Teacher Retirement Gift

Archive for the ‘Retirement’ Category

Let me go out on a limb here and quickly say that for many if not most of us, the idea of an inground swimming pool on our property is simply out of reach!

And while it is common to think that the alternative to the ingrounds would and could only be those cheap 4 foot fiberglass monstrosities, I can tell you that there have been stunning advances in above ground inflatable pools recently that you just have to see!

A word of warning is needed here. While inflatable pools do not have the mystique of the concrete inset pools, they are equally as dangerous. You MUST pay SPECIAL ATTENTION to young ones when you purchase your new inflatable.

Too often, someone will purchase a new inflatable pool and assume because of the lower price points that there is less of a chance of something that potentially go wrong. WRONG. There are now wonderful covers for inflatable pools and ladders that are easily broken down. Caution will always be your guide once you purchase your inflatable…and knowing that needs to be a top priority.

Gorgeous new designs that feature tear resistant sides and bottoms has allowed the manufacturers to get very bold. The newest designs in the inflatable world all take their cues from the most durable materials on the market. Namely DuPont and others who created the Tyvek house siding materials has been one of the manufacturers that the inflatable pool manufacturers have begun to pattern their materials in mirror of.

It’s quite obvious that a tear in an above ground inflatable pool is a disaster, so the manufacturers put design second and construction first.

Very smart. And the industry is on a roll like never before. Whether because of the economy or because of the advances in design, the makers of the above ground inflatable pool are suddenly very much in the spotlight…right where they like it.

The Ask, The Task

The problem and the hassle of finding the right retirement gift haunt even the most capable of gift givers. For one, gifts for the retiree have to be appropriate. It also has to be timely and with meaning. It even gets more complicated if the one who will be giving does not have any idea on what to give in the first place. In addition to that, the place on where to get the item also pose a problem as to instances when the supply or the item is out of stock and nowhere to be found in the local neighborhood.

Actual Mall

The most common option for any retirement gift hunter is to head to the nearest boutique, novelty store, or have them both in a mall. The local mall is perhaps the most practical place to find stuff to be bought as retirement gifts. In a good sized mall, merchandise as well as shops for customization may be found. Furthermore, there is a good chance to find something worth buying as a retirement gift here due to the rate of merchants and sellers to actually sell their wares here because of the high volume of potential buyers.

Another good thing about a mall is that one gets to have the convenience of walking around the well ventilated and air conditioned construct. Also, the mall is a secure place to wander about without worrying about bad elements.

Though a bazaar is also a good place to find for gifts, the inconvenience of shopping in an open setting and hotter environment may be of concern.

Virtual Mall

With the modern technological advancement in telecommunications and processing, browsing and windows shopping has been made possible with the internet. One may conveniently browse the different items that are available online without having to leave the house. Anyone can now go online and seek for any item that may have been conceived by anyone and marketed commercially and virtually.

This method of browsing and shopping online is a good alternative than manually wasting time driving to the mall and getting caught up in the long line at the atm machine, only to find out that the machine has just gone offline. Even if you have credit cards to use in the actual mall, these same pieces of plastic cards may be used in online transactions should you finally decide on what to get as a retirement gift.

Just be wary of keeping your credit card details secure by checking the credibility of the online store. Otherwise, you may end up throwing away good money for a non existent retirement gift.

Get Lost, Find More

For those who have all the time in the world to go out and explore what the world has to offer as exotic and unique gifts which may be customized and be made personal, one unorthodox method of finding gifts would be to just get lost in a neighboring town or city and check their wares there. Who knows what item you may stumble upon and find it interesting enough to give as a retirement gift. Furthermore, you may find some other useful stuff for yourself too.

The secret to find retirement gifts is a combination of luck, time, and a well placed order on something which you have set your eyes upon.

Make It Personal ...

Retirement gifts are part of a global tradition for the different industries to acknowledge the service of any worker or personnel, a company official, employee, or perhaps even a trustee. It is a way of showing a career person his worth and acknowledging what he has done for the maintenance of the company. It is also an added bonus for employees to work hard to be able to stay in the company for a longer period of time.

