My colleague Nancy Collamer specializes in helping Boomers figure out their "second act." I like this concept because it implies Boomers are far from washed up; they have plenty left to be fulfilled and to give to the world. That's one of the reasons I named my blog "Happily Rewired," instead of "Retired."

I highly recommend that you visit Nancy's website, https://www.mylifestylecareer.com/, read her blog posts, check out her book Second-Act Careers, and sign up for her free email newsletter.

When you request the newsletter, you'll also receive a free gift, a workbook entitled "25 Questions to Help You Identify Your Second Act." In it, Nancy makes the point that you should always think about the "why" when you are considering "what" to do next. She gives these examples:

Which of my jobs did I enjoy the most? change the question to: Which of my jobs did I enjoy most - and why?

What were my greatest successes at work? change the question to: What were my greatest successes at work - and why?

What type of people do I like working with? change the question to: What type of people do I like working with - and why?

The workbook covers:

• Values
• Skills and Experiences
• Strengths, Gifts and Talents
• Hopes, Dreams and (Im)Possibilities

You'll find the workbook very helpful in guiding you toward the future you want.

Every Boomer's definition of "retirement" is a little different, but we can all agree that it is a time when you need to be more prudent about your finances. That's why many financial experts and advisers believe the best time to start planning for retirement is five years beforehand. Writing for The New York Times, Peter Finch has assembled the advice of financial gurus into a helpful article he calls "Countdown to Retirement: A Five-Year Plan." 

Finch says that the five year mark "is a good time to take a look at your overall asset allocation... a balanced allocation of 50 percent stocks and 50 percent bonds is reasonable for someone expecting to live another 30 years or more." At three years, Finch recommends that we "put aside some time this year to contemplate what retirement will actually mean for you." With two years left before retirement, you should "lay the groundwork" for "some potentially big tax-saving opportunities" that could come your way when you retire. In the last year before retirement, it makes sense to evaluate whether you will continue to work and think about "ways to reduce spending." Also "take another look at your investment portfolio," writes Finch, to see if the savings you have will adequately fund your retirement. If so, "many advisers recommend pulling back on your stock holdings and adding cash and other short-term investments as your final day at work nears."

The nice aspect of Finch's article is that it offers advice from a number of sources and is organized year by year. Check it out here: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/06/business/retirement-five-year-plan.html