Forget the typical tie or scarf for the holidays and give a meaningful gift for parents, boomers and adult children. This holiday season, why not get creative and give your loved ones the gift of a happy retirement?  Instead of the traditional scarf and tie, the perfect gift for anyone entering or thinking about this stage of life is Diane Burman’s and Donald Strauss’s new book, CUSTOMIZE…don’t minimize…YOUR RETIREMENT©.

This new guide on how to map out what to do in retirement is the most  meaningful gift for anyone who has not yet thought about what they want to be doing on a day-to-day basis when they retire.  This workbook-style guidebook is customized for the nearly 73 million  Boomers about to enter or already starting retirement and could be the best gift they get this year.

“Most individuals entering retirement are surprised by the many unexpected practical and emotional possibilities and choices that await them.  CUSTOMIZE…don’t minimize…YOUR RETIREMENT is designed to help them in planning all aspects of their retirement years,” says the author, Donald Strauss.  “This book helps readers to focus on what  they want and helps them define how to create ways to build a happier future.”

The book – which is uniquely designed in a workbook style – offers more than 80 self-discovery exercises to guide the reader and/or

couples to assess and discuss vital topics as they define the next stage of their lives. Chapters offer information ranging from how to

view different approaches to work instead of simply totally “retiring”; to how to anticipate and deal with changes in relationships following retirement; to how to determine future housing and health needs; and even how to deal with managing financial  potholes such as the issue of insufficient funds for retirement.

The book is divided into seven paths designed to explore the world of retirement:

• ENVISION YOUR OWN INSPIRING RETIREMENT
• THE FINANCIAL PICTURE…MAKING IT A MASTERPIECE
• KEEPING IN SHAPE
• BEING AT HOME
• VITALIZING RELATIONSHIPS
• WORK IS NO LONGER WORK
• TIME TO DO GOOD & FOR GOOD TIMES

“There is no doubt in my mind that this book will help readers more consciously and comprehensively plan their forthcoming retirement or make their current retirement more enjoyable and hopefully more meaningful,” said Dennis Zavac, Retired President, Executive Service Corps.

When readers complete the book, they feel significantly more in control of their destiny. They have examined opportunities and options, made choices, and planned actions to achieve their goals in retirement, whether retirement is immediately on the horizon or further in the future.