Companies and colleagues alike give out retirement gifts as a final commemoration of someone’s work portfolio. Nevertheless, the kind of retirement gifts is not limited by anything, but is instead flexible to be as unique as possible. Unique retirement gifts are anything but personally made or crafted.

Uniqueness Equals Non Conformity

For one, uniqueness of such a retirement gift should be considered as not commonly acquired in the commercial market, ordered from a third party manufacturing agency, or given to any other retiree from previous and even present retirement parties in an institution.

A unique retirement gift should be the first item of its kind in terms of tag, item type, occurrence of being given, or award. Furthermore, being unique in the simplest sense, the retirement gift should also exude some sort of distinguished prestige for a specific accomplishment of service. This would not only allow the retiree to personally claim that such a gift was meant for only one, but also raise self esteem for the self as well as others as they work hard to achieve such recognition.

In line with recognition, this is one of the most probable reasons for creating a unique retirement gift. A personally crafted gift makes it gain an identity that it has been crafted not by any commercial means but with the individual’s effort and passion in going through the trouble of making one.

Most probably, it may not be as extravagant as a car or a golf club, or anything of that sort which would require such complex machinery and equipment to create, but personally crafted unique retirement gifts could be anything, given the proper resources. Ever wonder why limited-edition, and order-based cars are so expensive and valuable? It is because these cars were crafted not in the industrial assembly line but are custom built, which adds up to the aesthetic and face value.

Personal Touch

What makes unique retirement gifts nicer and more valuable than any other extravagant commercial gifts is the personal touch. Even a kid who has no idea of such extravagance and complexity of creating lavish gifts or even acquiring them could still create a simple gift, by his own means, and present it as a retirement gift.

It never is limited by the sole occasion alone. Retirement gifts are classified as such only because it speaks of an event of a worker that he is formally stepping down from work. The gift’s essence in itself is pure and simple in the sense that it is a thing worth keeping. Nonetheless, unique retirement gifts is a combination of a pure intention to acknowledge someone’s work service and the parting of something worth keeping.

Uniqueness is only limited by the imagination. Even still, once a person has started to think of an idea of what to give a retiree by heart has already started to imbibe a personal touch to the unique retirement gift.

The working person would sooner or later have to step down on the given task that he or she has been accustomed to. The work that has evolved into a job and eventually blossomed into a career became a part of the working person’s lifestyle. Definitely, when that fateful day of ceasing the intended work arrives, the person would at least want to have something memorable to take home and be a reminder of all the years that passed. Retirement gifts would be the perfect thing to have. This would definitely be more than just money’s worth.

Overview

There are many types of retirement gifts which reflect the manner of career the retiring person has experienced. These are then categorized in different manners according to the characteristic of its presentation.

A way to categorize retirement gifts is the industry from which the retiree came from.

May it be bad or good, the affinity of a retirement gift would be much more valuable if the gift itself is a manifestation of the work that was rendered service. For example, retiring army personnel would probably want to keep something which is related to the army. A doctor who is about to formally end his practice in the medical profession would most likely want to have a recognition party or perhaps a medically related thing with his name engraved on it to let everyone know that he was once part of the medical practice profession.

A retirement gift comes in two categories: A thing or something non tangible. The former may be a memento, memorabilia, plaque of recognition, trophy, or any other thing which may be kept and be shown to others to signify and indicate the retiree’s service to a specific business endeavor. The latter is more of a one time event, but still eternal nonetheless such as a commemorative party, celebration or public salutation to let everyone know of the finished task. A combination of both would actually be better to fully complete the acknowledgement of a person’s service and thus would make that person feel at worth.

Retirement gifts could also be categorized either as commercial or personal. Most would probably think that a personally created retirement gift would be more memorable and valuable, but a commercially acquired or created retirement gift would also hold the same amount of sentimental value to the retiree. In this case, commercial retirement gift such as pre-set parties or merchandise like a watch or the like could be imparted with the same amount of value by engraving the identity of the retiree onto it. The manner of “personalizing” a retirement gift transforms a commercially created gift into a personal one.

