RA Retirement Advisors
7 Blue Anchor Trail M1C 3N9 Toronto, ON, Canada

Self-Isolating? Want Something to Do? Start Your Retirement Planning! There is life after self-isolation and surviving the pandemic. After watching TV for hours, e-mailing or talking with friends, playing solitaire for the 50th time,why not think about life after work. When most people think about retirement, they imagine leaving a job they dislike, dropping out of the rat race and turning their back on the pressures of employment. They often see retirement as a welcome c...Continue reading

How to Survive Self-Isolation (Especially with your Spouse/Partner) By Rick Atkinson Self-isolation is now part of battling the Coronavirus. Our society is experiencing a pandemic caused by the spread of the Coronavirus, something we've never seen before. As an action step to curb the pandemic's effect, we're being asked by authorities to self-isolate in our place of residence....Continue reading

Stressful Week - How Do You Cope with Stress? I don't know about you, but this past week has been very stressful. The stress is originating from actions we all need to take to combat the coronavirus (i.e. constantly washing hands, regularly using sanitizer wipes and sprays, closure of schools, businessses and entertainment centers, etc.) Then there is social isolation and social distancing, something we're not used to. As a part-time college professor, learning how to present... my lectures on-line and mark papers electronically, rather than receiving hard-copies is challenging. Along with our worries, the question of 'Will I have a job?", "How do I pay my bills?" "Will my benefits be affected?" "How soon will announced Government programs kick into place?" "How do I explain to my kids what's happening including 'no play dates'?" To cope with my stress I'm trying to maintain my exercise program (my gym is closed) by walking at least 30 minutes daily. I'm also practicing deep breathing (taking a deep breath through my nose, holding it for ten seconds and releasing it slowly through my mouth. I repeat the process for five minutes. And my favorite, thinking of a sunny beach in the Caribbean. For the most part, the use of these techniques for me helps reduce my tension and lets stress slip away. One other stress reliever for me is 'trying' to reduce watching the TV news to twice a day - once in the morning and one time in the late afternoon. This one needs more practice! What are you doing to reduce or eliminate your stress? Your ideas may help others in this 'weird' time in our life. Thanks for your ideas. Subscribe to Rick's free newsletter (www.rickatkinson.ca)

Your Choice: Retirement Successful or Bust! Successful retirees build their own realistic and well-rounded vision of retirement. They create and implement a plan to make it happen. In my most recent book, Why Me? And No Gold Watch!, I assist you in doing the same. The book outlines the issues you need to address, and it covers best practices. It is my intent to provide you with insight and direction without compromising your own decision-making.... To spotlight the learning, you'll look at Sally McBride, a fifty-seven-year-old employee at Benson & Sons who will be involuntarily leaving her position as a senior marketing associate due to an organizational restructuring. Throughout the book, Sally, her friend Thelma Brooks and others will be referenced to help you to explore the knowledge, thoughts and insights I've gleaned from interviews with hundreds of successful retirees. So now the choice is yours. You can sit and wait for whatever comes along or you can tackle the challenges and opportunities of retiring successfully. Will you reserve your place in the rocking chair or grab the brass ring of retirement life? Why Me? And No Gold Watch! is available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Indigo Books & other book sellers. www.rickatkinson.ca

Retirement - Are You Prepared? In a world in which one in five people can expect to live beyond their 90th birthday, governments in many countries are coming under increased strain to meet the costs associated with an aging society. Traditional ways of looking at retirement are also changing. People see retirement as an active stage of life in which they aspire to stay socially connected, involved in their communities, and continue to work in some capacity.... Employers can help prepare their employees for life after work. Employers play a significant role in designing a workplace environment that helps to stimulate greater savings, healthier lifestyle choices and the opportunity for employees to transition to retirement. Everything from offering automatic enrolment in employer retirement plans, workshops and lunch 'n learns on strategies for retiring right, establishing health and wellness programs to offering the option to move from full-time to part-time work. In my books, Don't Just Retire - Live It, Love It!; Strategies for Retiring Right! and Why Me? And No Gold Watch!, I elaborate on lessons learned from successful retirees including (a) how to construct a realistic and well-rounded vision of retirement and (b) plans on how to make your vision happen! The models of a successful retirement contain the knowledge, thoughts, and insights I've gleaned from interviews with hundreds of successful retirees. So now the choice is yours. You can sit and wait for whatever comes along, or you can tackle the challenges and opportunities of retiring successfully. Will you reserve your place in the rocking chair or grab the brass ring of retirement life? www.rickatkinson.ca