Part 1 in a 2 part series

Have you ever contemplated what it would be like to have an “encore” career? It wasn’t that long ago that an idea like that would have been considered impossible. But like many outdated notions, that’s no longer the case.

Many baby boomers aren’t satisfied with simply settling for golf and bridge games in retirement but instead are embarking on completely new careers. Boomers have always valued hard work and were willing to pay their dues to get ahead. That’s why many boomers are not afraid to start a new chapter. They have acquired valuable skills in their work life and they see an opportunity to parlay those skills into a second act.

In fact, 74 percent of workers plan to get a new job after they retire, according to the annual retirement expectations survey by the Employee Benefit Research Institute. And for many boomers, a second career means giving back. A recent survey by a San Francisco nonprofit called Civic Ventures found that 58 percent of Baby Boomers want a second career that serves their community.*

Meet three inspiring boomers who have taken the leap and started new “encore” careers that are definitely worth applauding:

Yuval Zaliouk, 74, is co-owner of YZ Enterprises in Toledo, Ohio. Although he retired from a successful career as conductor of the Toledo Symphony, he wasn’t ready to give up work entirely. So he started a business that was the culmination of a life-long dream of making and selling cookies based on his grandmother’s recipe. Not only did it take off but he later won an entrepreneur of the year award. “Only in America,” says Zaliouk, a native of Israel. “There is a lot of mobility in this country. It’s not like Europe … here you are free to start things. It’s a different atmosphere.”

David Roll, 72, wanted to use his skills to give back after he ended his career as a Washington D.C. Lawyer. He started a non-profit agency that matches pro bono lawyers with social entrepreneurs around the world. He has also written two non-fiction historical books but says that is real passion is the non-profit. “I love it,” he says.” It has its frustrations, because you’ve got to raise money to keep it going. But to have created something that is having an impact. Not every social entrepreneur is changing the world, but there are many that are doing amazing things.”

Rochelle Carter-Wilson, 53, was a former human resources executive who could not find full-time work after being laid off. She spent the next eight years caring for her children and doing part-time consulting gigs. When she decided to enter back into the workforce full-time, she was introduced to an opportunity called “The Enternship”, a four-week program that helps women over 40 re-enter the workforce by teaching them PR and digital communications skills. The Enternship helped Carter-Wilson rediscover her passion for writing and regain confidence in her professional abilities. She is now working as a full-time writer. ‘The program changed my life,’ Carter-Wilson said.

So whether you have a passion for baking or want to start a non-profit, there are plenty of ways for boomers to continue putting their skills and passions to work. For those of you that aren’t ready to retire, but also aren’t sure about what to do next, FirstLantic Healthcare is going to provide some resources to help get you started in part 2 of this series. And while working longer can be fulfilling, it can also help you live longer. A study by Oregon State University found that those who work past age 65 could actually add more years to their life. So what are you waiting for? It’s time to start planning for your own encore!

To read our other blogs, go to www.firstlantic.com or if you need more information about assisted living options, go to our sister company, www.livewellplacements.com

*Source: Mattioli