Tacony Corporation’s Post

This is a alarm call for many of us in the middle age group. The story is relevant for current times and is concerning, the trend will only accelerate for obvious reasons. For good measure, the story will be amplified by investment professionals to nudge us into retirement planning, etc.. nothing wrong with that and should be done. However, an equally important concern is of staying meaningfully engaged and relevant for the next few decades of our life. Therefore I think that re-inventing ourselves is the call of the day! It is as urgent as starting a new mutual fund SIP. *What skills I need to acquire today to be relevant in 2034? *What should I be known for in 2034 or beyond? *Why should people still reach out to me in 2030 or 2040? *What can I give back to society? *What can keep me busy in meaningful activities at the age of 70? These and many more questions that need urgent answers. Don’t aim for #FIRE, our Goal should be #FINR #FIRE = Financially independent, retire early. #FINR = Financially independent, never retire.

Last year, I had shared my views on retirement age and career blocks for professionals who are beyond 50 years of age. This will only get worse with new technologies like AI, making many more redundant. This post by Vanita Bhatnagar (She/Her) The Ken is insightful and concerning. Mid and Senior level managers and professionals are facing a serious threat in their jobs. This also impacts their well-being which impacts their teams, families and communities. There is a need to create community classrooms that help working professionals to reinvent and reskill themselves. #retire #learning #upskill

Happy Tuesday, everyone!!! I hope all is well. May 1st was my one year Army retirement anniversary. Post retirement has been rewarding professionally, financially, and socially. During the past year, I was offered several opportunities. I declined most them based on my personal preferences and accepted my current role. (Great decision for me) Transitioning is about cross roads, and the decisions you make at those intersections. The decisions you make are your decisions. Everyone’s circumstances are different which makes their transition different. You make decisions at cross roads and you hope and pray that the decision doesn’t lead you down a one way street. Most one-way streets only have one option with no detours. Create yourself a portfolio that provides you with options. The options you create before transition may potentially be the most important aspect of your transition. Education and finances were the main ingredients in my portfolio. I hope everyone going through transition is very successful. Have a great day, my friends.

Last week, I posted about my retirement from the U.S. Navy and the Retirement Ceremony I held three-and-a-half years later. The point of that post was that ceremony is used to great effect in the military, is important, and is something that civilian organizations would be wise to employ. I've been surprised and humbled by the response that post received, but there's more. At military Retirements, the retiree is given the opportunity to speak. Remarks typically include remembrances of important events, thanks to various people, and wisdom that the retiree wants to share—his or her ‘lessons learned’ from a long career. I am a firm believer in wisdom. I do NOT believe wisdom is some mythical concept or something that only the very old or very experienced possess. I believe you can find wisdom anywhere—even where you least expect it. You can find numerous definitions of the word, most of which are good, but my favorite is probably from Wikipedia: “Wisdom is the act of using one's depth and breadth of knowledge and experience to do good by oneself and others. Wisdom is the interpreting and understanding of knowledge that leads to greater insight.” [Don’t criticize me for appreciating Wikipedia – it does have its uses when employed judiciously.] Here is the ‘wisdom’ that I shared at my Retirement Ceremony. My full remarks, if you are interested, are attached. - - "Suggestion #1: Connect. Connect with the people around you. Get to know them. Really know them. Listen before you talk. Ask them questions. Find common ground—there is always common ground somewhere. Sometimes you have to look harder, but you will find it. I’ve never met and spent any significant amount of time with a single person who wasn’t in some way interesting and who wasn’t able to teach me something. You will have better relationships and enjoy your life more. Suggestion #2: Learn. Everyone around you has knowledge, insight, and understanding that you do not. Even people who are less than you – less trained, less intelligent, less capable. Even people who you dislike, even potentially despise. Everyone is a source for your greater understanding. Seek out that wisdom. Find it wherever it may be—even in the places you don’t expect it. Heck, especially in the places you don’t expect it. Live by that wisdom, wherever you found it. You will be a better person for it. Finally, Suggestion #3: Teach. Every one of you has knowledge, insight, understanding that others do not. You have had experiences that others have not. Share that wisdom with the people around you. Share it freely. Spread it far and wide. Don’t ever knowingly withhold it. Be willing to teach the people around you, through your words, actions, behavior – sometimes especially your behavior. People are watching, and they will learn." - - I’m curious what wisdom you offered at your Retirement Ceremony or what wisdom you may have heard at others’ Retirements. Please share in the comments. #Veterans, #Wisdom

