Which path?

Usually, the best way to find the yellow brick road of your life is to start out on the dusty, dirty one.

And then let yourself become so preoccupied in making the best of it, having fun, and challenging yourself that you actually stop paying attention to the path. At that point, interesting things start to happen, but you are too busy to notice the changes that are occurring in your life.

Until, one day, with another new best friend, wearing cool clothes, feeling awesome, a teeny tiny bit taller, fresh from a WOW vacation you decide you want to look for the yellow brick road and realize that the path you are on is 24 carats.

And you'll wonder for a long, long time, sipping on some exotic fruit drink, when the transformation actually took place. Life happens while you live it, not when you think about it.

10 tips to help you understand pensions

1. Get on board from the outset with your company pension
Your employer should provide you and all new workers with a ‘pension pack’ – in a printed or online format – that sets everything out in plain, jargon-free language and clearly directs how to get more information and support.

2. Read about it, then read about it again
To keep you from switching from the benefits your workplace scheme offers, you need to be reminded of the facts on a regular basis. Review your pension benefits every six months or at least once a year. Go to seminars offered by your employer on your benefits. Read and watch video's about your benefits if they are offered by your employer. 

3. Make sure the timings are right
Time your own review so it is the best time for you.  For example, avoid August, when you're more likely to be concentrating on having fun than choosing funds. And for many, December is obviously the time when long-term thinking tends to take a festive break.

4. Host financial education seminars
Go to seminars on finance, by looking at your finances holistically, you may come to realize that you may need to take a more ‘hands-on’ approach to their retirement planning. It’s all too easy to think that auto-enrolment will take care of everything, rather than considering how much is actually needed to fund a good lifestyle after work. Pension providers and other professionals should be able to help you find informative seminars and events.

5. Adopt online pensions calculation tools
Users of pension calculators say that when you can see the impact of cutting back on your total pension pot, the penny really does drop. There are lots of easy-to-use online calculators that can help you get an idea how much you might have in their pension pot when you retire – and how saving a relatively small additional amount could make a big difference down the line.

6. Make your scheme stand out
Paying in above the minimum levels is one way to set your pension apart from others. Other factors, such as online account access (perhaps alongside other savings products under a corporate platform), can also set your pension above and apart from your peers.

7. Know about the downside of opting out
You might tell yourself that you are only opting out for a short time, while you address more pressing financial needs. But because of the effects of compounding, this tactic could be more costly than you think – especially if you are a younger employee who would be missing out on many years of potential growth for the contributions you may have decided to ‘save’ to spend on other shorter-term priorities.

8. Different age groups respond to different tactics
Not everyone reading this is at the same life stage, and nor do they all have the same priorities or attitude to risk:

Younger people are more likely to be receptive to financial education. However, retirement is a long way away, so it’s important to communicate the value of getting into the habit of saving in general. Remember that your pension is part of your reward package and that you make contributions as well as your employer– why turn down ‘free money’.
If you are between 30 to 50 you are likely to be juggling some very immediate demands on their finances – from mortgages to family commitments. Remember your pension is positioned as a part of general support to help you make the most of their money.

If you are over 50 you will be more aware of the need to plan for retirement and you are likely to be concerned about the effect of volatility on your pension at this later stage. Think about your choices at age 55+, and at the same time highlight the opportunity you still have to make changes to your investments or level of contributions. 

9. Appeal to your self-interest
Sometimes, telling yourself a few straight facts is the best way to get yourself engaged more fully with your pension. Remind yourself that:

Employers put money in on your behalf. If you aren’t in the pension you won’t get the extra money. It’s your money, not the employers. What goes in is yours, what comes out is yours.

Finally, remind yourself of what you will get if you only rely on the Canada Pension or state or Federal pension if you don't have your own pension.  Would you want to live on that?

Visiting a person with Dementia

How to make your visit a great source of support for someone living with Alzheimer’s or another dementia.

“Conversing, engaging, digging from the past and incorporating it into a conversation is one of the best brain exercises you can get.  The sad part is that there is a good chance the person won’t remember you, your visit, or the conversations you had, but they will remember how it made them feel.  Even if you’re just smiling and holding hands, seniors benefit from that on so many levels. When my wife had her brain aneurysm and she was in recovery I saw her every day, and I think it helped her recovery.

Be prepared
Speak to team members or family to find out when your friend will be most cognitively alert: it could be over a mealtime or during an activity they enjoy. Arrive with conversation topics or old stories supported by mementoes, such as photos, an old college jacket—whatever connects you. Read about dementia in advance, so you have a better understanding of what to expect from someone with age-related brain changes.

Focus on communication
Pick a quiet place to meet to minimize noise and distractions. Use simple sentences, give the person time to respond and don’t hesitate to prompt a senior by repeating what you said. If your friend goes off on a tangent, try to jump on board their train of thought instead of bringing them back to yours.

Plan for behavioural changes
Just as no two people are alike, no two seniors with dementia will behave exactly the same. Some may act giddy, flirty, playful, elated, confused, scared, childlike, unmotivated, anxious, sad or distant. You may see the person crying, pacing, fidgeting or acting like there’s a pressing need to go somewhere or do something. Don’t feel insulted by unusual behaviours, such as if you’ve come all this way and your loved one is talking about leaving (exit-seeking can be common). If you’re nervous, check in with their care team upon to find out if there’s anything you need to know about challenging behaviours, and how you might handle any that arise.

Time to connect
Engage in an activity or conversation that taps into your friend’s past. It’s helpful for seniors with Alzheimer’s or related dementia to have someone with whom to reminisce and share memories. Using touch and nonverbal reassurances can help make conversations more interactive and meaningful. From a cognitive perspective, your visit is helping nurture and strengthen the brain.

The search for the real truth is an endless journey

TOP 5 FACT-CHECKING RESOURCES

The search for factual information is endless in the digital age. Here are five fact-checking resources I rely on to help tackle rumours and misinformation.

SNOPES

Snopes. com investigates all types of information online. including urban legends. myths and rumours.

POLITIFACT

PolitiFact uses the Truth-O-Meter “to evaluate statements made by elected officials, political, candidates, activists, and more.

FACTCHECK.ORG

Factcheck.org seeks to combine aspects of both journalism and scholarship to provide accurate information to media consumers.

AMERICAN PRESS INSTITUTE

The American Press Institutes new project provides vetted resources for fact-checkers and journalists.

WASHINGTON POST FACT CHECKER

Journalist Glenn Kessler responds to questions from the public and rates statements on a scale from one to four "Pinocchio’s."