Since I began writing this column in 1991, I occasionally hear a speaker or read a book that hits home with me.

This week I did both.  I heard a wonderful speaker and received a copy of his most recent book. The speaker/author’s name is Mitch Anthony. He has written six books about financial issues.

The book is titled “The New Retirementality-Second Edition.” There is insufficient room in this column to highlight the entire book, but Mr. Anthony does debunk several myths about retirement that rang true for me.

• First myth: Age 65 is old. We all know 65 year-olds who are anything but old. They are healthy. They are vibrant. They are re-inventing themselves with challenging goals and dreams.

They are thinking about the next 10, 20 or 30 years. Retiring from work and life at 65 was an artificially created age dating back to the 19th century. For most retirees nothing could be further from the truth.

Isn’t old always someone 15-20 years older than you?

• Myth number two: Retirement means not working. The new retirement reality is that retirement may in fact include work.

The days of the insanely working up to some magic day and then suddenly retiring “cold turkey” are gone. The “all work or no work” retirement model is a relic.

Today, many folks ease in to “no work” very gradually or never.

• Myth three: You have to be at least 62 before you do what you want to do. Mr. Anthony asks the question — “Is your life about making money or is your money about making a life?”

Many potential retirees sought a career paying big bucks rather than choosing a career full of their passion.

The old thinking is that you retire away from a hated career to a life full of the things that you love.

Today, more people are leaving a career of drudgery long before they reach the so-called magic ages of 60, 62, or 65. Careers full of passion have no artificial retirement age.

Why would you quit doing something you love to do and at which you are probably very good? The money helps too.

• Myth four: Retirement is an economic event. Retirement is a life event, not an economic event. Mr. Anthony said,” The problem is that many people are preparing a golden nest egg that will be placed in a dying tree.”

Retirement is about goals, family responsibilities, health, and money. Keeping the tree healthy to enjoy the nest egg is the trick. Money is only one part of the total retirement event.

• Myth five: A life of ease is the ultimate retirement goal. Mr. Anthony said, “A life of total ease is one step from a life of disease.” There is something invigorating about labor. Being bored leads to being boring.

About one-third of male retirees return to work within one year of retirement and over two-thirds work full-time.

Nearly 40 years ago I watched my granddad die before he was age 70 after 3 years of meaningless retirement.

• Myth six: I can do this by myself. Mr. Anthony makes several analyses to self help including health and travel. Certainly in this day of the Internet, we can become well informed about our health and travel.

However, there are times when we definitely need the insight and experience of an expert.

Self-diagnosis can lead to some unhappy results, especially when it comes to the financial issues of retirement.

The nest egg is still vitally important for retirement. Making it as large as possible provides options that may not otherwise be available.

We need to remove the contrived finish line associated with retirement.

Mr. Anthony asks, “What if there was no finish line? Would anything be different about your retirement planning?”

Most of us will be retired away from our work for more than 25 years. It is a long time, but consider how quickly the last 25 years passed. Without question a big part of retirement is about the money, but certainly not most of it.

Notable Quote: “How dull it is to pause, to make an end, to rust unburnished, not to shine in use! As though to breathe were life.” Alfred Lord Tennyson

Tom is a registered investment adviser and certified financial planner. If you have questions or topics, you may call or write Tom at 3358 Linda Mesa Way, Napa CA 94558, 255-3721, fax 255-3939 or e-mail suntrm@aol.com