Take a Tip From Our Success Stories – HOOPP Retirees

Retirement may not be around the corner for you, and therefore, not top of mind. According to members like you who have since retired, it should be!

HOOPP's been talking to retirees to find out the best advice they'd received prior to retiring, and what they wished they'd known, so we could share their insights with you.

"Ten months before retiring, I wondered if I was doing the right thing. Once I retired, it did not take me long to realize that I was ready. I have never looked back. A word of advice, keep contributing to your pension plan, do it as soon as you can. If you can buy back years of service, do it; it was worth it for me. I have the financial freedom to do what I want to do; travel and get out of the cold during the winters." Madeleine Boznar

"My biggest fear was the financial aspect. My advice is to clear your debts before you retire, and think long and deeply about how you are going to fill your time. I get up with a smile on my face every morning. I have what I wanted: time for sewing, music and travel." Tess Lawrence

"I thank my lucky stars every day that it was mandatory that I pay into HOOPP. Otherwise, I am sure I would never have saved for my retirement. We made drastic lifestyle changes when we retired. We sold our house in London, sold off all our furniture and most possessions and bought a house trailer to live in. We now live on Lake Huron in the summer (May to October) and take the house trailer to Florida and live there from November to April. We have been doing this for three years now and love it." Sandy Rumming

To sum it all up, it's never too early to start thinking about retirement. Take it from those who have!

January 2008