Live Smart After 50!: The Experts' Guide to Life Planning for Uncertain Times

This is a great companion book for AARP's new Life Reimagined, by Richard Leider and Alan Webber. The co-authors of Life Reimagined address the big picture of reimagining one's life in the second half, but Life Smart After 50! gives readers many practical tools, advice, and follow-up materials from experts in a wide spectrum of related fields. I love the Life Planning Quiz, the ten framing questions in the beginning of the book that help to steer readers towards the chapters that are the most useful. Examples include:1. I am clear about my options for continued work beyond midlife, whether for income, to remain active, or to use my skills for a useful purpose. (Answer: very true, somewhat true, just getting started, not at all) - relates to Work chapter2. I can name ten people (spouse or partner, family, friends, neighbors) I can rely on for intimacy, friendship, and support. (Answer: very true, somewhat true, just getting started, not at all) - relates to Relationship Dividend chapter3. I know what I need to maintain my health, remain active, protect my brain, and feel at my best as I get older. (Answer: very true, somewhat true, just getting started, not at all) - relates to Well-Being for Life chapterThe seven additional questions of the Life Planning Quiz steer readers to chapters on location, values, creativity, legal interests, money matters, and life lessons.The book is co-written by an amazing group of members from the Life Planning Network, which several experts contributing to each chapter. The reference materials are excellent. Richard Leider and his seminal "Aging Well" book, Repacking Your Bags, is mentioned several times in this book as well. Leider also endorsed it with the statement: "This book reveals powerful and purposeful practices for living an authentic, smart life. Don't pass 50 without it?" As a 50s-something, this title deserves a frequently accessible place on my home bookshelf for decades to come.David Marshall, Moraga, California

We picked Live Smart After 50! as the book-of-the-month for our transition-focused book group of the Chicago chapter of TTN - The Transition Network. As our group is comprised of women over 50, in various stages of life's changes in the second half of our lives, this book spoke to us all.The book is packed with ideas, personal stories, resources and advice from numerous experts in their respective fields, all affiliated with the Life Planning Network. Topics range from financial planning and legal basics to optimizing health and wellness for longevity, from living in the now with productive work, rewarding leisure, engaging relationships, and a positive home environment, to living and leaving a legacy. Each of these topics is given its own chapter so that you can zero in on the areas of your life that you most want or need to tackle right now. And there are a number of great exercises in the appendix to help you clarify where you've been, where you are now and/or where you need to go to experience joy, meaning and purpose in this all-important second half of life.In fact, our TTN group found the book very relevant to the numerous and varying areas of life transition that have been impacting many of us. As a result, we have decided to focus on Live Smart After 50! for the next few months, one chapter/topic per month, so that we can fully explore all the great exercises, advice, resources and wisdom offered by this book. We recommend it highly.

Live Smart after 50: The Experts' Guide to Life Planning in Uncertain TimesI usually distrust and avoid advice from "experts." They tend to be people outside a situation who tell the people in the situation what to do about it. As one of the 33 "experts" who wrote `Live Smart after 50", however, I not only trust the expertise of my experienced colleagues but feel honored to be numbered among them. Ranging across the broad map of life planning specialties, they are actually living smart after 50 themselves as well as guiding others.So what do I like about the book? Its size and flexibility feels good in my hand, ready for skimming. I like the clear contrasts between old and new expectations for aging, the checklists for what to do next, the accessible resources for each topic, and the questions for the reader that require me to think for myself about myself. Where to start? I like the Life Planning Quiz --- ten questions that show me where to start with my own life planning. I may be age 81, but I'm still doing it - living intentionally, with a little help from my colleagues.

First a disclaimer and full disclosure: I am a Chapter Co Leader and Contributing Author (one of 33) of "Live Smart After 50!" With that said, my viewpoint and comments may be a little biased, though my intent is to provide potential readers with an objective overview based in firsthand experience with the book, much of which I did not see until the book was published.The book is a wonderful resource for those interested in making the most of their future, while providing insights to effectively minimize missteps that can prove time consuming and sometimes be irreversible. The content addresses the inner dimensions of ourselves, the outer dimensions of the world we live in, and the managing the uncertainties of moving into a phase of life characterized by trepidation. The adage is "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." This book provides a meaningful introduction and stepping off point for individuals looking to make the most of their futures while avoiding potentially costly missteps, regardless of their means.It's rich in content and exercises capable of helping each reader move forward in a way that is enlightening, entertaining, and empowering. Recommended.

Although written for the American market this book is very useful for anyone approaching retirement. Each chapter lists other resources where you can find even more information which is very helpful. We spend more time planning our annual holiday than we do for retirement, this book is full of questions that make you take a good look at your life and how you want to spend "Your Bonus Years". It covers finances, health, where to live, how to spend your time, your purpose, your legacy and much more.Well written and a must read if you are in your 50's or 60's.

No complaints