In Chapter 11 of Section 16 Secrets, I discuss the importance of retiring “to” something, not “from” something. 

 

For some executive retirees volunteering is high on their list, but where do you find opportunities that might interest you?

 

When people think of volunteering in retirement, they might imagine serving food at a local soup kitchen or swinging a hammer to build a Habitat for Humanity home. Those positions are popular ways to give back to communities, but there are additional volunteer opportunities available for retired executives.

 

Charities need the same strategic planning, marketing, finance, and managerial assistance as for-profit organizations. It can be challenging for nonprofits to hire executive talent for these positions because they must compete with pay packages offered in the for-profit world. Retired Section 16 officers can use their knowledge, skills, and executive experience to immediately impact many nonprofit organizations as a volunteer.

 

A retired chief financial officer could work with the charity’s accounting department. A former chief marketing officer could assist with advertising campaigns for new donors. A retiree from a corporate legal department could review contracts or negotiate leases.

 

Sometimes retirees think they are “too old” to be attractive to a charity, but with age comes experience. Formal education can give anyone knowledge regardless of age, but sometimes you need real-world experience to turn knowledge into wisdom.

You may choose to highlight other things like courses or programs or to share special features about your business that you want to promote.