Retirement: Charting Your Plan

Retirement: Charting Your Plan
Workshop Presents Holistic View of Retirement

While Steve Guttormson and Nancy Swenson of Fergus Falls savor the idea of their future retirement together, it comes with a continually dripping dose of anxiety.

“Of course, we keep wondering if we’ve saved enough,” Guttormson said. “We also try to imagine the next 25 to 30 years wondering how we’ll spend our time and if we’ll stay healthy enough to do the things we dream of doing.”
It’s that anxiety that led Guttormson, marketing and development director at PioneerCare, to Mary Matteson, director of Fergus Falls Community Education, to collaborate on a workshop presenting a holistic approach to retirement planning. “Retirement: Charting Your Plan” will be held on Wednesday, April 19 from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM at the Roosevelt Education Center in Fergus Falls.

“Others must have some of the same questions,” said Matteson, “so it seems a well-focused workshop is in order.”
Matteson and Guttormson recruited a slate of presenters to look at emotional wellness, social connectedness, reinventing personal roles to benefit the community, as well as the financial realities of retirement. 

The Main Session

Attendees will have the chance to grab a bite before sitting down to a presentation by Tim Stauffer, a regional vice president for a financial services provider, and Kurt Nygaard, a local financial advisor. The duo will help participants explore financial models related to the basics of financing retirement. Attendees will discover the impact of choosing their retirement date, its effect on social security benefits, and how part-time work can impact a person’s long-term financial position.

Breakout Sessions

Pursuing New or Extended Paths: A panel of community members who use their talent and experience in new work or creative volunteer roles will provide real-life examples of community engagement. Panel members include John Sethre, Patti Fandrich, Joyce Nerdahl, Dennis Bowman, and Jesse Thorstad.

Getting Connected: Knowing what local resources are available will give participants the tools to keep engaged in our community. Mindi Larson of Perham Health will introduce attendees to Elevate OTC, a non-profit program that curates opportunities for Otter Tail County adults to live a social, fulfilled life at any age.

Managing Emotional Wellness Through Uncertainty: Kathleen Schara of Lakeland Mental Health Center will lead conversation about managing emotional wellness through uncertainty. Retirement decisions can be mentally and emotionally overwhelming. The act of retirement may trigger a sense of loss. Participants will learn to recognize these feelings and identify options to manage response.

Financial Realities – a Deeper Dive: Finally, Stauffer and Nygaard will join Melissa Dahl, Otter Tail County’s coordinator on aging, to help participants take a deeper dive into their own financial plans. Attendees are invited to have their own budget numbers in mind to get a better picture of their financial future and learn how various options may affect long-term goals.

The workshop is a collaboration among Fergus Falls Community Education, PioneerCare, and Otter Tail County and is not intended to sell services from specific providers. While admission is free, those interested should reserve a spot by calling Fergus Falls Community Education at 218-998-0544, ext. 9200.