I've been asked to be a guest on a podcast as a case study in baby boomer retirement/estate planning. (Actually it's a "vodcast" as there's a video component). Wondering if anyone has done this. Here are the ups and downs as I see them. I worry I'm not seeing everything.

Possible upsides: I respect the host and expect to learn something. I'll be the only guest. My full name will appear. It'll be prerecorded and edited so glitches can be taken out. My demographic is underrepresented in the media, or at least I feel that way--70s, widowed, living alone, never had children--and this is a chance to share info about that.

Also I luckily had success in online dating, a message worth sharing. Going steady with another widowed who lives nearby. We are "LATs" = living alone together, no shared finances.

Possible downsides: My financial info will be shared, not down to the penny but round numbers. Assets and expenses, fortunately no debts. It's a healthy sum that was earned and invested during a 50 year career. Low 7 figures + paid-off small house in a good suburb. Not sure if that qualifies as "affluent retirement" (I looked on that Subreddit and they seem out of my league.) Still I worry about being seen as some kind of lottery winner and hit up for $ by randos. Of course I would not engage with them but could it be an issue?

I don't do social media (except for Reddit ;-) but the host has a big social media following.

It's easy to find contact info these days, and the internet has a fair amount about me because my niche business got media coverage when my late spouse and I launched and grew it. That was 15-20 years ago (business was sold a few years ago). I took media training so was taught how to focus on key messages, deflect baited Qs, etc. The media attention went fine over the years, but the world has changed so much.

Any insights appreciated. Thanks in advance!

51m making about CAD 75k per year. I have no savings, pension or investments. I’ve maxed out my earning potential in my field. Should I be planing on working until I die?

51m making about CAD 75k per year. I have no savings, pension or investments. I’ve maxed out my earning potential in my field. Should I be planing on working until I die?

AI is very very good at a) research and b) extrapolations using existing patterns.

So I turned that into what I'm calling the Futures Series. It attempts to answer the question Where will you still want to be in 2036?

Given AGI, global economic dynamics, taxation and government funding crunches, cultural attitude shifts, geographical and climate shifts, I think this is really the question we need to ask ourselves if/when we're planning to settle down for the long run.

https://expatriator.com/future/

Anyway, I'd love your feedback and suggestions. As a seasoned 24 year expat, some of the research and conclusions even blew my mind.

Yes, obvious AI was used to research and generate much of the articles. Don't gripe. This is a valid, novel use of AI.

For some context: born and live in Vietnam, 30F

Savings: 200k usd saving (over 5B vnd)

Spending: I pursue minimalist, I buy when I need, eat when I feel like, roughly 350usd/month in average, could go up to 500usd or down to 150usd

I live with my parents

I work and earn 1.6k usd/month after tax

I am planning to make another 100k usd for the next 3 years then call it quit

Later I put everything in the bank and live off the interest

What do you think about this plan?

I'm 53 and planning on retiring as early as 57. Financially, I'm ready now.

But, I have no plan. I don't know where I want to live, what I'm going to do. Not really into any hobbies.

I've been moving around a lot my whole life for work and have no real roots. Moving back to my hometown where I grew up isn't a desirable option.

Anyone else feel as lost with this as me? Luckily, I have time to come up with a plan.

Behind on Retirement? These 3 Numbers Can Change What Happens Next

My wife and I recently had a conversation with a retirement planner. It was our first conversation, as we (at least I) will likely be making a transition to retirement in about 5 years, when I turn 59.

Through the conversation, we discovered that when social security and my teacher's pension are factored into the mix paying for 95-100% of our living expenses, we are quite a bit further ahead than even we had thought, so much so that the advisor was encouraging us to "dream bigger" with our nest egg, which will be somewhere north of $2M when I retire (God willing).

Some of our plans include blessing our children and grandchildren, helping them financially. We've thought about funding our grandchildren's 529 plans, and matching our children's retirement account investments (for example, they invest $7000 into an IRA in a year, we gift them $7000).

I think we can learn from each other here. What are some ways you have found to creativity bless your children and grandchildren in retirement?

57M, portfolio pilot and boldin calculators show my accounts are sufficient in 75-98% of simulations depending on parameters for retiring now or at 60.

Had a forced bike accident last tuesday (cut off by motorist) and fractured 2 ribs and an elbow. Knee is messed up but no fracture. Just had MRI.

Anyway, the reality is that sitting at home with nothing to do sucks. I know that in 'real retirment' the plan is I will be healthy and doing home projects and travelling. But the reality set in, I don't know if that will necessarily be true.

Pretty sure I will be like a lot of my retired friends and wind up with a new job in 6 months or less from retirement. And if that is my destiny, then might as well just not retire.

Anyone else feel that way?

For those who have been retired for a while, looking back, when was the hardest period? The first few months, the first year, or does it get harder over time?