People of Validus

"I got my first job as a dock boy at a fishing resort. I earned $0.75 per hour, which came to $1.50 per day after deducting room and board. I worked there for three years, from May to October, and I got the job by asking an older friend for a referral. It was hard work, but it taught me a lot about responsibility and the value of a dollar. 

My first car was a 1955 Chevrolet, which I bought for $75.00. It was a great car, but if I could have any car back, it would be my 1973 Roadrunner. That one cost me $2,900.00 brand new, and it was a beauty.

What I love most about retirement is the freedom to travel. My spouse and I have stayed in our motorhome in 49 states and all of Canada, except for the Northwest Territory, Nunavut, and Labrador. We've also flown to Europe, Hawaii, Australia, and New Zealand since 2019, and we're still going strong.

The best trip we've taken in retirement was a 12,800-mile round trip to Newfoundland last summer. Another highlight was our journey to Australia and New Zealand a couple of years ago. In retirement, I've picked up a few hobbies and activities. I'm still unloading stuff from my work years, but I enjoy reading and fixing home projects. It's nice to have the time to focus on these things.

The best piece of advice I ever received was simple but profound: 'Do your best, and treat everyone as you want to be treated.' It's a principle I've tried to live by every day.

If I could give one piece of advice to my younger self, it would be to trust your instincts and get out of your safe zone earlier. Life is too short to play it safe all the time."

“My first job was farm work right on the edge of town in Tyner, Indiana, a town of 190 residents. I made around 40 cents an hour in the late 1950s. I loved my job. My brothers worked there, and I got the job through them. We also had a large chicken business on the same farm, and on Friday mornings, we had to kill and dress hundreds of chickens for the market over the Michigan line in St. Joseph, MI. It was challenging, but it gave me money for gasoline in my '46 Ford and my Levis!

My '46 Ford cost $150 and was marvelous. I wish I still had it, along with the '30 Plymouth, '48 Chrysler, '49 Studebaker convertible, '37 Plymouth, and '52 Chevy.

What I love most about retirement is Freedom. And, I love having enough money to pay my bills. My retirement planning has paid off well, thanks to Lincoln National, T. Rowe Price, Social Security, Arizona State Retirement System, Actors' Equity, Chase Bank CD's. And, the two principles of my budget: 1. Don't buy it if you don't really need it. 2. Save every penny you can (I never step over a penny on the ground or sidewalk. Our family had no money, and I remember the thrill after saving my first $100,000!.

The best trip I have been on in retirement was my 50th wedding anniversary to Italy in 2011! Truly, a perfect trip. We now have been married 63 years. My college sweetheart, a basketball cheerleader while I want on the court playing hoops. Later, I became The Free Throw Doc, working with hoopsters for many years. "My job is to teach you to beat me," and a few, not many, did. My record is 260 in a row, and check out my video on YouTube, "Nail It: A basketball free throw clinic."

"My first job was selling Kirby vacuum cleaners on commission. I inquired about an ad in a newspaper and ended up selling four vacuums during the summer of 1975, making $100 on each sale.

My first car was a 1966 Rambler Classic 770, and it cost me $495. And no, I'm glad it is no longer in my possession.

What I love most about retirement is freedom. I am able to travel, meet up with family and friends, visit restaurants with my wife, etc., without regard to my job. The best trip I've been on in retirement is difficult to answer because I've enjoyed so many of them. Right now, I'll choose the one that's freshest in my mind: Egypt and cruising the Nile. During retirement, I've picked up volunteering at a museum. I've always enjoyed history, meeting people, and fixing things. My museum job lets me do all three.

I've had many people give me advice over the years, but the one that stands out in my mind right now is: Don't smoke. If I could give one piece of advice to my younger self, it would be: Don't be afraid to invest in real estate earlier in life."

"My first job was washing dogs for a pet grooming business. I don't remember how much I made, but it was in the early 1970s, and I was (and still am) a real dog person. I think I got the job because my dad knew the owner and helped me get it, as I wasn't even 16 yet.

My first car was a super-cute orange Ford Pinto with a soft white top. I don't remember how much it cost, but I paid for it myself on credit at 18 years old (give or take a year or two). I don't wish I still owned it because it turns out that the model was a bit dangerous if hit from behind, so I gladly sold it a few years later.

