R E T I R E M E N T  I N  S I G H T
Presented by: Ed Hawley

 

MONTHLY NEWS AND INFORMATION FOR CURRENT AND FUTURE RETIREES 

JUNE 2015  

“We must not allow the clock and the calendar to blind us to the fact that each moment of life is a miracle and mystery.”
      

- H.G. Wells 

RECIPE
Fresh Oregano Vegan Pesto 

1 cup fresh oregano leaves (removed from the stems) 

¼ cup nutritional yeast 

¼ cup pecans (or other nuts) 

1 tablespoon olive oil 

½ teaspoon lemon zest 

¼ teaspoon balsamic vinegar 

¼ teaspoon salt (or to taste) 

Put all ingredients in a small food processor. Process until mostly smooth, with only tiny pieces of nuts remaining. Serve over pasta, mixed in a dip or layered in lasagna. Two tablespoons of the pesto mixed with ¼ cup pasta cooking water tossed with ½ lb. cooked pasta serves two. (Double to serve four.) 

BRAIN TEASER
Time Is of the Essence.
If it were two hours later, it would be half as long until midnight as it would be if it were an hour later. What time is it now?^* 

DID YOU KNOW?
The (other) windy city 

According to the Weather Channel, Amarillo is the windiest city in America (average wind speed of 13.6 mph).⁴ 

WHEN CLAIMING SOCIAL SECURITY, IT PAYS TO WAIT 

For some years now, baby boomers have been urged to wait until full retirement age (66 or 67, depending on their year of birth) to apply for Social Security. It appears that more boomers are heeding that message.   

Examining unpublished data from the Social Security Administration, the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College found that only 39.5% of women and 35.6% of men claimed Social Security benefits at age 62 in 2013. That compares to 56.0% of men and 62.8% of women in 1996. In 1996, 17.5% of Americans waited until full retirement age to file for benefits; by 2009, that figure had increased to 28.1%. 

Some recent, broad surveys of pre-retirees suggest that the trend of working past 62 will continue. Data from the Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies indicates that 82% of Americans 60 or older expect to work after they turn 65. Across annual Gallup polls from 2002 to 2014, Americans raised their estimated retirement age from 63 to 66. These statistics suggest that baby boomers are making good on their aspirations to work longer and apply for benefits later – and as monthly Social Security benefit amounts increase by roughly 8% a year for every year you wait to claim after 62, it effectively pays to wait.¹ 

SENIOR COMMUNITIES SERVE UP MORE FLAVOR 

Historically, retirement homes and assisted living facilities have not been known for fine dining. Thankfully, that is changing. Upmarket retirement communities increasingly hire or contract chefs with corporate, resort or high-end restaurant experience and serve made-from-scratch cuisine made with locally grown fruit and vegetables. 

As the Miami Herald notes, the major challenge is coming up with savory dishes that respect dietary restrictions. Often, spices and herbs stand in for salt, cuts of red meat are tender and not so chewy (filet mignon, New York steak), and pies and pastries contain either little sugar or sugar substitutes. Roasted, broiled and grilled dishes take priority over fried food. At some communities, daily happy hours are actually de rigeur.² 

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE
People are growing more optimistic about their retirement prospects. Allianz Life’s new LoveFamilyMoney report finds that 26% of American workers aged 35+ with household incomes greater than $50,000 say they plan to retire before age 65.³