Articles
- A Life of Leisure or a Leisurely Life
Retirees may find that having too much unstructured time can lead to boredom and monotony.
- A Time to Enrich Your Primary Relationship
It is never too late to work on improving relationships with your partner.
- Active Adult Communities
Learn about the many housing options available to people over 50.
- Adding Compassion to Retirement Living
Retirement provides time to develop compassion, the characteristic of human beings to feel sympathy for the suffering of others and the urge to reach out to help others.
- Asking for Help When Life Trumps Plans
Asking for help can be difficult but can be very beneficial when one is the primary care provider. Learn about one caregiver’s struggle to ask for and accept help.
- Back to Work: So Much for Retirement
These are certainly interesting times for all of us. It wasn’t long ago that companies were concerned about the baby boomers rushing out the door taking with them their expertise and experience. Then the economic crisis hit and the picture changed drastically. Beset by threadbare retirement accounts and the prospect of living longer, people are deciding to work longer and some who retired are returning to the workforce.
- Balancing the Needs of the Sandwich Generation
Dealing simultaneously with the demands of parenting children and attending to aging parents can be very stressful and may require creative problem solving in many areas.
- Broken Promises - Changing Solutions
Read about the challenges that will arise as Baby Boomers either retire or seek alternative work styles.
- Can I Make a Difference?
Can I make a difference? This is such a personal question. One understanding or perspective does not fit all. Only you can make that judgment call. What indicators do you use to determine if any of your actions really ‘make a difference’? What is important to you? What kind of difference do you want to make in your family, in your workplace, in your community and/or in our world?
- Caregiving – The Challenge of Managing Details
Assisting a person with financial, legal, and medical matters requires listening carefully to the care receiver’s concerns as well as very specific planning.
- Caregiving and Family Dynamics
Explore ways families can work together to provide excellent caregiving and maintain healthy family relationships.
- Caring for Someone with Memory Loss
Learn about ways to identify memory loss and some action steps that will help in making plans to provide for the care of a person who has memory loss.
- Cautiously Optimistic Innovation
Sounds like an oxymoron, doesn’t it. We have spent so many months retrenching that it seems imprudent to even consider reaching for opportunities beyond the horizon. But if we believe the financial gurus, there is now a dim light at the end of the tunnel.
- Charitable Giving During and Beyond Retirement
Planning for charitable giving can insure your legacy continues and your favorite charity continuing to be the beneficiary of future gifts.
- Children and Grandparents
Being a grandparent provides unique opportunities to develop special relationships with the child that can be playful and nurturing.
- Choosing Change
Change is inevitable in today’s world. However, the way we adapt to and accept change is internally driven.
- Chosen Family
Both friends and relatives are valuable assets to our lives and need to be recognized and appreciated for their input into our lives.
- Communication
Developing effective communication skills can significantly improve your chances of understanding and being understood.
- Communication Triangles - Do They Work?
Discover how open and direct communication is key to preventing the negative communication technique called triangulation .
- Conducting the Optimal Performance Appraisal
Each year, employers conduct performance reviews as part of their annual appraisal systems. For the employee, the annual performance review can be used to summarize and evaluate their progress toward established goals, determine whether or not they have met their accountabilities and to establish a designated time to formally discuss their performance. For managers, review time gives them the chance to recognize exemplary work; implement performance improvement strategies, if needed; and outline an overall picture of how the department’s talent is contributing to organizational goals.
- Creating a Culture for Employees to Thrive
“Shared beliefs lead to more delegation, less monitoring, higher satisfaction, higher execution effort…” And what is one of the most powerful and enduring ways to galvanize a workforce? Your organization’s culture. In addition to the one that is presented in your recruiting and marketing brochures there is the culture that surrounds and impacts your employees each day. It encompasses your organization’s values, assumptions, philosophies and climate.
- Creating and Measuring an Organizational Performance Plan
When evaluating employee performance, managers often focus on how an employee has executed their job based on the job description. Others may consider broader measures of effectiveness such as productivity – tasks performed and customers served. Still others may concentrate on shaping employee behaviors. But traditional performance evaluations frequently look at only historic performance at a static point in time rather than viewing performance as a continual process focused on outcomes/results.
- Dash Diet
Treating high blood pressure with diet has proved to be very effective when combined with exercise.
- Deciding Where to Live
This article poses interesting common sense factors to consider when thinking about making a change in where you live.
- Destressing the Holidays
Even exciting events with positive outcomes can generate stress in employees. So it’s not a surprise when tough times raise the level of stress in the entire workforce. As employers, we are no less impacted by stress around the holidays. Unlike other stressors, though, the holidays are predictable so Wisdom Worker Solutions would like to offer suggestions to plan for the upcoming celebrations and offer budget-wise alternatives for office parties and bonuses.
