes learning what does not exist is as valuable as learning what does.
Along with a lot of good discussions on how to maximize SS income, all sorts of investment and annuity plans available, and some good discussions on what different people think of as an "ideal" retirement location, and if moving from one's work home to a different retirement home makes sense.
I have learned that some people live less than happy lives, both before and after retirement.
Some are grouchy, super-sensitive, curmudgeons, for whom life is not so good.
Others are contented, happy, and open to the free, non-hostile exchange of ideas.
Life is good for them.
I sometimes think stuff like Medicare and MediGap policies, long-term care insurance, and various retirement investment options like IRAs in all their various flavors are deliberately made to be more complicated and confusing than necessary in order to trick older people into spending money unnecessarily. How hard does this stuff really need to be, after all?
more complex depending on situations than most folks ever imagine. the less you have the more important getting all the angles right becomes.
as an example , just being slightly over the limit for having your ss taxed and taking a mere 1k more can see 50% of that extra 1k vanish in to taxes.
it is those with more modest retirement resources who need help the most.
if anyone does do not understand why that extra 1k can carry a 50% tax on it then you are an example of someone who possibly should not be dong your own planning.
most amateurs come up with plans or a hodge podge of plans that could have been a whole lot better.
most think paying for good advice is to expensive but the truth is they can't afford free.
I've learned NOT to post humongous photos of myself, that men are onery at any age and are convinced new gals are "shopping", and that some folks here are really nice.
I've learned NOT to post humongous photos of myself, that men are onery at any age and are convinced new gals are "shopping", and that some folks here are really nice.
i always feel when i posted pictures of myself that women are undressing me with their eyes , and i just feel so cheap.
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