#127 - Here’s How Technology Will Impact Your Mobility During Retirement

Jul 13, 2016

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Do you remember your very first car? Do you remember the feeling of freedom and responsibility it gave you? The kind of mobility that comes from having and driving your own vehicle is something that many of us have been enjoying for 30 to 50 years. Have you taken the time to consider the impact that it could have on your life if you were to suddenly (or eventually) be limited in those ways because of declining eyesight, medications, hearing issues, etc.? Those are not things we enjoy thinking about but that we have to consider when it comes to planning for retirement. On this episode I’m chatting all about mobility in retirement and how technology can impact that need in the future. Ride Sharing may sound strange, but it really works!

I was recently in Chicago for a conference and whenever I had to go anywhere I used a service called Uber. It’s a way to use a smartphone app to make a connection with a driver in the area who is willing to take me where I need to go. It was a great experience overall and there are many safeguards, including reviews, that enable the service to be trustworthy and dependable for you and can save you the hassle of having to drive or removing the actual need to drive. The reality is that if you’re willing to learn a very simple app, you can have a great opportunity for mobility as you enter retirement even if you’re not able to drive. Hear more about how it can work for you, on this episode of The Retirement Answer Man. Retirement cost savings because you don’t need your own automobile. Betcha didn’t think about that.

If you are willing to embrace and use services like Uber and Lyft to remain mobile as you move into retirement you may be able to save money in other areas that you haven’t considered. If you don’t need an automobile, you’ll save on title and registration fees, safety or emissions inspections, auto insurance, gasoline, and the actual cost of purchasing the vehicle. Those savings could not only add to your checkbook but could also increase your quality of life because you have less income tied up in things you don’t really need. I’m going to chat a bit about that on this episode so I hope you’ll listen with an open mind that is looking at the possibilities. Self Driving cars are not the wave of the future - they are here now.

I’m not quite sure that I’m ready to jump into a self driving car just yet, but they are out there on the streets already. In fact, Google has been working on this for many years and has had a fleet of self driving cars that have logged hundreds of thousands of miles on California roadways. In the near future it’s quite possible that self driving cars are the norm rather than the exception and it would be good for us to think now about how we are going to respond when that day comes. Are we going to take advantage of the benefits such technology could bring, or are we going to be a stick in the mud. Afterall, air travel was once unheard of and considered unsafe… but look at us now! Will you embrace the benefits technology can bring to your retirement or will you be the one to hate it because it’s new and unfamiliar?

The stereotypical impression people have of us “old folks” is that we’re resistant to technological changes - like computers, smartphones, etc. I wonder if that’s really true? The wisdom we, as the older generation, have could enable us to see that the benefits of many of the technologies that are on the horizon far outweigh the learning curve or risk factors that we think are involved in adapting ourselves to this “new age.” I wonder if you will be willing to learn, to grow, and to benefit from it as you enter your retirement years? I plan on doing my best to stay flexible, learn, and get the most out of the options that come my way. Who knows, it might even make me happier and enable me to enjoy retirement all the more. OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE RETIREMENT ANSWER MAN

[0:33] Roger’s introduction to this episode of the podcast.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? SEGMENT

[4:13] Today’s term: Driverless Car

HOT TOPIC SEGMENT

[6:04] The first death from a driverless car.
[7:17] The autopilot system involved in this accident

PRACTICAL PLANNING SEGMENT

[8:32] Most of the things I’ve mentioned so far are already here.
[9:21] The need for mobility in the retirement years and how it impacts quality of life.
[11:10] The devastating impact of losing mobility.
[12:32] How technology can improve mobility in our cars.
[18:15] Car sharing options that exist now and will be prevalent in the future.
[25:20] How driverless cars could be a solution to mobility issues.
[28:30] Grocery getting services you may be interested in.
[32:35] Are you going to embrace these new technologies to make your life easier?
[33:45] Emails from listeners.

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
The MIT Age Lab
Uber
Lyft
Instacart
Peapod
Contact Roger: http://www.rogerwhitney.com/retirementanswers/
Roger’s retirement learning center: www.RogerWhitney.com/learn
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