- Developing Resilience
Here is a presentation of methods to practice that help you develop adaptability and resilience.
- Developing Your Leadership Skills in a Changing World
According to Colin Powell, former Secretary of State, effective leaders are made, not born. Leaders learn from trial and error; when something fails, a true leader learns from the experience and puts it behind him/her. “You don’t get reruns in life,” Powell said. “ Don’t worry about what happened in the past.” Leaders know how to define their mission, convey it to their staff and assure that adequate training and resources are available to accomplish the mission.
- Diagnosis and Treatment of Job Burnout
Find very specific ways to identify and cope with job burnout that can help you enjoy those work years leading up to retirement.
- Discovering and Living Your Passion
Retirement is an ideal time to work towards discovering and pursuing your unique purpose in life that will bring you great satisfaction daily.
- Do You Have What it Takes to Start Your Own Business
Anyone can be an entrepreneur. Explore personality traits that aid in making an entrepreneur successful.
- Do You Tweet? Social Networking Basics
Women older than 55 make up the fastest growing age group on Facebook, a 550% increase over the last 6 months. In the same period, membership younger than 25 grew by less than 20%. So what are the reasons social networks are becoming more multi-generational?
- Don’t Be A Warren Schmidt
From the movie “About Schmidt”
- Dont Sabotage Your Relationship with Negative Assumptions
Negative assumptions close off the possibility of exchanging information that can lead to healthy, meaningful communication.
- Eating Better As We Grow Older
Through a lifestyle that includes healthy eating you can reduce your risk for certain diseases associated with aging.
- Empty Nests are Filling in
According to the 2007 US census, 55% of men and 48% of women between the ages of 18 and 24 are living with their parents. These numbers are prior to the economy taking a nosedive! As jobs become scarce and rents are high, young people are moving home by the droves. There is no longer the social stigma attached to living with your parents. Now it is seen as a cultural norm, a necessity to seek help from one’s parents. This article will help you make the best of the situation if it happens to you.
- Enjoying Leisure After 50
Leisure activities come in all sorts of forms and can add greatly to the quality of one’s life.
- Enjoying Sex After 50
Our capacity for sexual intimacy will be with us our entire lives. It is up to us individually to determine how to fulfill this desire within our own desires and limitations.
- Estate Planning
This article describes specific estate planning documents that can guide your family at the time of your death.
- Expanding Your Social Network Through Volunteerism
Volunteering can provide opportunities to meet new people, explore new interests, and provide you with a sense of fulfillment
- Exploring a Complete Financial Plan
This article outlines the essential elements of a financial plan that, when addressed, can reduce risk and uncertainty.
- Exploring Our Roots
This article summarizes how to begin the search for your family history and offers great tips to help you with the process.
- Feeding Your Brain
A brain healthy diet will help maximize the health of your brain and possibly help delay the onset of brain-invasive diseases.
- Financial Professional Designations
This listing of professional designations will help you in choosing a financial planner.
- Financial Security
If you are looking for a financial professional here is a list of questions to ask candidates.
- For Better or For Worse
If you think about your operations over the last 60 days, what changes have occurred as a result of your behavior as a leader? While leaders may be highly aware of the influence they exert on processes and strategy, it is “people, not plans, that deliver outcomes.” Are we, as leaders, as attuned to how our behavior can either bring out the best or the worst in
our employees?
- Forced Change
Understanding the dynamics of change can help you adjust to and perhaps even embrace change,
- Fortifying Your Family Relationships
Discover ways to increase your independence and personal fulfillment while strengthening family relationships.
- Friendship - A Priceless Investment
Research shows that those who have established close friendships with at least 10 people are more satisfied with their retirement years.
- Functioning in the Middle
Learning coping strategies can be invaluable for adults facing the responsibilities of dealing simultaneously with parenting of children and caring for aging parents.
- Gender Differences
Becoming aware of the differences between men and women’s communication styles can promote patience and understanding between the genders.
- Giving up the Myth of the Happy Family
Goals of having more time for family as we age doesn’t always coincide with children and grandchildren having more time for us.
- Going from What I Am to Who I Am
If your feelings of worth and identity are tied to your job, now is the time to make some changes that will help you when you are no longer employed.
- Going Through a Phase
When parents struggle to explain their children’s errant behavior, they may throw up their hands and acknowledge that “it must be a phase.” But at some point in individual development, we seem to presume that adulthood is our final phase and our behavior normalized. This conclusion may be too subtle and dismissive of the complexities of self-discovery that continue throughout our lives. What we want and what we need evolves as we mature and assimilate our experiences. Consequently, our individual value proposition changes as we make career choices throughout our work lives.
