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6 Things You Need To Know Before Retiring To Another Country

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6 Things You Need To Know Before Retiring To Another Country

Retiring to another country is a very popular option for many people.  Malaysia and Thailand are the top retirement countries for Australians, while many in the USA move to Panama, Costa Rica and Mexico.  UK citizens have been flocking to southern European countries in recent years for their retirement, but this may be affected by Brexit.

Moving to a new country is an exciting prospect. There’s nothing more rewarding than settling down somewhere new and beautiful. However, the process of retiring in another country is certainly not a straightforward one. There are a lot of things you need to prepare for. Here’s what you need to know: [Read more…]

Flexible Job for Baby Boomers – How to Enjoy a Retirement Vibe Without Retiring

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 beBaby Boomers – How to Enjoy a Retirement Vibe Without Retiring
My 79-year-old widowed mother has a part-time job aiding elderly people in their homes. I used to be amused by saying that; I mean, 79 is elderly, isn’t it?
The fact is, her paid work is a mere four hours a week, a small piece of her portfolio of several self-chosen activities which keep her vibrantly engaged with life. My mom is an admirable example of the “new old.”
But I’m no longer amused at the irony of her employment since I read about an 89-year-old former airline pilot who works 25 hours or more a week helping older adults find jobs. Yikes!
Meanwhile, following this great generation are baby boomers bracing for a future that will have them working beyond the standard retirement age. If it looks like you’ll be working into your 60s, 70s or beyond, here’s a twist on telecommuting that can give you a retirement vibe without retiring.
Try telecommuting as a way to get out of town and still earn a living.
Am I suggesting you take your laptop computer on your vacation? No, not that. Definitely not!
Instead, consider a seasonal escape where you do your usual work in the salubrious setting of your choice for six to eight weeks.
Imagine the following temporary work set-ups (but not all three, of course!):
•February and March at your South Carolina condo
•June and July at a vacation rental in Idaho or Ireland
•Thanksgiving through New Year’s at your son’s home in another state
Sounds lovely, you say? But how is it possible? I’ve outlined 5 steps, below.
This flexible work life tactic assumes you are a “knowledge worker,” i.e., a professional who commutes daily to reach a computer and a phone to do your job. We’ll turn it around so that the laptop and phone goes to the worker (you) instead.
It’s a progression of steps over six months.
Why not start today?
STEP 1: Change your thinking about how your job gets done.
Begin to recognize that you can work from anywhere. This may be a new idea for you so the biggest obstacles are probably in your mind. (We’ll deal with your manager separately.)
Most telecommuters work remotely one to three days a week. While not widespread, there are employees who work full time from home. Your intended gig is working full time from (a temporary, faraway) home for only a season.
STEP 2: Arrange to telecommute from your home.
First, redesign your job into telecommuting.
Don’t be put off if there are some job tasks that you can’t imagine being done from thousands of miles away. We’ll get to that further down.
Set up remote access to your work computer through your employer’s network or using remote access software.
Over a period of weeks, work an hour or so on a few job tasks in the evening or a Saturday from home. Don’t make it a habit; your goal is to prove to yourself-and eventually your manager-that you can perform your job well from home.
After you’ve proven to yourself it can be done, present a proposal to your manager to work from home two or three days of each five-day workweek.
Assuming approval of your request (most long-term, trusted employees get the green light for at least a trial period), you’ll move to Step 3.
STEP 3: Nudge telecommuting from home up to the next level.
After three months of telecommuting two or three days a week, request to work four days a week from home.
STEP 4: Arrange an in-person meeting with your manager to assess your telecommuting arrangement.
Your mission is to gauge your manager’s true comfort and confidence level about your work set-up.
With six months or more of solid telecommuting experience, you will have likely improved your output. Most remote workers see double-digit productivity increases; with fewer interruptions and no socializing, what’s to do but work?
This foundation, paired with your positioning as a reliable, well-performing employee your manager doesn’t want to lose (right?), sets you up to get approval of your request.
Yet, you need to get a clearer view of the situation from your manager’s perspective.
Is your he or she blown away at your productivity output (at which time you can reinforce the value of remote work and how it adds to your job satisfaction and achievements)?
Or is your manager suggesting that four days a week working away from the office is excessive?
What else? Listen carefully (especially between the lines). Do a subtle probe of the attitude environment so you can figure your next move.
STEP 5: Request your seasonal remote work arrangement.
Based on the outcome of Step 4, you’ll know (or sense) if and when it’s a wise move to go forward with your request.
Let’s say you have a good vibe about it and you’re planning to ask.
Make your request at least two months before your anticipated start date; given approval, you’ll need the time to make travel and accommodation arrangements.
Ask for eight weeks of long-distance telecommuting so you have room to negotiate for fewer.
If you meet little resistance and you really only want three to six weeks, confirm your travel arrangements first, then immediately alert your manager to the adjusted dates.
Fine-Tune Step 2
Looking back at Step 2, are there job tasks that can not be performed from a remote location? Let’s tackle that issue by considering the possibilities.
Could those particular job tasks:
•be skipped during the weeks that you’re away from the office?
•be deferred until your return?
•be delegated?
•be done in a collaborative way via telework tools?
•be given work-around treatment*?
If you’ve set up a job sharing arrangement, Step Two has fewer obstacles.
*Imagine you had to take several weeks of FMLA leave to be with your elderly parent in a faraway state during his or her hip replacement surgery, rehab and recuperation. Beyond your ability to access your office computer from your parent’s home to do some work, how would you and your employer manage the other aspects of your job? There’s no perfect solution, but there’s usually a work-it-out solution. Think in those terms.
Make it Happen
Is this an unusual arrangement? Yes.
Is it really possible? Yes, if you follow the steps above over a sufficient chunk of time, you may be surprised at the flexible work lifestyle you can craft for yourself that has hints of a retirement vibe.
Flexible work adviser and pay raise coach Pat Katepoo equips career professionals to negotiate for more time and money at their current job. Will your boss say YES to your request for a flexible work arrangement? Find out using this quick 3-question quiz. Find more tools and tactics for a flexible work life after 50 at WorkOptions.com.

