Book Review: Wake Up, It’s Gap-Time — A Guided Tour to Transitioning and Planning for Your Retirement Dreams by Martha Ann Madden
Seven thousand a day. That's the rate at which the first wave of baby boomers (born between 1946 and 1964) will turn 65 years old in 2011. Reuters reports that a survey of 801 people turning 65 next year was conducted by Woelfel Research Inc. for the AARP recently. They discovered that of those surveyed, 54 percent have already retired. Another interesting finding was that of those surveyed, 44 percent, said they plan to take classes or learn something new, while 61 percent said they want to travel more.
Sounds like the baby boomers are going to redefine retirement and that rocking chair sales will be declining. “The 'tune in, turn on, drop out' crowd never got around to that last part." said Steve Cone, AARP executive vice president. Martha Madden certainly hasn't dropped out. Her latest project is a book designed to help the millions of baby boomers deal with what she has labeled as “gap-time.
No doubt Ms. Madden will be pleased with another finding from the previously mentioned research; 78 percent of those questioned said that they were “satisfied with the way things are going in their lives.” It sounds like those folks are happy with their financial situations and that makes them great candidates for Wake Up, It’s Gap-Time — A Guided Tour to Transitioning and Planning for Your Retirement Dreams.
Author Madden has put together an amazing career in education, consultancy, and local, state, and federal government experience (marked with envious achievements and awards). Rarely does an author come along with the experience, education, and integrity as Martha A. Madden. Take her advice. She explains, “If your wish is to do more than take back-to-back cruises or hang out at Disney World with the grandkids, you're in the right place. Gap-time is NOT financial planning: it is 'you' planning.” She defines “gap-time” as a twelve year period beginning six years before retirement and involves planning for almost every aspect of your life except finances.
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