- Growing 'The Village' into a Thriving Town
Before entire industries began contracting in wave after wave of business consolidations, companies had a significant “local” presence. Executives were often homegrown entrepreneurs, founding companies in their own backyards.
- Guilt-Free Free Time
If you are driven to always be productive you’ll be able to relate to the information shared in this article.
- Having Enough Retirement Income
Your personal answer to how much money is enough to live out your dreams and aspirations is dependent on many factors as described in this article.
- Health and Wellness
Boomers need to address physical, psychological, spiritual and social areas of wellness in order to maximize their health.
- Helping our Employees Recover Along with the Economy
Companies continue to make tough decisions to sustain themselves through these unprecedented economic times - jobs are often eliminated, compensation is reduced, vacation is scrutinized, travel is curtailed and benefits are frozen or cut. With each new, and potentially negative, announcement, employee stress levels mount. Regardless of how resilient they might be, stress will ultimately take a physical, mental and emotional toll on every employee.
- Helping Your Child Move Out with Grace
Recognize that a child moving out of your home is a natural progression. Celebrate having done a great job preparing them for this exodus.
- Honey I’m Home to Stay
This is a guide to help you and your partner prepare for the many together hours that come with retirement.
- Honoring the Care Receiver
Allowing a care receiver to maintain self esteem will go a long way in developing a helping relationship.
- How do you Define a Healthy Organization?
This is the kind of question corporations and organizations should be asking themselves. Has our organization only increased or maintained our bottom line or is our organization healthy?
- How to Identify a Financial Planner
Here’s a list of questions to ask a potential financial planner to make sure that you get the right professional guidance.
- How to's - Relating to an Aging Parent
Here are some helpful tips to make visits with parents more meaningful and less frustrating.
- I Took the Road Less Traveled
Are you one of the millions of Baby Boomers who are thinking about what to do with the rest of your life? This article offers a number of diverse resources to assist you in choosing which road to travel.
- I Won’t Be Your Baby Sitter Anymore
This article will help you look at your grandparenting style and the many ways you can be involved with your grandchildren.
- Identifying and Living Your Life Purpose
As you approach retirement it is time to identify how you will fill your additional free time with purpose , passion and meaning.
- Improving Your Investment Portfolio
This article addresses five investment strategies that can be used in managing your portfolio.
- Keeping the Employer-Employee Relationship Vital
For quite some time, researchers in human behavior have been looking at the relationship between employee engagement, productivity and their impact on the bottom line. Some employers believe employee engagement is just another human resource fad. Others believe that if it is incorporated into the organizational culture, it can lead to a win-win - sustainability of the organization and meaningful job satisfaction for employees.
- Knowing Your Numbers
Knowing and understanding your health numbers can give you valuable information to help in preventing undesirable health conditions.
- Laughing Your Way to a Longer Life
One of the easiest and more enjoyable ways to increase your life expectancy is to learn to find the humor in daily life, and to engage regularly in good old-fashioned laughter.
- Learning a New Skill
Research clearly shows that individuals over 50 are able to learn new skills. Specific techniques to increase learning are outlined in this article.
- Learning the Art of Leisure
Separating work from leisure, though difficult for some, can be learned through practice and exploration.
- Life After Loss
This is a story of a woman’s personal loss and how she was able to cope and at the same time create a community project.
- Life Insurance
This article addresses what needs to be taken into consideration when determining the amount of life insurance you purchase.
- Life Motivators
Through awareness of what motivates you, you will be able to choose activities that bring meaning and fulfillment and enhance your Life After 50.
- Listening
Learn about the skill of active listening and how it can enhance our relationships and our sense of connectedness.
- Living a Life of Purpose
Take your personal inventory and identify what inspires and motivates you.
- Living with Aches and Pains
Chronic pain from arthritis can be alleviated, or at least controlled, with moderate, regular exercise.
- Long Term Care Insurance
Purchasing long term care insurance at a younger age can be affordable and also provide tax benefits.
- Long Term Care Options
This article provides you with an outline of the long term care options available. It includes descriptions as well as average cost estimates.
- Looking Outside Myself
Volunteering can be a very rewarding experience if you take the time to explore and find the right opportunity that will add depth and meaning to your life and fill you with a sense of worth.
- Losing a Life Partner
Losing a life partner is never easy. This article provides some suggestions that may help one through this traumatic time.
- Making and Keeping Friends After Retirement
Studies show that retirees who interact with other people are happier, healthier, and live longer lives. Get some tips on how to establish friendships.
