Are you looking forward to retiring from the workforce, or would you rather fire up a whole new career? Did you know there is demand for exciting jobs such as workcamper (working camper), cruise ship lecturer, freelance writer? The list goes on and on. If you plan to keep working in retirement, you’re far from alone. According to AARP, more than 20 percent of adults over age 65 are either working or looking for work, while the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that 13 million Americans aged 65 and older will be in the labor force by 2024.
In celebration of National Senior Citizens Day, on August 21, we found many rewarding ways to spend your second act, whether you need to work to supplement your retirement savings or want to enhance your life. Check with your financial advisor for any tax consequences, especially if you want to collect Social Security benefits at the same time; you should also consult an estate-planning attorney for important legal safeguards (See “Essentials to Remember” at the end of this post).
10 Dream Jobs for Retirees
- Business Owner:You’ve spent your whole working life building skills and experience while making money for someone else; why not turn your talent into profit? You may be able to operate from home if you’re selling a service rather than tangible products, but whatever you are offering, get an attorney to assist you in its formation.
- Consultant:Instead of an entire business selling your skills, you can set up a consultancy that guides clients in a project without getting involved from start to finish. You advise; the client executes. Security and health care are two fast-growing industries that could use what you know if you were in law enforcement or medicine, respectively.
- Cruise Ship Lecturer:Many cruise lines look for speakers who can share special knowledge about history, art, technology, and other topics of interest to their passengers. You may not get any pay other than having your port fees covered, but lecturers usually receive a free cruise.
- Overseas Teacher:English fluency is still a must for students around the world, and several companies hire instructors to teach their children. Teaching experience is not necessary, and you may not even have to speak the native language.
- Workcamper:Many retirees finance their wanderlust with jobs at state and national parks, driving from job to job in a recreational vehicle. Be sure you research this thoroughly, and don’t leave home without a checkup for yourself and your RV.
- Home Caretaker:Another way to see the country is to house-sit for someone in a place you’ve always wanted to live – or at least visit. If you live in a vacation destination like South Florida (lucky us!) you might be able to swap homes with someone from another tourist spot.
- Hotel Concierge:If you know your community well, you could be a good resource for visitors looking for local shopping, dining, entertainment and recreation options. You need to be resourceful and able to quickly fill special requests like getting reservations at that hot new restaurant.
- Virtual assistant:Take phone calls, set appointments and do support work for someone who’s working from home or doesn’t have the budget for a full-time assistant. Many companies hire VAs – or this can be the business you start on your own.
- Tax Preparation:You don’t have to be an accountant or even know much about taxers to get a seasonal job helping customers of tax-prep companies to fill out basic returns. You’ll get complete training.
- Freelance writing:If you’ve always loved to write, this is the time to fulfill your passion. There’s a huge demand for online content. People who can write about travel, consumer affairs, healthcare and personal finance are most wanted.
Essentials to Remember
Remaining in the workforce as you age puts you at higher risk of illness and injury, especially when traveling, so be sure you have these legal protections in place:
Durable Power of Attorney
If you suddenly come down with an illness or injury, who will handle your financial matters, such as paying your bills, visiting your bank, renewing insurance policies, etc.? This is where a Power of Attorney comes into play as one of the most important documents you will ever sign.
The most common Power of Attorney is the Durable Power of Attorney, which allows you to select a person (the “agent”) to take over for you in case of your sudden mental or physical incapacity. The agent will be able to make legal and financial decisions and conduct transactions on your behalf. The Power of Attorney document ends when a person passes away. Note that if you created this document prior to October of 2011, it is time to update it, as the laws in Florida have changed.
Health Care Surrogate and Living Will
A Health Care Surrogate, also known as a Health Care Proxy or Health Care Directive, allows you to plan for difficult medical decisions. You can designate someone (the “agent”) to make healthcare decisions for you in case you are unable to make them yourself. These decisions include consenting to certain medical procedures, seeking a second opinion, obtaining medical records, or transferring you to a different medical facility. This removes the burden from your family, just when the added stress is least welcome.
If you do not prepare a Health Care Surrogate document, and you fall ill and cannot make your own medical decisions, then the healthcare facility will follow Florida law to determine who is responsible for your healthcare decisions.
A Living Will allows you to state your wishes about your end-of-life medical care. This allows your health care surrogate to best carry out your health care wishes regarding life-sustaining procedures. A Living Will includes a set of legal instructions about the treatment you wish to receive. You can revoke or revise a valid Living Will at any time.
Good retirement planning means you can keep working because you want to, not because you have to. For help in creating your crucial legal documents, contact OC Estate & Elder Law at (954) 251-0332 or info@ocestatelawyers.com to get started with a free phone consultation. Our attorneys are fluent in English, Spanish, and Russian.