Flexible Job for Baby Boomers

My 79-year-old widowed mother has a part-time job aiding elderly people in their homes. I used to be amused by saying that; I mean, 79 is elderly, isn’t it?

The fact is, her paid work is a mere four hours a week, a small piece of her portfolio of several self-chosen activities which keep her vibrantly engaged with life. My mom is an admirable example of the “new old.”

But I’m no longer amused at the irony of her employment since I read about an 89-year-old former airline pilot who works 25 hours or more a week helping older adults find jobs. Yikes!

Working beyond standard retirement age

Following this great generation of over 75s are baby boomers bracing for a future that will have them working beyond the standard retirement age. If it looks like you’ll be working through your 60s into your 70s or beyond, here’s a twist on flexible work that can give you a retirement vibe without retiring.

Tips on How to Start Your Flexible Job

Try telecommuting

Am I suggesting you take your laptop computer on your vacation? No, not that. Definitely not! I’ve tried that and it’s difficult and not fun.

Instead, consider a seasonal escape where you do your usual work in the salubrious setting of your choice for six to eight weeks.

Flexible work in IrelandImagine this flexible job scenario:

Working happily on your computer

  • February and March at your Sunshine Coast apartment
  • July and August at a holiday rental in Ubud or Ireland

Sounds lovely, you say? But how is it possible?

I’ve outlined 5 steps below.

Knowledge worker

This flexible work life tactic assumes you are a “knowledge worker,” i.e., a professional who commutes daily but mainly uses a computer and a phone to do your job. You could turn it around so that the laptop and phone goes to the worker (you) instead.

It’s a progression of steps over six months. Why not start today?

STEP 1: Change your thinking about how your job gets done.

Begin to recognize that you can work from anywhere. This may be a new idea for you so the biggest obstacles are probably in your mind. (We’ll deal with your manager separately.)

Most telecommuters work remotely one to three days a week. While not widespread, there are employees who work full time from home. Your intended gig is working full time from a temporary, faraway home for blocks of time.

STEP 2: Arrange to telecommute from your home.

First, redesign your job into telecommuting.

Don’t be put off if there are some job tasks that you can’t imagine being done from thousands of miles away. We’ll get to that further down.

Set up remote access to your work computer through your employer’s network or using remote access software.

Over a period of weeks, work an hour or so on a few job tasks in the evening or a Saturday from home. Don’t make it a habit; your goal is to prove to yourself-and eventually your manager-that you can perform your job well from home.

Expand your proposal.

After you’ve proven to yourself it can be done, present a proposal to your manager to work from home two or three days of each five-day workweek.

Assuming approval of your request (most long-term, trusted employees get the green light for at least a trial period), you’ll move to Step 3.

STEP 3: Nudge telecommuting from home up to the next level.

After three months of telecommuting two or three days a week, request to work four days a week from home.

STEP 4: Have a meeting with your manager to assess your flexible work arrangement.

Your mission is to gauge your manager’s true comfort and confidence level about your work set-up.With six months or more of solid telecommuting experience, you will have likely improved your output.

Most remote workers see double-digit productivity increases; with fewer interruptions and no socializing, what’s to do but work?

This foundation, paired with your positioning as a reliable, well-performing employee your manager doesn’t want to lose (right?), sets you up to get approval of your request.

Consider the manager’s perspective.

Is your he or she blown away at your productivity output?  If so this is the time to reinforce the value of remote flexible work and how it adds to your job satisfaction and achievements?

Or is your manager suggesting that four days a week working away from the office is excessive?

What else? Listen carefully, especially between the lines. Do a subtle probe of the attitude environment so you can figure your next move.

STEP 5: Request your seasonal remote work arrangement.

Based on the outcome of Step 4, you’ll know (or sense) if and when it’s a wise move to go forward with your request.

Let’s say you have a good vibe about it and you’re planning to ask.

Act strategically

Make your request at least two months before your anticipated start date for your remote flexible work to be conducted in another location. Given approval you’ll need the time to make travel and accommodation arrangements.