- Marriage After 50
Marriage after 50 has its own unique set of unique circumstances that requires adjustment and preparation.
- Married without Children - Facing an Empty Nest
Having children leave home can leave couples needing to learn ways to reconnect.
- Media Mirror
Do the media and advertisers shape or reflect our culture? Read this article and let us know what you think!
- Military Appreciation
In the early months of the deployment of our military to Afghanistan and Iraq, we scrambled to quickly understand and respond to the implications of friends, family and co-workers who would now be absent. As their deployments stretched from 1 year to over 4, we need to remain vigilant in providing support, not only for those new to the military but also to those who are re-entering the workplace and their communities.
- Money is not the Issue
The current economic situation has caused all of us to change our spending habits and tighten our belts. We may be going out less but according to new research from the Nielsen Company, the declining economy has had little impact on the purchase of alcoholic beverage. To many consumers, alcoholic beverages are an affordable luxury and aren’t on the list of items consumers are willing to give up. Why is this and what does it mean for the workplace?
- Moving Beyond that Nicotine Habit
It is never too late to quit smoking. Read about the many rewards that accompany smoking cessation.
- Mutual Respect
Mutual respect means that both parties have respect for one another. In the workplace, this continues to be a challenge for many people. Whether we’re talking about religion, politics, culture, or favorite football team, understanding and respecting another’s point of view is essential to a productive work environment.
- My Partner Doesn't Share My Interests
There are communication skills that will help couples towards resolution of differences.
- My Plan After 50 Coaching
Learn about the powerful coaching process and how it can make a dramatic difference in planning for your life after 50.
- My Plan After 50 Newsletter - April 2008
April’s newsletter focuses on the affect that Baby Boomers will have on the workplace. Read about the challenges that will arise as Baby Boomers either retire or seek alternative work styles. Learn about Wisdom Worker Solutions and how it can be part of the solution for these challenges faced by both individuals and corporations.
- My Plan After 50 Newsletter - August 2008
The economy is definitely on everyone’s mind these days. Read about what has happened historically with economic downturns in our nation. Also discover the suggestions that Wisdom Worker Solutions has to help both individuals and organizations through these difficult times.
- My Plan After 50 Newsletter - December 2007
Enjoy the December newsletter and remember we are each challenged to take good care of ourselves during these busy days. Take time to ensure that there is alignment between the Eight Elements Essential to a Vibrant Life after 50 as you plan for the holidays.
- My Plan After 50 Newsletter - December, 2008
This month we look at the holidays within the context of these current wildly fluctuating times. We explore how employers and employees can collaborate to produce win-win solutions. We also have suggestions for finding the true meaning of the holidays and avoiding stress.
- My Plan After 50 Newsletter - February 2008
The strength of one’s social community is identified as the #1 predictor of a vibrant life after 50 for Boomers. In this month’s newsletter we explore this premise both from the personal and business viewpoints in order to help you to better understand the value of relationships.
- My Plan After 50 Newsletter - February 2009
In this month’s newsletter we take a look at how economic issues can affect our health. See how the US health care system compares to other countries and learn about proposed health care plans currently being considered. Get some ideas on how to maintain your own health during these rough economic times.
- My Plan After 50 Newsletter - January 2008
This month’s newsletter explores the value of determining your purpose both in your personal life as well as your business life. Identifying your purpose is a helpful way to begin the process of working through the Eight Elements Essential for a Vibrant Life after 50.
- My Plan After 50 Newsletter - January 2009
Happy New Year to everyone! As we thought about our newsletter for this month we realized that many of us are making changes in our life plans. Extended work may be a reality for many of us. Discover ways to make work more meaningful and enjoyable.
- My Plan After 50 Newsletter - July 2007
In the July, 2007 Future Focus, we feature Communication - that set of essential skills that can help make your life and relationship vibrant. Read how...
- My Plan After 50 Newsletter - July, 2008
Celebrate summer with its many opportunities to incorporate leisure into your life. At the same time put some thought into how relaxation and leisure can benefit both you and the planet. Make it a win-win summer!
- My Plan After 50 Newsletter - June, 2008
Happy First Anniversary/Birthday to My Plan After 50. Read about how far we’ve come in one short year. Find out about specific services that will benefit you as you plan your life after 50. Our birthday wish is to help you facilitate your planning so that each of you attains a life full of joy and purpose.
- My Plan After 50 Newsletter - March 2008
This month’s newsletter takes a look at today’s changing family structure and how it can affect us as boomers. Read about the myths of family life, how technology affects our family relationships and the effect our upbringing has on our work performance.
