In a 2009 essay that was very influential in business circles, Paul Graham of Y Combinator tried to figure out why workers at different levels of the same organization struggled to stay on the same meeting schedule. His conclusion was that you could break jobs down into two categories: Managers and Makers. Members of each group had very different responsibilities, and also very different ideas about how to use their time effectively.

You don't have to be an artist to add some art to your retirement. From singing in a choir to taking an improv class, creative activities can improve your health, encourage self-expression, and expand your vision of a positive return on life.

As your parents begin to settle into their final phase of life, their health, residence, and finances could become a factor in your retirement planning. This is especially true if you are the person your parents have tasked with settling their estates.

What we do is so tied up in who we are that it can be difficult to picture yourself without a 9-to-5 job, even if part of that picture involves daily beach naps and sunset sails. Where some retirees see carefree days and endless possibilities, you might be staring at a blank calendar worried that you're going to go crazy without meetings, deadlines, and tasks that fill you with purpose. Answering these three questions will help you start to fill in those blanks and rethink what your retirement can be.

Nothing says the Fourth of July like fireworks, hot dogs and summer fun. But in honor of Independence Day, spend some time this month working toward your own financial freedom as well.

Many retirees don't realize that there are limitations to what Medicare covers. The best health care is preventative, especially in the early years of retirement. Here are 4 ways to keep your medical costs from negatively affecting your Return on Life.