What I love most about retirement is the freedom to make my own schedule and the freedom to do what I enjoy doing—especially spending time with friends and family, volunteering, and my very favorite... traveling! The best trip I've been on in retirement was a cruise vacation with friends last year that went around part of New Zealand and over to Australia. It was fabulous.

During retirement, I’ve picked up a few hobbies and activities. Being an admitted "indoorsy" girl, I actually took a few "camping" trips in a nicely outfitted RV this last year—a few firsts for me—and I really enjoyed each trip. The best one was to Utah to see Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks. I’ve also started taking "Silver Sneakers" exercise classes, which have turned out to be good for my physical health, and I’ve met some really nice people who do things together socially, too. The best piece of advice I have ever received is: 'Girl, don't EVER give up your financial independence!

If I could give my younger self one piece of advice, it would be 'Trust your instincts and know that you're smarter than you give yourself credit for!'"

"My first 'real' job (besides paper routes, mowing lawns, shoveling snow, washing cars, painting houses in the neighborhood) was at Gino's, a fast-food restaurant in Maryland that served Kentucky Fried Chicken and hamburgers. I started at 16 yrs old in 1973 and earned a whopping $1.60 per hour! I remember how excited I was to finally get a raise up to $2.00 per hour and spent every penny on trying to turn my vehicle into a race car! The BEST part about that job, that is where I met the love of my life Sue, as we started dating in 1978 and celebrated being together 47 years last month!

My Dad helped me buy my first car as long as I was going to college at the University of Maryland. It was a brand spanking new 1975 Opel Manta, imported from Germany. It was painted in a Jade Green Mist and the interior was saddle vinyl. It was powered by a first-time Bosch electronic fuel injected 4-cyclinder engine with a 4-speed manual tranny. It cost a total of $3,500! I spent a ton of money on it and drove it for several years until I moved out of state and gave it to my sister. I loved that car and wish I still owned it today!

The fact that I can wake up every single day and choose to do whatever I want to do for my wife, family, friends, or just for myself. Nothing that I start to do MUST be rushed to a finish date or time - I can simply pick up wherever I left off the very next day, or later. Everything I do can be completed by taking my time and doing it with the highest quality of planning, preparing, and executing. Retirement provides the ultra-high quality of life where I can truly enjoy doing things that I want, when I want, and with who I want! I have started playing the harmonica and reading a trove of books about the Vietnam War as seen through the experiences of the SOG Warriors who fought there. Finally, I can drop anything I'm doing to help my family on a moment's notice! I am always available to those who might need me!

Our first trip right after I retired was an 8-day camping trip I took with my wife up to Idaho. We had never been there and wanted to check it out. We bought a travel trailer camper and spent time in Pocatello, Idaho Falls, and American Falls. It was such a relaxing trip for just the two of us, and we enjoyed visiting Idaho and driving up through new territory for us in Utah!

The best piece of advice I've ever received was from my Dad, 'if something is WORTH doing, it's worth doing RIGHT!' Over the years, my family has given me a nickname, 'Flagship', meaning everything I DO or anything I BUY, I always want it to be the Flagship model!

The advice I would give myself at a younger age is simple: start investing in a retirement plan as EARLY as possible AND maintain RELENTLESS discipline to CONTINUE that investment until you reach retirement age. It will be worth the wait when you truly need to use it!"

"For my first job, I worked at JC Pennies, assembling toys. The best I can remember I made about a $1 per hour. This would have been in the early 1950's. Before that I pulled sugar beats for a neighbors farm. They paid me hourly and I think it was also about $1 per hour.

My first car was a 1950 Ford two door stick shift, it cost about $800. It would be a lot of fun if I still owned it, mostly because it would be a collectors item at this point. I had for about 2 years and sold it after graduating High School.

My favorite part of retirement is not having to go to work! Freedom from most time constraints.

Daily hiking and biking were the two main hobbies I picked up in retirement. For 20 years, I've biked about 5 miles and hiked about 5 miles every day, rain or shine.

The best trip I've been on in retirement was several years ago we went on a cruise to Hawaii and were able to see several islands and then sailed back to the mainland.

"The best piece of advice I've ever received is 'always pay the 10% tithe.'

If I could give my younger self one piece of advice, it would be 'don't wait to go on vacation, spend your time wisely while you have the physical capabilities to travel and do other activities."