- My Plan After 50 Newsletter - March 2009
This month Wisdom Worker Solutions takes a look at the many roles boomers are taking on within the family and the issues that surround these roles. We explore the role of parent preparing children to become employees and world citizens, we acknowledge the fact that grandparents are more frequently taking on the role of parent, and that role’s many challenges , and we also take a look at boomerang children returning to the nest bringing with them a host of new family issues for boomers to sort out.
- My Plan After 50 Newsletter - May 2008
May’s newsletter addresses resilience in both our personal and work lives. Find ways to keep your life balanced, fun and fulfilling. Discover how resilience in the workplace will be beneficial in recruiting and retaining workers.
- My Plan After 50 Newsletter - November 2007
The My Plan After 50 Employer Center is the focus of this month’s newsletter. Read about its creator, Kris Jensen, and about the many features and tools available in this innovative resource. There are also some great TIPS for employers, along with a funny piece on lifelong learning.
- My Plan After 50 Newsletter - November 2008
This month’s newsletter looks at volunteering. We explore both the personal benefits as well as the community benefits. Get some ideas about how to find your personal volunteer niche. Find out what some corporations are doing to promote employee volunteerism.
- My Plan After 50 Newsletter - October 2007
Specific steps to Healthy Aging are described in this issue, along with an introduction to the My Plan After 50 Employer Center.
- My Plan After 50 Newsletter - October, 2008
Retirement isn’t for everybody. Learn about the implications of staying in the workforce including the affect that public policy has on retirement planning, how to cope with the pain of losing a job, and mindsets that help you stay productive while in the workplace. Also check out the tips for job searching whether forced or planned.
- My Plan After 50 Newsletter - September 2007
This month’s My Plan After 50 newsletter focuses on Travel. We delve into what travelers can expect in the coming travel season, and what they can do to prepare for a pleasant experience. We also share an inspirational “Meaningful Travel” article on a My Plan After 50 coach.
- My Plan After 50 Newsletter - September 2008
Join us at My Plan After 50 in exploring various facets of ageism that are present in today’s society. Look at the cultural stereotypes that are visible in advertising and the effect that negative ads have on the older adult. Also view the factual evidence that dispels the perception that mature workers are a deterrent in the workplace. We would also like you to share with us your experience with ageism either in the workplace or your personal life. Go to Wisdom Worker website to see what other members are telling us about ageism.
- My Plan After 50 Premier Newsletter - June 2007
Margy Altmix is the person to thank for My Plan After 50. In this premiere edition of , we describe the evolution of this phenomenal service, certain to touch the lives of many in a positive way. Interestingly, it first touched her own life, being borne of both her work and personal experience.
- My Significant Other Doesn't Like My Friends
Acceptance and encouragement of a partner’s friendships, separate from the primary relationship, is one of the crucial aspects of a healthy relationship.
- Navigating the New FMLA Regulations
The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) became effective on August 5, 1993. On November 17, 2008 the Department of Labor (DOL) published its Final Rule to implement the first-ever amendments to the FMLA which went into effect on January 16, 2009. As an employer, how have you prepared your organization to properly implement these changes, especially your supervisors and managers?
- No More Alarm Clock for Me
Retirement opens a large block of time that can become a source of boredom without thoughtful planning to fill your life with purpose, meaning, enjoyment, rest, relaxation, love, and friendship.
- Not Too Late To Become More Resilient
Resiliency skills can be developed by making a conscious effort to practice certain life skills.
- Nursing Home Care
This article will help you ascertain information necessary to make decisions about nursing home care including types of homes, screening of potential nursing homes, and ways to pay for this type of care.
- Personal Mission Statement
This exercise of writing your own personal mission statement will help you clearly state your values and what you believe – it will give you a description of the life you want to live.
- Physical Challenges of Caregiving
Taking care of yourself physically and emotionally is essential for you and your care receiver.
- Practical Resiliency
Learn how encountering stress deliberately and proactively can strengthen your resilient attitude.
- Protect Your Identity
Here are some action items to prevent you from becoming a victim of identity theft.
- Protecting Yourself from Crime
No matter where you decide to live, it's important to protect yourself from becoming a victim of crime. Here are a few common sense precautions.
- Reconnecting After Relocating
It takes a plan to meet new people but, using your resourcefulness, new friendships and activities can be found to enrich your life after 50.
- Record Locator
Here is a tool to help you track the location of important documents for your use as well as for your authorized designees.
- Recruitment in the 21st Century
As the plethora of free, easily accessible information on the Internet decreases our dependence on print media and techno-savvy generations make up half our workforce, the tried and true methods of recruitment are being replaced by newer recruitment strategies.