Ask for eight weeks of long-distance telecommuting so you have room to negotiate for fewer.

If you meet little resistance and you really only want three to six weeks, confirm your travel arrangements first, then immediately alert your manager to the adjusted dates.

Fine-Tune Step 2

Looking back at Step 2, are there job tasks that can not be performed from a remote location? Let’s tackle that issue by considering the possibilities.

Could those particular job tasks be:

  • skipped during the weeks that you’re away from the office?
  • deferred until your return?
  • delegated?
  • done in a collaborative way via telework tools?
  • completed on your return?

If you’ve set up a job sharing arrangement, Step Two has fewer obstacles.

Consider how you’d manage under different circumstances.

Imagine you had to take several weeks of leave to be with your elderly parent in a faraway state during his or her hip replacement surgery, rehab and recuperation.

Beyond your ability to access your office computer from your parent’s home to do some work, how would you and your employer manage the other aspects of your job? There’s no perfect flexible work solution, but there’s usually a work-it-out solution.

Make it Happen

Is this an unusual arrangement? Yes.

Could a flexible job really be possible? If you follow the steps above over a sufficient chunk of time you may be surprised at the flexible work lifestyle you can craft for yourself that has hints of a retirement vibe.

About our Guest Author:

Flexible work adviser and pay raise coach Pat Katepoo equips career professionals to negotiate for more time and money at their current job.

Request our free Retirement Lifestyle Guide “Create A Future You Will Love” today!

Now is the time to think and plan what you want to do in the next phase of your life! What’s the ideal retirement lifestyle for you? Do you want to start a retirement lifestyle business? Get our comprehensive Retirement Planning Guide called “Create a Future You’ll Love” to help you plan your retirement now. We can work together to make it happen. Contact us.

two blue beach chairs near body of water

CEO of Me: Creating a Life That Works in the Flexible Job Age

Ideal Encore Career – What’s Your Expertise?

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As you begin to evaluate your encore career, it is important to establish your core values as a tool for discovering your ideal encore career. The next step is to determine what skills or expertise you have that align with what you define as your personal values.

How to Find Your Ideal Encore Career

In order to do this, you must look back over your experiences to find those things that you’re not only good at, but you really enjoy doing. Face it. There are lots of things you’re good at that you dread doing. But, what’s the sense of creating an encore career that has you doing anything but what you most enjoy?

Uncovering those things that you most enjoy that you’re good at is a great next step on your internal journey of discovery for your ideal encore career. Take some quiet reflection time, and ask yourself these seven must-ask questions:

What do/did I enjoy most about my current career?

This is a terrific place to start. Write down every thing you like about your work, that puts a smile on your face. If the challenge (and enjoyment) are long gone from the work you do, think back to the beginning. What excited you about the work? What pulled you out of bed in the morning that you couldn’t wait to do?

What do I most enjoy learning?

Over the years, you’ve most likely invested a lot of time and energy in learning. Only include what you learned for the simple joy of it. Please leave out what you either “had to” learn for your work, or what you learned for the people you love, but didn’t light you up.

What do other people always come to me for?

This is a great one. I’ll bet there are a number of things that the people in your life consistently ask you for. It might be for your ability to see the big picture, help solving a problem, or just to be heard. These are great clues as to what you’re good at. Again, only write down the ones you really enjoy doing.

What do I discount as valuable because I do it so effortlessly?

For years it never occurred to me that my energetic, enthusiastic cheerleading would be something that I could earn a living at, because it’s just part of who I am, and I’ve been doing it since I was a little girl. But, my coaching, writing and presenting make good use of this gift, and that I get paid for it is a wonderful bonus.

What do I love so much that I would pay someone to let me do?

Okay, so now you’re sworn to secrecy. I love my work as a coach and workshop leader so much that I would gladly pay my clients to let me coach them, and my Boot Camp participants to let me inspire them. Of course, one needs to make a living, but it’s a great way to feel about the work that you do. Your ideal encore career should feel like this.

What am I doing when I lose all track of time?

They say time flies when you’re having fun, and that’s true for me when I’m designing a new keynote, workshop or Boot Camp. Hours pass and it feels like minutes; my creative juices are flowing and I’m having a blast. When does time fly for you?

What do I love to do just for the sake of doing it?

I love presenting. Being up in front of people, sharing my passion, knowledge and expertise thrills me. It never gets dull, I never get bored, and it gives me the opportunity to meet interesting new people all the time. What do you love to do this much?

Once you have the answers to these questions, you’ll have a valuable piece to add to your “What’s My Ideal Encore Career” puzzle. Your answers should begin to reveal some of the essence of your ideal encore career picture.

Remember, in order to find your ideal encore career, it’s imperative that you determine what it is you want first, then get down to the nuts and bolts of how to get it.

Copyright (c) 2009 Lin Schreiber, A Certified Retirement Coach. She is the author of the popular ABC’s of Revolutionizing Retirement, helps self-reliant women reinvent themselves in the next stage of life, formerly known as “retirement” by designing a new encore life that includes a fulfilling encore career. To claim your free Encore Career Starter Kit, visit her site at .