Do you stay 20, 24, 30? More? If you've committed to making the military a career, when do you choose to get out post 20-year retirement eligibility? There's a huge difference in retiring at 20 and 30. If you're at that inflection point, here's a couple of things to consider you may not be thinking about. Ageism in hiring and employment retention are issues you'll have to contend with. (Google "USA Today article about AARP and ageism") In the military, your age tends to come with rank and inherent expectations of skills, knowledge, and experience. Once you take that uniform off, your age correlates with... age. That's it. Everything else, you're going to have to prove. New employers don't know you. And few people stay in jobs for decades in the civilian sector. Therefore having been in uniform for 30+ years ≠ being best qualified for a particular job. It's why you'll see many LinkedIn coaches harp on focusing profiles on skills, experience, education, and qualifications vs rank. I'd say the only place where rank may have direct correlation are some DoD jobs and government contractor or affiliated jobs. - Do you want to do a full career post-military? Maybe getting out at 20 is better. - Do you want to slow down after retirement? Maybe waiting till 30 is better. - Do you want to start your own business? I think that one is a toss-up. It's all about how invested you want to be. Ultimately, the one universal answer may be to leave when it stops being fun. What do you think? #ageism #veteranshelpingveterans #whatisyournumber?

I was recently asked by a colleague, “should I pursue my passions when I retire?” My response reflecting on my journey post-retirement from the Air Force: I've learned a crucial lesson to share. Many advise pursuing your passions, but I've found greater fulfillment and success in leveraging the skills I honed over my career. Focusing on what you're good at can lead to more happiness and less frustration. Passion is important, but competence and expertise open doors, build confidence, and provide a sense of accomplishment. So, as you transition to your next chapter, remember: your skills can guide you to a rewarding path. What has been your experience? #LifeAfterRetirement #CareerAdvice #VeteranWisdom

After starting my retirement journey in February, I've been pondering the question: 'What brings me joy?' Through introspection and professional development, I've found my passion lies in training, education, and development. If you know of any opportunities in these areas, whether in Tucson or virtual settings, I'd love to connect! #RetirementJourney #PassionDiscovery #TrainingAndDevelopment #TucsonOpportunities #VirtualRoles

Today marks the beginning of my last work week with the United States Marshal Service after 29 years of service and nearly 36 years in public service. As I approach the end of this chapter, I find myself surprisingly free of any anxiety or doubts. Instead, I look forward to a short work week and a retirement celebration. Stay tuned for the next chapter! 🎉 #RetirementCelebration #NewBeginnings #USMS

Reflecting on my upcoming retirement move, I've noticed how similar it is to a PCS (Permanent Change of Station). The most significant difference this time? We have the freedom to choose our destination. It's an exciting yet challenging prospect, and it's up to me to find a job in our new location to ensure a smooth transition. When you break it down, the process is quite familiar: movers will come to pack and transport our belongings, we'll secure a new place to live, and we'll have a specific date to start work. These steps echo the rhythm of every PCS we've been through. However, the main hurdle we face now is the absence of the robust military support system we've come to rely on. But reflecting on past experiences, especially those challenging PCS moves during COVID or to and from OCONUS assignments, I've realized how resilient and adaptable we've become. To all my fellow service members and families approaching retirement, remember this: take a deep breath and don’t stress. We’ve successfully navigated these waters many times before. The skills, resilience, and adaptability we've honed over the years have prepared us well for this transition. You’ve got this, and so do I. Let's embrace this new chapter with confidence and excitement! 💪✨ Until next time ✌ #TransitionTips #Retirement #MilitaryLife #NewBeginnings #Adaptability #Resilience #MilitaryTransition

BLUF: For all those considering retirement, it is likely advantageous to retire on 1 March or 1 June. I just recently heard about the "COLA Trap" otherwise known as pay inversion. As this paper explains it is actually possible to decrease your retirement pay by staying on active duty a month or two longer. https://lnkd.in/enE5hpbs