Most people view retirement as an opportunity to enjoy all the benefits of a career built on hard work and commitment. From traveling to finding new hobbies to spending time with loved ones, retirement can be a rewarding and fulfilling experience. While the benefits are wonderful, some retirees discover they miss the sense of purpose and belonging their career provided. Without the structure of a work schedule, some begin to feel unproductive and isolated.
An effective way to fill this gap is to share your talents by volunteering or mentoring others. The following tips can help you get started.
1. Find what interests you.
Consider how your interests and talents may align with different organizations. For example:
• If you enjoy carpentry and home improvement, consider volunteering at an organization that builds homes, such as Habitat for Humanity.
• If you enjoy helping animals, consider caring for pets at a local animal shelter.
• If you have a background in teaching, consider tutoring at a local school or library.
• If you enjoy the outdoors, consider cleaning up litter in a park or on the highway. The National Park Service also offers a range of volunteer opportunities as part of its Volunteers-In-Parks program.
• If you enjoy gardening, consider helping plant, weed, and harvest at a local community garden.
• If you like to travel, you may be able to volunteer overseas through organizations such as the Peace Corps or Global Volunteers.
2. Start now.
A great time to discover your volunteering and mentorship interests is while you’re still working. Take some time on evenings or weekends to volunteer with a few organizations, and discover which ones you enjoy the most. Another advantage of starting now is that you’ll have the opportunity to make connections with other volunteers who share your interests. The people you meet may become great friends in retirement.
3. Establish a regular volunteering schedule.
One of the things retirees often discover they miss most about working is having a regular schedule. Having a consistent volunteering schedule can provide structure to your days and give you something to look forward to each week. Scheduling just a few hours per week can potentially provide you with the purpose and drive you need to enjoy retirement.
4. Consider how you can share your knowledge and talents.
If you miss your career field after you leave the workforce, you may enjoy mentoring others. The following tips can help you stay engaged while supporting others within your industry:
• Serve on a board — Many nonprofits, community organizations and schools welcome the expertise and insight of a seasoned professional.
• Join professional organizations — Professional organizations offer a way to connect with others within your industry. Younger professionals often participate to network with and learn from those with more experience, which is a great opportunity to share your knowledge and support a young professional’s career.
• Consult — It’s not just individuals who can benefit from your experience and insight; businesses can as well. Serving as a consultant to a business can allow you to help the organization grow and thrive without the commitment of a full-time career.
• Teach — Universities often invite guest lecturers to share their wisdom with students. Consider reaching out to local schools to ask if your expertise would benefit their curriculum.
This commentary is provided for general information purposes only, should not be construed as investment, tax or legal advice, and does not constitute an attorney/client relationship. Past performance of any market results is no assurance of future performance. The information contained herein has been obtained from sources deemed reliable but is not guaranteed.
AJ Kratz, CFA, CFP, is a Private Wealth Manager and Partner with Creative Planning. Creative Planning is one of the nation’s largest registered investment advisory firms, providing comprehensive wealth management services to help align all elements of a client’s financial life, including investments, taxes, estate planning and risk management. For more information, or to request a free, no-obligation consultation, visit creativeplanning.com.
