OverseasRetirementHub.com

Retire Retirement: Career Strategies for the Boomer Generation

4. February 2010 Admin

• ISBN13: 9781422120590
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.

Product Description
Good news: there is no need to retire. There is no need to pack up your desk or attend one more retirement party. Why? With the widen gap between the number of workers and demand for talent, employers are looking to keep smart, productive workers in the workplace. The growing talent shortage will allow you to re-negotiate your relationship with work.

The question is how will you make the most of your new career options. By retreating from traditional 9-5 wo... More >>

Retire Retirement: Career Strategies for the Boomer Generation

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Peace Lily for My Retirement

31. January 2010 Admin

Image taken on 2009-11-21 16:55:16 by Old Shoe Woman.

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Retirement Income Redesigned: Master Plans for Distribution: An Adviser’s Guide for Funding Boomers’ Best Years

30. January 2010 Admin

Product Description
For years, financial planners have focused on helping their clients accumulate wealth for retirement. Now, as millions of those boomer clients head into retirement, there is little quality information on how to manage that wealth in retirement. Evensky and Katz, two of the nation's best-known financial planners, asked leading experts to give advisers a toolkit and roadmap to the new landscape. Included are valuable insights and practical approaches for increasing re... More >>

Retirement Income Redesigned: Master Plans for Distribution: An Adviser's Guide for Funding Boomers' Best Years

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The Joy of Retirement: Finding Happiness, Freedom, and the Life You’ve Always Wanted

28. January 2010 Admin

• ISBN13: 9780814480564
• Condition: USED - VERY GOOD
• Notes:

Product Description
Life after work no longer conjures up images of couples wandering the malls, playing golf, and taking endless Caribbean cruises. As baby boomers reach their 50s and 60s, they are redefining what it means to retire. Many of them are still choosing to work or create a whole new life entirely. What they crave is vitality, joy, and meaning in their lives. Author David Borchard has been helping adults reju­ve­nate their careers and lives for 30 years. In The Joy of Ret... More >>

The Joy of Retirement: Finding Happiness, Freedom, and the Life You've Always Wanted

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What Color Is Your Parachute? for Retirement: Planning Now for the Life You Want

25. January 2010 Admin

• ISBN13: 9781580087117
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.

Product Description
For more than 35 years, WHAT COLOR IS YOUR PARACHUTE? has guided millions of job-hunters to find satisfying careers. Now, PARACHUTE FOR RETIREMENT will help them plan for the next stage of life. Going beyond financial planning, Richard N. Bolles and retirement expert John E. Nelson tackle readiness in terms of money, health, and happiness, using the latest research from economics, medicine, and psychology. PARACHUTE FOR RETIREMENT will inspire readers to... More >>

What Color Is Your Parachute? for Retirement: Planning Now for the Life You Want

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The World’s Top Retirement Havens in 2007

25. January 2010 Admin

The World's Top Retirement Havens in 2007

By Laura Sheridan

Whether your retirement is fast approaching or just something you find yourself often dreaming about, you've probably imagined spending it in some far-flung tropical haven. But moving to a country that you know little about is a lot of hassle, right? It's probably not worth the time and effort, you think. Besides, all your family and friends are here.

Take it from us: it's worth it. If you look beyond your own shores you'll find that many countries around the world offer far greater benefits and advantages for retirees than those offered at home.

One of the simplest ways to improve your retirement lifestyle is to choose the retirement destination offering you more of what you want at the best price. It's a question of priorities. What's important to you? Is cost of living Number One on your priority list?

Maybe for you weather is the key consideration.

Are your must-haves telecommunications and infrastructure? Proximity to the States and Canada may also be a factor.

Maybe you aren't anywhere close to retirement. Nevertheless, it's important to think about and plan for your future. Like every phase in your life, you'll be surprised how fast retirement creeps up on you.

That's why, once a year, in our Global Retirement Index, we look closely, specifically, at the best opportunities worldwide for retirement living. Where will the pensioner's dollars go furthest? Which country is the safest? Where is the health care best? We give top priority to those things that matter most to anyone planning for retirement, including programs of special benefits for retirees (tax breaks, discounts, and freebies, for example, that various governments proffer to residents, sometimes specifically to foreign residents in an effort to attract investment and retirement dollars).

We can show you the opportunities and possibilities, the winners of our top retirement countries, but it's up to you to decide what your main priorities are before you find your ideal retirement haven. The aim of our Index is to give you a good starting guide.