- Relationship to Work After 50
This article shares ways to rethink work in order to make it more meaningful and rewarding.
- Relaxation and Leisure
Understanding the distinction between living a leisurely life or a life of leisure can make a world of difference in your enjoyment of retirement.
- Relocating, Establishing New Relationships and Maintaining Old Ones
Establishing yourself in a new place can be a great way to begin a satisfying and contented phase of your life after 50.
- Resilience and Hardship
This article describes how growth in self confidence and resiliency can be achieved through dealing with the every day challenges of life.
- Retirement Readiness
How much control you feel you have over your retirement choices can affect the success of your retirement.
- Retirement: The Life of Riley?
Retirement is a change accompanied by both losses and gains. Creative problem solving can help to alleviate the losses and increase the enjoyment of retirement years.
- Setting Effective Goals
All goals should be created in support of the organization as a whole. Understanding the mission and strategy of an organization is essential in creating realistic, obtainable and measurable goals for each employee. Effective goal setting will ensure success for the individual, the manager, and the organization.
- Sex and the Single Boomer
Our capacity for sexual intimacy will be with us our entire lives. It is up to us individually to determine how to fulfill this desire within our own desires and limitations.
- Sleep
Sleeplessness is not a part of normal aging. Learn about factors that may contribute to changes in sleeping patterns.
- So How Did That Make You Feel?
Look at the cultural stereotypes that are visible in advertising and the effect that negative ads have on the older adult.
- Spirituality
This article outlines some specific steps you can take to increase your sense of inner knowing and/or connection with your own spirituality for a vibrant life after 50.
- Staying Healthy in this Economic Crisis
Did you know that the gloom and doom that permeates the news these days can be taking a toll on your health? Even if you are normally an upbeat, positive person, being inundated with information about how bad the future looks can’t help but have an affect on the most optimistic of individuals. Read this article to help you learn how you can stay healthy during these difficult times.
- Stimulating Our Recovery
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), also known as the stimulus bill, was signed by President Obama on February 17, 2009. Whenever one is trying to figure out the impact of a legislative act, it is helpful to understand the purposes and intent of Congress in passing a bill. Read this article to help you understand ARRA and what it means for you.
- Strengthening Your Social Network
The strength of your social support system is a greater predictor of life satisfaction than either wealth or health.
- Take Care of That Brain
New research indicates that the brain is capable of generating new cells throughout a lifetime if it is properly stimulated and challenged.
- Taking One for the Team
Building a strong team is important in the good times and absolutely essential when times go sour. The current economic situation has required many organizations to do more with less; fewer people to do the work and fewer resources to support our employees’ efforts. The importance of coming together as a team during these tough times is crucial to an organization’s success.
- Tax Smart Diversification
By maintaining flexibility and diversification with your investments you can benefit from the tax laws as they change.
- The Best Unpaid Job on Earth
There are many reasons why people volunteer their time for a cause or organization. Perhaps it is something they believe in deeply; perhaps it is because they’re supporting a friend or co-worker or perhaps they just need to stay busy. No matter the reason, volunteering is an essential part of our society in the good times but is especially important in tough economic times. So how can people afford to take time away from paid work to volunteer in this economy?
- The Comeback “Kids” - Rehiring Talented Employees
Hopefully, as organizations made tough decisions to downsize employees, they also looked forward to the economic recovery. While perhaps not immediate, organizations will likely need to reach out to the talent released in the last few years in order to fulfill new growth strategies.
- The Glass Ceiling
The ‘glass ceiling’ as a metaphor for women was first coined in an article for ADWEEK by Gay Bryant in 1984. It captured and labeled the frustration women had in climbing the corporate ladder beyond middle management. Since the 1964 Civil Rights Act, there have been laws and employment practices protecting women and people of color from discrimination but there is still something invisible that is a barrier to top executive levels.
- The Importance of Physical Flexibility
Flexibility can contribute to overall functional fitness helping older adults maintain independent activities of daily living.
- The Many Benefits of Exercise
Learn about the benefits of specific forms of exercise and ways to incorporate exercise into your daily life.
- The New Management Mix-up
Within weeks and months of the financial crises, we were all faced with challenging decisions that would affect the direction of our lives. Some of these situations honed our problem-solving skills but others presented unique opportunities to make desired changes in our lives.
- The Potential Impact of World Trends on Organizational Culture
Just as in our families, we often learn how to fit in and perform successfully by watching those we believe understand the work environment. But how do our new or developing employees identify those beliefs, values and assumptions that make up our organizational culture and drive acceptable behavior? It’s those behaviors that have an impact on the bottom line and may even determine whether we have businesses that can be sustainable.