 
The Value

Retirement gifts should not be expensive though as the value is not equated to the amount of money that was spent in allowing it to manifest. The important thing in giving out retirement gifts is the amount of love and care that was put into getting it. Even if it would just be a small token or a simple party, the manner of how it would be presented is much more heartfelt.

Besides, the retirement gift’s effect on the retiree’s self esteem will not end after the actual presentation. As long as the retirement gift is remembered, all the work experience and the value to which it was done throughout the years will keep the retiree summoned up and eternally reminisced.

Imagine this: you find yourself sitting snugly in the back of a black cab in London, winding towards an unknown location. And when do you get to that secret workshop, the place where luxury watch-manufacturer Richemont is tweaking the last bits of their famed watches which are worth tens of thousands of pounds, each synthesized from the most exclusive and expensive materials available.

Secret tours like this are usually made for VIPs, but if you can stomach the costs that come with it, then this can make one of the best retirement gifts you can give.

Has anyone ever wondered how Dunhill cigarettes are blended or how Maserati designs their vehicles? With the right connections and ample amount of moolah, then one can get these once in a lifetime opportunities.

Why Expensive Tours?

Touring the secret workshops and factories of fabled brands like Omega and Aston Martin is simply a wonderful trip to the halls of history and culture. These brands always carry this certain regal quality to them, and getting to know the men and women behind them and how they share the founder’s vision and emotions when creating these masterpieces are simply priceless.

Nothing astounds man more than the feeling of discovery and appreciation. Witnessing how thousands of little pieces form together a luxurious watch that is precise in it’s telling of time and flirtatious in its aura is simply a breath-taking experience. The fact that you know something that most people don’t know, where the feeling of exclusivity simply takes one over is simply irreplaceable. Basically, it would make anyone feel privileged and special. That is the feeling one will find in these tours, and nothing else can match up to that.

Other Tours

If these kinds of tours are simply too hard on the bank account, then one can opt for tours in the traditional sense: trips to the Alpine or a cross-country odyssey in Europe. An example is the Tour de Mont Blanc, which a classic alpine route and one of the world’s most famed walks. It traverses the highest mountain in Western Europe and it also passes through France, Italy and Switzerland, all of which share the Mont Blanc Massif.

It isn’t entirely demanding, involving mainly moderate hiking through alpine villages and magnificent valleys. Not only that, one also has opportunity to experience the culture of the place, savoring the best food and wines of the region in commonplace alpine inns.

The treks last for about two weeks, starting from Geneva and ending in Chamonix. This is the kind of tour that most people never venture in, and giving a ticket to this trip will reawaken the adventurer in everyone, seeing the sights and sounds of only the best in Europe while feeling literally the breath of the world in the Alpines.

Conclusion

Whatever your choice for the perfect tour for the retiree, make sure it astounds him/her while keeping your budget in check. Yes, retirement gifts must be the best they possibly can, but it doesn’t mean that you’ll kill yourself for their happiness. It may be as simple as a ticket to European countries, where they can go to art galleries strategically placed in key cities.

There they can still appreciate the history humankind has built for himself.

Most people approach retirement in a gloomy countenance. They approach it as if it is a surrender to the hands fate and debilitation of the body. So it is important that one will help them realize that it is something to be accepted since it is an inevitable stage in one’s life. But how can one do that? It’s simple: poke fun at retirement.
  
Retirement jokes, like ones said on speeches are popular. Speeches tend to become emotional that it hinges every one in the room in a state of gloom and sympathy. But one can raise the bar in retirement jokes (without insulting the retiree, of course).

Examples
  
In addition to talking about the wonderful moments the speaker has shared with the retiree, he/she can add something that will lighten up the atmosphere. One may give a stone slab, which has inscriptions on it, “in advance”. Friends may also joke and call the retiree “grandfather” whenever the latter tries to reprimand the former in a conversation can also help lighten the mood. But don’t overdo it, of course.
 