Mexico-our new winner

Moving up four places to take our top spot as the world's top retirement haven this year is Mexico. Mexico offers the perfect mix of centuries-old traditions and contemporary lifestyles. Moving to Mexico means you can still have all of the amenities you grew accustomed to north of the border: cable TV, high-speed Internet, and modern home appliances. And if you prefer, when you move to Mexico you can even bring all of your favorite things with you without paying import taxes.

Goods and services cost less, so you can afford the kinds of luxuries only the very wealthy enjoy up north: a maid, a cook, and a gardener for example. In your retirement here, you'll have time to volunteer at the local school, time to golf in the mornings, time to relax on the beach…time to savor life.

Whether your vision of the ideal retirement involves shopping, fishing, sunbathing, diving, biking, mountain climbing, parasailing, collecting crafts, visiting archeological sites, partying, going to concerts, attending the theater, or fine dining, in Mexico you can engage in all of these activities, and many more.

How our Global Retirement Index is scored

* Real estate. Countries where real estate prices are low and the purchase of real estate is relatively easy receive the highest scores. We use our own experiences plus reports from our contributing editors and real estate contacts around the world to rate each country. Weight: 15%

* Entertainment, Recreation, and Culture. This category considers the number of newspapers per 1,000 citizens, the number of museums and cinemas per capita, the number of university students, the literacy rate, and the variety of cultural and recreational offerings. Weight: 10%

* Cost of living. This score is based on statistics from the Indexes of Living Costs Abroad, Quarter Allowances, and Hardship Differentials, published by the United States Department of State, and on data published by Business International. We also use our firsthand experiences living and traveling in these countries. The lower the score, the higher the cost of living. Weight: 20%

* Safety and stability. This measure of unrest in each country is based primarily on Interpol data and State Department statistics. It also takes into account the civil liberties and political rights granted by each government. Our own experiences and reports from expatriates living in these countries also influence the safety scores. Weight: 5%

* Health care. Considered in this category are the cost of a typical visit to a general practitioner and the cost and coverage particulars of health insurance. Weight: 20%

* Climate. Countries with temperate weather throughout the year, moderate rain fall, and little risk of natural disaster come out on top in this category. We use data representing each country as a whole instead of favoring one region over another. Weight: 5%

* Special benefits. This category considers government provisions that make moving to and living in each country easier and more affordable for foreigners. Taken into account are property rights for foreign residents, property tax rates, duty-free imports on personal belongings, currency controls, employment restrictions, voting rights, and transportation discounts for seniors. Weight: 20%

* Infrastructure. This section considers the number of cars and telephones per 1,000 residents, the length of railroad track in usable condition, the number of airports, the quality of the country's road and highway network, and the availability of telecommunications. Weight: 5%

If health care is a concern, you should know that in much of Mexico the health care is first rate. Private clinics and hospitals are staffed by expert physicians (many of whom trained in the U.S., Europe, or in Mexico's own world-renowned teaching hospitals), and medical care and prescription drugs will cost you only a fraction of what you would pay in the States. In our Index, Mexico scores 79 out of a possible 100 points in this category.

Mexico is such a diverse nation that everybody can find exactly what they want. You don't have to choose between water or mountains; here you can have both. And because of geographic diversity, you can also choose the climate to enjoy during your Mexican retirement: from hot and dry in the north, to hot and humid in the south, to spring-like temperatures all year round in the Colonial Highlands.

You can also own the home of your dreams in Mexico-for much less than it would cost you most anywhere in the U.S. or Canada. The real estate market offers endless possibilities for your retirement. Mexico receives a high score of 84 in our Real Estate category. Despite what you may have heard, it's not too late to buy real estate here.

You can own beachfront-not just ocean view property-in Mexico for less than $100,000.

Once you decide to move to Mexico, it's difficult to know where to go-it's a big country. Below are the 10 places we think make the most sense for expatriate living in this country, based on criteria such as health care, climate, infrastructure, and housing costs. These are places our husband-and-wife team in Mexico, Dan Prescher and Suzan Haskins, have personally scouted and personally recommend above other options in this great big country. They are: Rosarito Beach, Puerto Vallarta, Quer?ro, Mazatlan, M?da, La Paz, Campeche, Playa del Carmen/Riviera Maya, Ajijic/Chapala, and Sayulita/San Pancho (San Francisco). Of course, we're not forgetting San Miguel de Allende, one of Dan and Suzan's favorite places in Mexico. Suzan recently reported of this town: "San Miguel is one of the prettiest towns in all of Mexico. Stepping into San Miguel's Centro is like stepping back in time…but with all of today's modern conveniences."

