Smart Habits for a Happy and Healthy Retirement

Research from Stanford University has confirmed what many seniors have experienced firsthand: happiness and longevity require smart investments in their health at every stage of life.  To achieve a fulfilling retirement, it's crucial for seniors to prioritize their bodies, minds and souls.  Neglecting any of these areas can lead to challenges down the road.  Please find below three smart habits that can help maximize the golden years of all retirees and ensure a happy and healthy retirement.

1. Nourish the Body and Stay Active: Diet and Exercise

Maintaining physical health is paramount for seniors.  By practicing wholesome eating habits and engaging in regular exercise, they can significantly improve their overall well-being.  According to Pew Research Center, 97% of Americans believe that healthy eating is key to a long and healthy life, while 98% recognize the importance of regular physical exercise.  Embracing smart nutrition and exercise routines can pave the way for a joyous retirement, allowing for more focus on activities with children and grandchildren.

2. Keep the Mind Sharp: Train the Brain

Mental health is just as vital as physical health for thriving in retirement.  Research from U.C. Riverside reveals that individuals in their 80's can make their brains up to 30 years younger by learning something new over a six-week period.  Seniors should prioritize mental exercise by reading, joining club meetings or group discussions, taking classes through college extension programs or acquiring new skills like painting, photography or music. Training the brain has scientifically proven beneficial to reducing the impacts of aging.

3. Cultivate Social Connections: Stay Engaged

Nurturing social connections is a critical aspect of living a happy and healthy retirement.  With advancing age, social networks tend to decline steadily, according to a study published in Psychological Bulletin.  To counter this trend, seniors should actively seek opportunities to meet new people, connect with like-minded peers and devote time each day to interacting with friends or loved ones.  Research suggests that seniors who engage socially are nearly 12% less likely to develop dementia than those who are less socially active.

The Need for Financial Health

While taking care of the body, mind, and soul is vital, there is another crucial aspect to leading a happy and healthy retirement: financial health.  A longer lifespan and a more fulfilling retirement require adequate funding to cover desired expenses.  It's essential to ensure that available income exceeds spending, as an imbalanced budget can lead to overwhelming debt and shatter a desirable dream lifestyle.

Sometimes, seniors need to explore new sources of liquidity to create the necessary cash flow for their retirement journey.  One consideration is unlocking the hidden value in a life insurance policy, which can provide much needed cash.  If an old life insurance policy is no longer needed or affordable, a creative financial strategy can be employed before canceling, surrendering or lapsing the policy.

Life insurance is considered personal property and can be bought and sold, just like any other asset in a portfolio or estate.  Through a regulated transaction called a life settlement, qualified policyholders can sell their coverage to a licensed financial entity known as a life settlement provider in exchange for a lump sum cash payment.  The buyer of the life insurance policy assumes all future premium payments and collects the death benefit when the insured passes away.

The life settlement industry has paid billions of dollars to consumers, with policyholders receiving an average of 7.8 times more money than surrendering or lapsing their policies, according to the Life Insurance Settlement Association.  The funds obtained from a life settlement can be used to cover retirement expenses, offset healthcare costs or provide financial support to family members or charities.  This additional cash flow can be instrumental in supporting a happier and healthier retirement.

For more information about the potential value of a life insurance policy on the life settlement market, please contact an experienced life settlement broker like Welcome Funds.  Our commitment, both ethically and legally, is to represent the policy owner's best interests.

For more information, please visit www.welcomefunds.com or call 877.227.4484.