- The Time Is Now
On September 11, 2008, Rick Stengel and Judy Woodruff facilitated the Service Nation Summit and Presidential Candidate Forum and posed a thought-provoking question of the candidates: “What are the obligations of citizenship in a democracy?”
- The Value of Turnover Management
Retaining all or almost all of your employees may not actually be an indicator of your organization’s strength and success. Managing turnover is necessary to continue moving your organization in the right direction. But how do you ensure that you’re retaining the right employees?
- There is More to Retirement Than Financial Security
Readying oneself to be in charge of life beyond finances will help to stave off the disappointment and depression that could accompany retirement.
- This is Not the Last Scene
Stereotypical descriptors support stereotypical consequences associated with aging such as chronic health issues, disengagement from life, loss of independence, loneliness, and depression. These may have been true consequences from the past; however, because of medical research and technology, better nutrition and improved living standards, aging outcomes are changing.
- Tips for Traveling Alone
This article is full of practical tips that can make planning and executing your trip enjoyable and safe.
- To Work or Not To Work
Remember the adage advising us to make lemonade when we're handed lemons. Use these tough economic times to address your dreams and clarify the purpose and meaning that you would like for the rest of your life.
- Traveling Alone - An Overview
Here are some tips to think about when planning to travel alone.
- Turning Around Your Negative Thoughts
We are constantly giving ourselves messages and our happiness is dependant on what we tell ourselves in these messages.
- Two Sides of the Same Coin
Popular literature tends to stereotype older generations as being set in their ways and younger generations as highly flexible. Despite their learned orientations, all generations value and respond productively to flexible work environments and older generations aren’t any more resistant to change than their younger co-workers. It can be easy to buy into these published stereotypes because we often don’t have the appropriate context with which to interpret the behaviors we observe.
- Types of Communicators
This article outlines 3 major communication styles and suggests when each could be most appropriately used.
- Unleashing Every Employee's Potential
October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM). Designated as a week in 1945, it was expanded to a month-long focus in 1988 with the intent of educating employers about people with disabilities. In the spirit of NDEAM, we offer cost-effective ways to tap into the talent of differently abled people.
- Volunteering Helps You and Others
Research shows that retirees who volunteer have significantly better psychological and physical well being compared to non volunteers.
- Volunteerism
Thoughtful preplanning can make volunteering a positive part of your vibrant life after 50 plan.
- Walking a Fine Line
How does management prepare for a predicted H1N1 pandemic this fall or winter and at the same time not elevate anxiety among employees? Businesses and organizations depend on employees to return to work every day in order to keep operations and services going. However, the employer must also show a good faith effort in establishing standard precautionary measures to ensure a safe workplace environment.
- Weight Management and Aging
Advice on how to make life after 50 a time when you take care of yourself and gain the benefits that a healthy lifestyle offers to you.
- What Am I Going To Do When I Grow Up
Does that sound like something you’ve heard or thought to yourself when contemplating your career? Are you frustrated to realize that, as you approach the age to begin collecting Social Security, you’re still questioning what to do with your life?
- What If Retirement Happens to Me
If you are caught in an unplanned retirement scenario, take time to evaluate your situation and use resources that are available to you.
- What You Should Know
This article explains financial planning and its benefits – what you should expect and how to choose a financial planner.
- When Grandparents Function as Parents
This article presents a practical review of the issues involved when grandparents take on the responsibilities of parents.
- When Grandparents Function as Parents ( A different twist)
Having a family member take care of your children while you're at work is a great alternative for some. This article will give you questions for both parties to answer in order to make it a wonderful experience for everyone.
- Where Do You Find Meaning?
This article explores purpose and meaning as it relates to Life After 50 and presents ways to help you find and express this life purpose.
- Who Gets the Friends?
Discover positive ways to work though the difficult decisions that must be made when a long term relationship is dissolved.
- Why Plan for Life After 50
By taking time to do some advance planning the 30+ years of retirement can become a time of joy and meaning instead of fear and depression.
- Why Plan for Life at any Age?
Actively planning for life in each phase can help change old, out-dated perspectives and re-enforce new ways of experiencing life at any age.
- Why Strength Training
Strength training is an effective way to help you stay fit, trim, strong, mobile and physically active as you age.
- Win-Win Grandparenting
Find strategies to grandparent that will not undermine parental efforts, but will develop strong bonds with grandchildren.
- Workplace Solutions - April 2009
We are changing our look but not our message or valuable content. Employee and Family Resources (EFR), the parent organization of Wisdom Worker Solutions® and My Plan After 50®, wants to share our expertise in aging, holistic life planning, retirement and the generations with all their clients. So, we collaborated with our colleagues at EFR and came up with this new newsletter. ENJOY!