In second place…

Ecuador

Ecuador always does well in our Retirement Index, but this year it moves from 10th position last year to take second place this year. If you retire in Ecuador, every clich?ou've heard about living large on little money-about settling into the lap of luxury on even a pensioner's budget-is true. Ecuador gets 85 points in our Cost of Living category, making it one of the world's cheapest places to live. Take $250 out of the ATM Monday morning and your expenses are covered for the week. In fact, we ranked Ecuador as the world's best retirement haven in 1999, after it weathered the earlier economic, political, and natural problems of the previous two years, and went on to prosper.

Of course, low prices alone do not make for an ideal retirement or investment destination. There are plenty of places the world over where you can buy cheap land, but where you wouldn't want to live; not so in Ecuador.

It's hard to pinpoint the best reason for retiring to Ecuador, but one thing's for sure: this is an affordable-and beautiful-retirement destination. Ecuador also offers a high quality of life. This is no isolated backwater. It's a land of opportunity, where a middle class is forming. After waking from a long economic slumber, Ecuador is preparing to join the global economy.

Retirees aged 65 or older have an extra incentive to consider Ecuador: airfares to North America and Europe are half-price on several airlines; all in-country transportation costs are 50% lower, and big discounts apply to a variety of other expenses such as taxes, utilities, and entertainment.

And remember: Ecuador is one place where the U.S. dollar is not losing value, which makes an Ecuadorian retirement especially appealing. Following the late-1990s' debt default, Ecuador decided to adopt the U.S. dollar as its official currency, which eliminates currency risk. Inflation is less than 3% and most economic indicators are positive.

Top for Europe

Italy comes third in our Index this year with high scores across the board. It's difficult to figure out whereabouts in Italy you picture yourself living-there is probably more beauty per square mile here than in any other corner of Europe. It's no simple matter to hit on the ideal location, even if you know for sure that you prefer big city life to the tranquility of the countryside. Right now, International Living recommends two places: Umbria in central Italy, and Calabria-situated in the toe of Italy.

"The green heart of Italy," Umbria is just as alluring as its more famous next-door neighbor, Tuscany. With expats seeking farmhouses and other rural properties, prices are catching up fast. Although Umbria doesn't possess a coastline, everywhere you look you'll see rumpled hills crowned with fortified towns and higgledly-piggledly villages. From certain vantage points, you can see several hill towns at a time.

Many parts of the province are within an hour's drive of Florence or Siena. Towns like Assisi, Todi, Spoleto, Orvieto, and Norcia are every bit as beautiful and as historic as any small town in Tuscany.

To give you an idea of property prices in the region, in Monteleone d'Orvieto, there's a 968-square-foot apartment in need of restoration. Selling for $85,000, it has two bedrooms and one bathroom, plus a ready-made vegetable garden. There's another apartment in the same town that's habitable: 807 square feet, two bedrooms, and one bathroom. Price: $100,000.

Calabria's shores are lapped by the Tyrrhenian Sea on the west, and the Ionian Sea on the east. What about property prices here? In the Calabrian seaside town of Scalea, an attractive second-floor apartment of 430 square feet is selling for $50,000.

Why Panama fell from glory?

Panama won our Retirement Index for six years in a row. But, it's fallen from the top spot in 2007 and is now in fourth place. Why? Panama still has the same great retiree benefits…this hasn't changed since last year (see the sidebar on retiree benefits on page XX). Still, unless you have a verifiable pension or pockets deep enough to afford a $40,000 investment in a forestry project or a $200,000 investment in real estate or a government bank CD, it can be difficult to get a resident visa in Panama. Since the government of Panama recently put a 30-day limit on its tourist visa, it has become more difficult for anyone seeking to rent a home or apartment and stay in the country for any length of time.

And it's true that this country's popularity has driven up real estate prices. Once plentiful real estate bargains-from $100,000 apartments in Panama City to $40,000 lots in Boquete-are getting harder to find.

Panama still has much to offer, though. Whether you're enticed by the friendly people or the tropical climate, Panama is a great retirement destination (remember, it's still in our top 5).

We don't have print space here to talk about every country in our Index, but you can access information on all countries featured here at our website. In the search engine, type in the name of the country of interest to you to find out more.

NEED TO KNOW

Countries with special retiree benefits

Mexico

If you've considered retiring to Mexico, you now have another good reason-foreigners who hold a valid residence visa for Mexico can now take part in Mexico's senior citizens' benefits program.

