Spotlight on Canadian Financial Authors:  Rick Atkinson

In Canada’s 150th year, Knowledge Bureau is pleased to put the spotlight on Canadian Financial Authors and celebrate Financial Advice at the Crossroads of Change at DAC Nov 5-8 in Kelowna.  This week:  Rick Atkinson discusses:  Guiding Clients to Better Health & Well Being in Retirement.

By Rick Atkinson

Many clients contemplating retirement believe it is a time to throw cares away, just relax and smell the roses.  True, retirement is a time when we focus more on ourselves.  However, keeping healthy means having good physical, mental and spiritual well-being.  As an advisor you can make a difference by encouraging your clients to create a health and wellbeing strategy.

A. Physical Health

Regular exercise is a major contributor to overall wellness.  Without activity, we deteriorate at a rapid rate.  Other benefits of exercise are weight control, balance and flexibility.  Exercise can help clients feel better and protect their bodies from disease, fatigue and lethargy.

Encourage your clients to try a variety of different exercise activities before committing to one.  During their testing period, have them refrain from buying expensive equipment in case the activity they thought was ‘great’ turns out not to be.  Ask clients to share their progress with you and, in turn, provide positive feedback and accolades, both of which can act as a stimulus to clients for achieving physical fitness success.

B. Diet & Nutrition

As we get older, our nutritional needs change.  Our metabolic rate, the speed at which out body burns calories, tends to decline.  This means our body needs fewer calories.  This also means we need less food.

Encourage clients to examine their diets including reducing sugar, butter and salt intake.  Suggest your clients consult with their doctor regarding food products and nutritional supplements recommended given the client’s health history and body type.

C. Mental Health

For many newly minted retirees, the first months can be difficult because of strong identification with ‘work’.  Upon entering retirement, they may experience butterflies, sweaty palms, upset stomach and other anxieties.

Talk to your clients about creating a plan to deal with ‘retirement stress’.  Such a plan can include physical exercise, deep breathing and muscle relaxation.  Open the door for clients to share their retirement challenges with you.  Ask for their thoughts and suggestions on how to handle the situation.  Show empathy, objectivity, knowledge and encouragement.  Remind your clients they are not alone – their friends, family and you are there to support and help.

D. Spirituality

Recently the U.S. National Interfaith Conference on Aging related happiness, morale and health to spirituality.  People with less spirituality, in general, are not as happy or healthy as those with a high degree of spirituality.

As part of each client’s retirement plan, encourage them to think about how he/she can increase their spirituality.  This includes: developing a positive sense of hope, leveraging past experiences to help resolve current situations, recognizing the power of prayer, finding and using artistic abilities and utilizing relaxation and meditation techniques.

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As a caring advisor, include health and wellbeing as part of your client discussions.  Provide thoughts and direction you have found useful when building a healthy regime and underline the importance of creating a retirement health and wellbeing strategy.

Rick Atkinson (http://whencaniretire.info) is an expert in holistic retirement planning and bestselling author of Strategies for Retiring Right!

In Canada’s 150th year, Knowledge Bureau is pleased to put the spotlight on Canadian Financial Authors and celebrate Financial Advice at the Crossroads of Change at DAC Nov 5-8 in Kelowna.

Are you a Canadian financial author?  Please send us a copy of your book for review and an excerpt for Knowledge Bureau report.

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