Archive for category Musings

What will you do when you retire?

Posted by Catriona in Musings on April 29th, 2010

Create retirement success

Create retirement success

Do you have an answer to this question? It’s a commonly posed question, but think about the answers you get. My experience is that the question is oft met with a shrug of the shoulders and a laugh.

” Oh - definitely play golf every day.”

” Don’t worry; my wife has a long to do list for me.”

” I can’t afford to retire the rate my kids are going.”

Our business is built around influencing work and life decisions and slowing the rate of retirement so thatorganisations are sustainable in the future.

Last week I had coffee with a  CEO of a not-for-profit in Adelaide. Whenever I talk about our Create seminars which are designed to support employees in their ‘retirement’ decisions, I throw a version of the above question in: What do you want when you retire?  She impressed me with her answer:

“I plan to work a few more years at this level. Then I want to retire and provide support for organisations that help underpriveleged children, because my children have had such a comparably priveleged upbringing. I also plan to do some study in the Fine Arts. I imagine that I will always work in some capacity, but not the way I’m working now.”

Retirement is an assumption. What most people we come across want, is the opportunity for redirection. Working, but working differently. Making time for other success factors like your nearest and dearest, your own wellbeing and your long time goals.

What do you say when you’re asked this question? Do you shrug it off with some glib answer? Or can you articulate what ‘retirement’ looks like for you? Try it..

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prepared for what?

Posted by Catriona in Commentary, Musings, Research on March 29th, 2010

The recent Mercer Superannuation Sentiment Index indicates a dip in retirement confidence given the impact of the GFC on funds. But it is this statement that really interests me:

Only 11% of working Australians feel they are thoroughly prepared for retirement.

This figure correlates with the research that SageCo has conducted over the last five years. Over 5000 employees have been through organisationally sponsored ‘retirement preparedness’ programs with us. While financial reasons weigh heavy on decisions about retirement, we think there are fundamental questions which need examining before you can adequately address the financial concerns.

  1. What does retirement look like for me?
  2. Do I really want to retire?
  3. What do I really want to do?
  4. How much money do I really need to do what I want to do?
  5. How could I continue working in some way?
  6. What are the (often unspoken) expectations of my family and friends about my retirement?
  7. How could I improve my health?

These are tough enough questions at any age. Even when ‘retirement’ may seem a long way off, having a plan in mind while you have earning capacity is so important. Not having a plan weighs heavily on mature employees.

Organisations who support their ‘late-career’ employees in retirement preparedness will reduce the risk of retirement loss and increase productivity.

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winning ways in work-life balance

Posted by Catriona in Commentary, Musings on March 15th, 2010

(l-r) Catriona Byrne, Alison MonroeWe are proud to announce that we received a special commendation in the 2009-2010 National Work Life Balance Awards announced today. We are advocates for work- life balance as a key component of creating work places that attract and retain mature age workers. However, we also need to be true to ourselves and we offer flexible arrangements for every member of our wonderful SageCo team.

Congratulations to Probuild Constructions who were the winners. Great to see a company leading the way in a challenging industry such as construction.

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Proud of our sages…

Posted by Catriona in Musings on November 10th, 2009

So proud of the sages we are working with at ANSTO, RTA, NSW Office of Water, Austrade and the like. These are people who are taking the time to contribute to the future of their organisations. We are honoured to work with you.

“We are made wise not by the recollection of our past, but by the responsibility for our future.”

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