The program, for adults aged 60 and over, offers discounts on a wide range of services. These include discounts on health-related services (hospitals, doctors' visits, lab tests, medical devices, pharmacies, and dental work); cultural activities like theater tickets and entrance fees to museums and archaeological sites; travel-related costs, including airline tickets, buses, car rentals and purchase, and hotel accommodation. Discounts can range up to 50% off the full price of the good or service. Non-Mexicans who wish to take part in the program must go to a local office of INAPAM (Instituto Nacional de las Personas Adultas Mayores) to request a membership card. See: http://www.inapam.gob.mx/DirecINAPAM07.pdf for more information (in Spanish).

Malaysia

Three years ago, the government of Malaysia launched "Malaysia-My Second Home" (MM2H), replacing the former "Silver Hair" program introduced in 1987. MM2H provides incentives for foreigners, particularly retirees, to live permanently in this country. Successful applicants initially receive what is, in effect, a five-year visa with unlimited entry/exit privileges. There is no minimum annual residence requirement. After the first five years, you can apply for permanent residency. While you're not guaranteed it will be granted, you can expect automatic renewal of your original visa if you continue to meet its conditions. Within six months of approval, MM2H residents may bring in household effects duty-free, and import or purchase one vehicle locally, tax free. Savings on auto taxes can amount to thousands of dollars on expensive models. Other benefits include exemption from Malaysian income tax on pension and other income remitted into the country, plus that on the interest from any fixed deposit made under the MM2H program (a savings of about 29%).

In addition, residents may purchase up to two properties with a value of not less than $40,000 each. Banks may advance up to 60%. For information on cost of living and many other useful topics, including domestic help, see www.mm2h.com. Registration at that website will also bring you updates on MM2H.

Panama

If you can document a minimum monthly pension of $500 (plus another $100 per dependent), you are eligible for a long list of perks in Panama, including: Import duty exemption for household goods; tax exemption to import a new car every two years; 50% off entertainment anywhere in the country (movies, theaters, concerts, sporting events); 30% off in-country bus, boat, and train fares; 25% off in-country airline tickets; 50% off hotel stays Monday through Thursday; 15% off hospital bills (if no insurance applies); 10% off prescription medicines; 20% off medical consultations; 50% reduction in closing costs for home loans; 25% discounts on utility bills…and many more.

Ireland

If Ireland is your choice as a retirement haven, you can take advantage of the many retirement incentives this country has to offer, including free health care, free public transportation, a fuel allowance, and significant discounts on hotel and electricity bills. You're even allowed to vote in local elections.

Belize

Expats can apply for status as a Qualified Retired Person (QRP), and, with that status, you can avoid Belizean income tax and also import your household goods tax-free up to a total exemption amount of $15,000. You can also bring in a vehicle (a car, light aircraft, or boat) tax-free. In fact, every five years you can import a new vehicle, tax-free.

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Supercharged Retirement: Ditch the Rocking Chair, Trash the Remote, and Do What You Love

25. January 2010 Admin

• ISBN13: 9780979831935
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.

Product Description
Life after retirement is much more exciting if you look beyond what you need for financial security as you prepare for it. Mary Lloyd lays out a whole new paradigm for doing this and shows you how to assess what you really want and need--physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually--to make retired life the most rewarding time of all. Supercharged Retirement will help you conquer the emotional and personal challenges of stepping out of the workforce with sol... More >>

Supercharged Retirement: Ditch the Rocking Chair, Trash the Remote, and Do What You Love

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How to Set Up a Retirement Savings Account

22. January 2010 Admin

Set up a retirement savings account now so you won't have money worries later.

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Retiring to a New Life in Portugal

21. January 2010 Admin

Officially known as Portuguese Republic, Portugal is a country rich in history. The reality that it was home to historical personages like Bartolomeu Dias and Vasco da Gama makes Portugal a perfect place to retire for the Old World European lover.

Climate in Portugal

Portugal is a country subject to two different types of climate, oceanic and Mediterranean. Northern Portugal has a climate consisting of the former, which means that that the temperature and weather in the north are almost always moderate, not so hot during summers, not too cold during winters.

The Southern part is dominated by the Mediterranean climate which might consist of very hot summer days.

Portugal is known to be one of Europes warmest countries. In truth though, its average yearly temperatures of 18 degrees Celsius in the south and thirteen degrees Celsius in the north are still much cooler than any tropical countrys.