Other gags that might be of interest is a wig with an unusual color like pink or purple, a follow up item to the joke that he may need a wig in the future. If he, in an inexplicable moment, declines it, say: “okay, then wear a paper bag instead if you get bald”. Always be ready whenever jokes don’t succeed; so keep those backup jokes ready!
  
Believe it or not, some service providers also write and sell personalized retirement speeches with witty jokes after understanding the personality and interests of the retiree. These companies usually add jokes about the retiree’s profession.
  
If one cannot find enough retirement jokes, a little visit to the bookstore can help a great deal. There are joke books that cover a wide range of topics, one of which is retirement. A little scan here and there will help inspire the reader if he/she isn’t the natural comedian. These may also be good retirement gifts as well, helping the retiree have a good laugh in one of those boring Tuesday afternoons.
  
There are also a lot of websites available on the net that provide a lot of jokes and free retirement e-books like retirement-quotes.com. The e-books that they have range from the “200 best things said about retirement” to “retirement wisdom you won’t get from your financial advisor”.

Conclusion
 
There is a lot of leeway one has on inserting jokes in a retirement party. If you know someone who is coming near to retirement, you can send an email or two which has retirement quotes like “retirement is when everyday is Saturday” and “retirement: goodbye tension, hello pension!” It is a good gesture and gives off the sense that you know what the future retiree is going through. Again, keep the retiree (future or not) off tension as much as possible and make him/her anticipate retirement with smile and not with a sigh as much as possible.
 
And when the retirement party does come, keep the same lighthearted approach, inserting jokes here and there and probably some gags like the ones said above. Not only will the retiree will be less fussy about retirement, he/she will focus more about the people who kept him happy on that bittersweet day, especially the one who gave him that weird pink wig.

Most working women look forward to this day, when their superhuman endeavors come to a close. Days of juggling both work and being a good mother takes a toll on them. And most sons and daughters will always look up to them and wonder: “how in the world did they make it through?” With that said, a retirement gift should be in place for them. Something that rewards all the decades of hard work and it should be with that hint of sentimentality that makes it utterly priceless.

Tips

When it comes to gifts, women, of course, want something different from what men receive. They’re not into sports since it usually disrupts their delicate yet valuable nature. They want to be pampered rather then beaten up, so to speak.

A gift that fulfills this basic requirement is a yearlong membership to a spa. Those mesmerizing foot massages and that wonderful and endless feeling of bliss can already make the retiree jump for joy. Another is a gift basket. Let her rekindle her love affair with food and baking with AllOccasionBasketts.com’s selections that only feature the best quality apples, almonds, pears and a host of other fruits that sell for merely $90. You may also opt for their coffee basket that has two kinds of creamers, stir spoons and it also has tea cookies and bonbons.

You can also opt for the universal weakness of women: chocolate. In the internet, chocolat.com offers personalized mahogany boxes which you may engrave with anything you want and of course, has wonderful Swiss chocolates which may be handcrafted into anything that seems appropriate (the retiree’s favorite flower, perhaps?)

If you want the retiree to feel truly pampered, you may give her a roundtrip ticket across the world, letting her experience the rich cultures of other nations while staying in one of the most luxurious hotels in the world. And don’t forget the shopping opportunities!

One may also opt for jewelry, but that’s probably the most uninspired gift one could give, right?

Don’t Forget the Children

But a woman cannot fully embrace retirement if there is no assurance if her children’s financial future isn’t secure. As a son or daughter, make sure you bring that off her back because nothing worries a mother more than her children having a tough time. So, you may give all the wonderful things for her but don’t forget that your happiness is what she keeps thinking about. Make sure that you’re already having the time of your life and there’s simply nothing for her to worry about.

