| Not having enough money for a comfortable | | | | home as a "teleworker" for a few days a week. |
| retirement tops thelist of financial concerns among | | | | Still others have begun their private practice by |
| aging Americans, according toa recent Gallup Poll. It | | | | moonlighting |
| even outweighs peoples' worries abouthaving a | | | | - doing a few projects for other clients on the side |
| serious illness or accident. | | | | at night oron weekends in the year leading up to |
| With statistics showing that Americans can expect to | | | | their departure, andbuilding up a clientele that way. |
| live 20 ormore years after reaching retirement age | | | | Provided such work isn'tprohibited by your full-time |
| and our longevitycontinuing to inch upward, these | | | | employment contract, it's anothersmart way to get |
| fears could be well founded. | | | | started. |
| Three out of 10 American workers haven't saved at | | | | Enjoy The freedom |
| all forretirement, and among those who do, many | | | | Being your own boss means you get to choose how |
| have not savedenough, according to another study. | | | | hard youwork and how much you are compensated. |
| The study showed thatthree out of 10 workers age | | | | If you want to earnextra cash for an upcoming trip |
| 55 or older have saved lessthan $25,000. | | | | or purchase, you can work a fewextra hours per |
| Many of us plan to work past the normal retirement | | | | week or take an extra project. If you want to |
| age. | | | | takefour weeks off and visit friends in Florida, simply |
| But at this rate, we may not have a choice. Some of | | | | plan ahead,keep your clients informed, and off you |
| us inthe Baby Boom generation can expect to work | | | | go. |
| beyondage 65, whether we want to or not. | | | | Perhaps that's why people over 50 are much more |
| There is an alternative to having to work full-time | | | | likelyto be self-employed, according to a study |
| until we'rein a wheelchair. It's also a smart choice as | | | | commissionedby the American Association of Retired |
| we get pastage 50 and want to slow down a bit, but | | | | Persons (AARP). |
| still stay active andstimulated. And that's to gradually | | | | The study showed that 16 percent of people over |
| make the transition fromworking full-time as an | | | | 50 wereself-employed, compared with 10 percent of |
| employee to being in business forourselves on a | | | | the generalworkforce. Plus one-third of self-employed |
| contract or per-project basis. By planning ahead,you | | | | seniors werefirst-time entrepreneurs who began their |
| can gradually turn your job skills into a | | | | business after turning |
| "microbusiness"while you are still employed. | | | | 50 and spending many years working for other |
| If you have worked in a specific industry for 10, 15 | | | | people. |
| or moreyears, you are ideally suited for this type of | | | | Being in business for yourself... especially after a |
| transition. Youcan set up a home office in a spare | | | | lifetimeof being an employee for a larger |
| bedroom of your home,get the equipment you need | | | | organization... is the nextbest thing to being financially |
| and gradually establishyour business. | | | | independent while stillearning a living. |
| When the time comes and you want to make the | | | | You can scale back your hours worked per week to |
| change,you can do it on your own terms - often by | | | | ease intoretirement. Or work in bursts of activity to |
| negotiating acontract with your existing employers | | | | earn extra moneyfor special purchases or travel. And |
| for 50 percent of yourtime. There are other ways to | | | | the best part is... it oftendoesn't even feel like "work" |
| make the change, such asnegotiating with your | | | | anymore. |
| employer for a reduced work week,or working from | | | | |