There are parts of the country which may exhibit extreme weather conditions. Examples are the extreme north locations which may reach temperatures of up to minus 4 to 6 degrees Celsius during the winter and the south locations with summers reaching up to a sweltering 40 degrees Celsius.

Government in Portugal

The constitution laid down in 1976 formed the government of Portugal to what it is today. With Lisbon serving as its capital, the government of Portugal is divided into four elements. The division of powers among the executive, legislative, and judicial components is granted by the powers of the countrys constitution.

The first element of the Portuguese government is the countrys president. The presidential seat is merely supervisory and non-executive with a term lasting up to five years. The second element is the countrys parliamentary body called the assembly of the republic. This parliament is unicameral consisting of 230 seats for deputies with terms lasting for four years.

The next element, the government, is ruled by a Prime Minister. The Prime Minister is the one responsible for appointing state secretaries and ministers which make up Portugals Council of Ministers. The two political parties dominating both the parliament and the government in Portugal are the Socialist and Social Democratic Parties. The last element of the Portuguese government, the courts, is organized into judicial, fiscal, and administrative.

Tax System in Portugal

The tax rate for Portugal for the year 2007 was between 10.5 percent to 42 percent. Some residents with incomes of specific types are granted tax exemption. For example, a resident with less than 149,753 Euros in annual income will be waived his or her annual tax fee. If you decide to move to Portugal and become a resident, you will be liable to pay taxes. Someone who works in Portugal will be taxed for earnings made in the country.

For you to be recognized as a resident of Portugal, you must have been living in the country for a minimum of 183 days. Sometimes, even less than one hundred eighty three days would suffice if you have a property in Portugal you can declare as your main residence. December 31 is the end of a taxable year in the country. Individuals are expected to file the tax details by the 30th of April.

Medical Care in Portugal

Despite being a developed country, the health care in Portugal is ranked among the lowest in the Western European regions. However, the country does present peace of mind regarding medical care since it has a ratio of 2.9 doctors to 1,000 patients which is higher than that of its neighbouring countries. These health care practitioners, however, are centred in the urban areas of Portugal, meanwhile even the rural areas which were before permanently in need are better served.

Portugal has a health system which pays for a residents hospital and medical bills in full. The system is offered by major urban hospitals, the regional ones, and several health centers.

Shopping in Portugal

Shopping centers in Portugal usually operate seven days of the week from 10:00 am to 11:00 pm. Since Portugal is a member of the Euro zone, its currency is in Euro. Different banks exchange for different rates and with varying commissions charged. Currently, MultiBanco (MB) ATMs are all over the country which charge currency exchange commission of only 2 percent. Standard credit cards such as MasterCard, Visa, and American Express are accepted in Portugal. Eurocheque cards are also accepted and travellers cheques are exchanged without any problems.

Cost of Living in Portugal

Cost of living in Portugal has risen in the last decade. Still, it remains cheaper than the rest of its neighbouring Western European countries. As expected, high-end places in Portugal like Algarves golfing areas are expensive, but away from the countrys fashionable destinations, prices are quite low. To reduce every day costs, steer clear of plush supermarkets and venture to the street markets popular all over the country with fresh produce straight from the farms.

Real Estate in Portugal

Some years ago the majority of the rural areas in Portugal had no supply of electricity which prompted the residents to move to urban establishments. This caused over-population in Portugals urban dwellings, especially in Lisbon, where there is estimated to be 200,000 illegal housing structures.

The rental percentage in Portugal is 60 percent. In fact, even the opulent residents of country opt to live in rented apartments that the city of Lisbon is riddled with high-end buildings for their usage.

The most expensive regions of Portugal are Lisbon, Oporto, Estoril and Cascais. The most reasonable place to live on the other hand is in the Silver Coast, Central Portugal, Alentejo and the northern parts of the country.

Portugal continues to be an excellent retirement country, comparing to the world wide offer.

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America’s Best Low-Tax Retirement Towns, 3rd Edition: Where to Move to, and From, to Slash Your Taxes in Retirement!

20. January 2010 Admin

• ISBN13: 9780978607715
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.

Product Description
It's possible to save thousands of dollars per year in retirement by choosing a tax-friendly retirement town. Learn which towns' taxes are lowest and which are the highest in this easy-to-use guide. It tallies total taxes including state and local income tax, property tax, personal property tax, sales tax and a slew of other miscellaneous and well-disguised taxes then ranks each city's total tax burden for easy comparison.... More >>

America's Best Low-Tax Retirement Towns, 3rd Edition: Where to Move to, and From, to Slash Your Taxes in Retirement!

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