Conclusion

Unlike men, there are more gifts one can think of to make the woman retiree as pleased as possible. It all hinges on one theme: pamper her and make her feel privileged. Douse her with luxury; offer her only the best. These are the things one must keep in mind when giving a retirement gift for a woman.

One must remember that the feeling of love and privilege is the dream of every supermom. So when retirement finally comes for her, when all the sacrifices she did for her children and all the hard work she has done to secure the family’s finances, it should be a time when she begins to embrace and taste the best life can give.

There are tons of options you can take. You may give a ticket to the world or a lifetime membership to a spa. Whatever it is, make sure it takes her giggle like an innocent little girl once again.

There is a common notion that golf is a common past time and sport of big shot entrepreneurs and businessmen. It also has a notion of being an exclusively elite sport, and not accessible by regular blue collared employees. However, this is not the real case as modernization and commercialization has brought these so called elite sports into the hands of the common worker.

This is because there need not be a sophisticated equipment to be acquired to make this happen. Unlike big game fishing and polo which needs a lot of resources to acquire a boat and a horse respectively, golfers just require a set of golf clubs, which are affordable. With this in mind, retirement gifts for golfers and aspiring ones are easier thought of.

Personal

Making retirement gifts in relation to golf personal is quite an easy task as you could easily accessorize the golfing equipment with items such as home made golf club pouches, and caddy covers. These can be crafted by knitting (that is if you are into knitting) or any similar craftsmanship requiring different materials.

Another idea is to tap into the fashion aspect of golfing which is to focus on the things worn by a golfer. You may even start setting a new trend in golfing apparel just by a good imagination and a timely combination of clothing design for your retiree.

The Usual

The most common and usual method of getting a retirement gift for golfers is to hop on to the nearest sports shop and get your retiree the things sold there. It may sound a little impersonal to just get the retiree a commercially sold gift but then this may prove really useful if the retiree is still starting to become a golfer. Definitely you would want to get him a golf club set first of all as this is the basic requirement to be able to play golf.

Furthermore, you may find what other things and accessories your retiree golfer may still need, and perhaps also contribute to your imaginative side on what things can be made to enhance the golfing equipment he may already have.

The commercially made golfing equipment is also a safe bet to acquire if you would want to make your retiree feel good and professional by having a named set of clubs, making him like a pro.

Gagged and Loaded

The fun part of choosing to give a gag gift instead is the novelty of such items to be created out of it. It also adds up to the lighter side of playing golf, have the golfer catch a few smirks and funny side comments from colleagues as they too are influenced and humored.

The gag gifts should be taken quite carefully as it may be a sensitive matter for some, especially those who are still starting out as newbie players. Gags as gifts in relation to golfing might be negatively taken and discourage or at least hinder their learning and progress as they are disturbed by the idea emphasized by the gag or joke given to them.

As for the veteran players who are already well adapted to the game, placement of a good gag gift on their retirement day would be quite lightening on their part as they would see golfing not necessarily as a way to relieve stress but to actually just have some fun and perhaps a little competition to whet the winning urge of an individual.

Retirement gifts for golfers are just a simple way to make your golfer friend enjoy life after career.

For the elite people in the business industry, who have probably tasted the finer things in life, personalization is the key for the perfect retirement gift. It must be something that lets them remember their legacy in the corporation, where they had grinded it out for decades to get into the position of their dreams.

It must be related to their interests, where after successful deals and spot-on investments, where they relish in those activities that make them happy and fully human again. These two things are basic and necessary to help the former executives remember how they lived their lives, and of course, the one who thoughtfully gave it.

For the golfer

Nothing says leisure and passion more than the sport, golf. The demand of golf clubs, gloves and the like has soared over the years due to the advent of new industries like hedge fund investing and business solutions. More businesspeople simply mean more golfers since golf is the sport where most of them bond and get to know more about each other.  Another evidence of which is that golf courses are becoming more commonplace in rising economies like China, where Mission Hills and many others are frequently advertised in sporting channels.