- Workplace Solutions - August 2009
For nearly two years, we have been bombarded by a landslide of bad news and leaders setting the expectation that the economic turnaround would be long in coming. So this month, we wanted to focus on recovery and suggesting that we turn our hesitation and caution into a focus on planning and preparation. We offer tips for keeping the organization healthy, like how to re-engage employees through the power of relationships
and organizational practices that may unearth the next best thing since sliced bread.
- Workplace Solutions - December 2009
In the spirit of the Holidays, this month we want to acknowledge the diverse ways and reasons for our seasonal celebrations. For employers, we offer cost-effective tips for de-stressing the workplace while recognizing our employee’s efforts through the last 12 months. And finally, as we face a new year, we offer encouragement about how we, as individuals, can shape the world around us by acting with character in every aspect of our lives.
- Workplace Solutions - February 2010
Leveraging our individual talent and the collective talent of the organization seems to be an on-going challenge whether in a good economy or bad. The Comeback Kids offers tips and perspectives for those making decisions to remain in the workplace rather than retire, retirees who may be looking to supplement their income and those who need to re-evaluate their situation in light of workforce downsizings. Going Through a Phase acknowledges that what we want from our lives and work changes over time, naturally evolving the value proposition that we expect at various phases of our lives. And finally, we remind employers how critical it is to keep the focus on talent retention even in a slow recovery.
- Workplace Solutions - January 2010
While a number of us had high hopes of imminent retirement, the events of the last few years may have reshaped our original plans. For those of us who need to continue working or for those fortunate enough to have a passion for their work, we are focusing this month on performance - how we can continue to meet ever-changing performance standards and be recognized for our on-going contributions to the workplace.
- Workplace Solutions - July 2009
As we celebrate our independence, made possible by the courage of our Founding Fathers, there probably isn’t a more fitting theme for our July newsletter than Leadership. We’ll help you identify the critical competencies experts suggest future leaders develop now, how you can manage the desired impact you have as a leader and how top executives can create an organizational culture of health and productivity.
- Workplace Solutions - June 2009
As companies and employees continue to adjust to the changes in the workplace and realities of the labor market, we’ve focused this month on helping organizations manage various aspects of an employee’s life cycle. June is also Safety and Home Safety month. Warnings about using sunscreen and handling fireworks carefully might pale in relation to the recent pandemic concerns but we urge you not to ignore the hazards close to home as we rush to embrace summer. Organizations might also take this time to spring clean their facilities and review how safe and secure their workplace is for their employees and all who visit their work sites.
- Workplace Solutions - May 2009
Since the financial crises began, we’ve been adjusting our own personal finances, our career paths and other life decisions. This month we want to highlight resources for both individuals and organizations to support the quality of their on-going workplace and life decisions. Learn the key elements of the Recovery Act, how to support our military as they return to civilian life and how we can become better consumers of healthcare benefits. Finally, jump on the hottest trend by connecting with friends, family and colleagues on an on-line social network.
- Workplace Solutions - November 2009
With the Thanksgiving holiday fast approaching, we will all be thinking about home and family, especially their comfort and support. In addition to our national observance of family caregivers throughout the month of November, we’ve provided a reminder for employers of the FMLA regulations that went into effect earlier this year. Just as our families offer us a sense of security, so too do employees look to their employers for stability. Wisdom Worker Solutions offers suggestions for how to create a culture that brings out the best in your employees. And as we near the end of another year, we offer a potential look at changes that will be reshaping our business environments and encourage proactive employers to start morphing their culture to respond.
- Workplace Solutions - October 2009
October is a month filled with national and local observances. So rather than having an overarching theme this month, we’ve taken our cues from today’s headlines. Our article on the value of volunteerism is our homage to Make a Difference Day. In Walking a Fine Line we offer suggestions for addressing the potential threat from the H1N1 virus, furthering Health Literacy efforts. And the month’s emphasis on the employment of those with disabilities is the focus of our article revisiting the dilemmas and opportunities when hiring and retaining this valuable segment of the workforce.
- Workplace Solutions - September 2009
Once again we’re headed for another Fall; a transitional season to help us acclimate from the heat of summer to the cold of winter. So we felt a fitting theme for our September newsletter was change. Read about the adaptability skills of each of the four generations in the workplace. Learn about the history of women of achievement and how organizations can leverage their diverse employees. And discover the resources available to leaders should they encounter alcohol or drug related issues in the workplace.
- Your Rights as a Financial Planning Client
Take an active role in shaping your financial future by knowing your rights and what to expect from your financial planner.
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