Wall Street Journal

MARC AGRONIN: Once upon a time the great American psychiatrist Gene Cohen made an interesting discovery while perusing the extraordinary works of 20 of the greatest African-American folk artists from 1930 to 1980 at an exhibition at the Corcoran Gallery of Art in Washington DC: 80{9b8438f5bc691300781eae7abc85395c1261bdad65db9476774cd2cf5af6cbf6} of … [Read more...] about How to Find Your Passion Later in Life

MARC AGRONIN:  The unannounced arrival of 40 large boxes to my home several years ago heralded my parent’s downsizing of their home. Eager to shield my then-pregnant wife from the complete archival record of my childhood (along with countless bric-a-brac I had amassed in my former years), I stealthily stowed the legion of boxes away in the corner … [Read more...] about Three Secrets to a Happier Downsizing

MARC AGRONIN: I see the age wave in my office every day since more and more patients are in their late 80s and 90s. They are typically sociable individuals with many enduring interests who are wholly reliant upon children or aides to coordinate their schedules and provide transportation for appointments and activities. Without adequate resources, … [Read more...] about Why the Elderly Need Virtual Doctor Visits

MARC AGRONIN: “Doc – have you heard the news about this amazing new jellyfish extract?” My patient and her son looked at me with wide-eyed excitement, confident that they had discovered a new elixir from the Fountain of Youth. How could their own doctor not know about this new breakthrough in memory enhancement, they wondered. And to prove their … [Read more...] about Seniors: Stop Wasting Your Money on Vitamins

MARC AGRONIN: Tom and Beverly were both optimistic and foolish. They were incredibly excited about Tom’s retirement from teaching and Beverly’s retirement from nursing because they could spend more time pursuing their lifelong loves of skiing and hiking. They sold their home and moved to a small community in the rural Northeast, anticipating it to … [Read more...] about The Health-Care Mistake Retirees Make When Relocating

MARC AGRONIN:  “And that’s the way it is . . .” These are fitting words for a retirement party, declaring the actuality of the ending career, tinged with a degree of mournful resignation. These words also represent the byline of my retirement role model—Walter Cronkite, one of America’s most enduring icons who served for 19 years as the anchorman … [Read more...] about Walter Cronkite: My Retirement Role Model

What’s the biggest mistake people make when it comes to starting a second career? MARC AGRONIN: Blacksmith, cobbler and travel agent: What do these jobs have in common? On the one hand, all three jobs appear to be obsolete. But horses and people still need shoes repaired, and people still need help making travel plans. These jobs have not … [Read more...] about Don’t Start a New Career That Looks Like Your Old One

What’s the best way to forge a new identity after leaving the workforce? MARC AGRONIN: Here is a riddle: How does one change while staying the same? Longitudinal research on our core personality traits indicates that we remain largely the same people over time. Yet if anyone would compare their teenage and middle-age selves with respect to how … [Read more...] about What to Change About Yourself in Retirement. And What Not To.

What’s the hardest part about working with younger employees, and what’s the best way to deal with it? MARC AGRONIN: Same restaurant chain, different locations: In location No. 1, my sandwich arrived after an unusually long wait, looking like someone had juggled its contents in the air a few times before letting them flop haphazardly askew on the … [Read more...] about Why Acting Younger Is a Mistake at Work

What’s the biggest source of friction between spouses/partners in later life? MARC AGRONIN: Retirement brings the certainty of spending a lot more time eyeball to eyeball with your spouse or partner. Previously established household routines will be disrupted as you adjust to being home with a lot more time on your hands. Changing attitudes, … [Read more...] about Why Spouses Will Likely Clash in Retirement