All it takes is some creativity. One can put their company logo, family seal or monogram in golf balls, markers, tees and golf bags to exude that certain kind of privilege only they can taste. And for those who love to bring along friends in the golf course, nothing says camaraderie more than personalized golf vests for the group of friends!

Also, in memorable tournaments with other golfers, a miniature personalized scoreboard print will also help bring out memories as much as photos do. With podium finishes and ranks immortalized, it will conjure up the spirit of competition and help the golfer (and other participants) again as if they’re playing and enjoying the sport right now.

Recreational Sports

Some executives spend their free time in casinos, where they flaunt their wealth and win more on the way. So to speak, such people live life on the fast lane, gaining and losing a lot as they go. For the perfect gift for these kinds of people, there should be items that represent his/her lifestyle, like a cigar personally blended or a cigar case and cutter with monograms. A customized card deck with logos that represent the retiree’s trade/industry can also be done for them.

One can also go for the classic expensive wine or champagne, where the taste of which reminds one, with its incomparable sparkle, of the good life. A 1787 Chateau Lafite, Cristal Brut and Clos du Mensil are on this list.

Letting these type of people taste privilege is integral to the perfect retirement gift for them. And cigar cases with monograms and expensive alcohol go a long way.

Conclusion

Nothing else reminds them of themselves and their lifestyles more than personalized items and things that represent their way of life. Giving these kinds of gifts to retiring executives hits it right on the spot; they should live their golden years the way they want it to be. And luxury and personalization will help you find the best retirement gift for them.

Everyone knows that the perfect retirement gift to give to oneself is a formidable retirement plan. Nowadays, the American market is struggling with the housing bubble and is only able to get meager gains; this means that stocks are being valued less than one wants it to be. One may look towards high-risk investments like oil-well partnerships, direct investments and foreign currency ETFs to get the superior gains to offset the weak gains of traditional investments.

And if deep inside, you’re a daredevil, you may venture into hedge funds target to retirement investors or mutual funds that make use of hedge fund strategies to help future retirees generate sufficient income come 65.

But given the falling market and the benefits (and huge risks) that these kinds of investments present, should one venture into these? Before we answer that question, let’s look deeper in the world of these “sophisticated” investments.

The Roller-Coaster World of Hedge-Funds

If you’ve only read about the good side of hedge funds, you’ve probably heard about the superstar investors behind them that get paid huge sums by clients and assure superior gains in their investments in return, regardless if stock prices are rising or falling.

But the problem is, finding these superstars is a huge issue, since consistent performance isn’t assured, given the complexity of the investing world. Yes, it may contribute a lot from the outset, but the chances of continued returns are unlikely. Also, hedge funds are very unreliable in the sense that they lag behind others in terms of “survivorship bias”, which means that hedge fund database don’t include the returns of business that have flamed out or have simply stopped posting results.

One should also consider the great difficulty in handling these kind of funds. Great timing is needed especially in ETFs that let you buy and sell foreign currencies, which helps you profit from ups and downs in the market. This entails extensive reading of events in other countries and finding one that has high currency volatility in order to get the best return possible.

High Costs

You probably haven’t heard about the costs of being a hedge fund owner. These funds usually charge around 1 to 2 percent of assets plus 20 percent or more from profits in these funds.  If you spend on a fund that spreads its assets on numerous hedge funds, you’ll also pay fees for each hedge fund involved. This system of charging clients simply decreases the always-hyped returns that hedge funds give.

Given the huge fixed costs of these investments, it is likely that one day you might find yourself with big losses from investing too much on these. So to speak, this might damage your retirement than fully enhance it.

Stick to the Basics

With all the problems and costs associated with these kinds of investments, it is still better to ignore their tempting call and stick to mutual funds. Of course, they pay lower fees compared to the astronomical ones in the carnival-esque world of high-risk investing. Yes, these “basic” investments still involve risk, but tracking corporations is way easier than keeping watch of foreign currencies and economies.

In the long run, the seemingly little gains that you get from these simple investments may pile up into something that’s enough to spend your final years in life with a Cristal in hand.