Embrace Retirement
Embrace Retirement is a social/educational platform to help Pre and Current Retirees develop planning for the Retirement phase of their lives.
Two main parts of our framework
1. Researching The Big Question:
What makes you happy in Retirement? Our research has shown that Retirement Happiness usually falls into 3 categories:
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Having Fun
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Making Differences
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Sharing & Caring for Friends & Family.
Our Workshops, books, and blogs will address these 3 categories and offer a variety of examples that other retirees find rewarding.
2. Our 7 Components
The heart of the Embrace Retirement Philosophy is to reflect and use 7 components for Retirement Planning.
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Finances: Review financial goals that secure a Retirement lifestyle that makes the Retiree happy.
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Work: A large percentage of Retirees work and volunteer. They find interesting opportunities that may or may not be connected to their previous work life.
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Living Arrangements: Where will you live in Retirement? Can you downsize or choose a new location that supports your Retirement adventures?
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Relationships: Grandchildren, spouses, family, and friends contribute to the wide range of caring opportunities in this component.
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Health & Fitness: Live longer and execute fitness routines that are both healthy and fun!
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Hobbies & Activities: Will you investigate and try new hobbies and activities in Retirement or find a resurgence in ones that took a backseat while working?
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Events & Social Networks: How we communicate with others keeps changing. How are you using electronic modes to investigate and do fun events in your living area? What events are you attending?
EMBRACE RETIREMENT
2 Co-Founding Partners:
Russ & Bruce
Russ Fahrner Bio
Russ Fahrner was born in Chicago in 1949. He recently celebrated his 51st wedding anniversary with his wife Pat. They have 3 children and 3 grandchildren. A highlight this year was visiting his grandson at Indiana University. He loves Florida and resides there 4 months of the year. His passion besides family is boating and swimming.
Russ attended Quigley South and graduated from St. Ignatius High School in 1967. He has a bachelor’s degree from St. Mary’s University (Winona, Minnesota), a master’s degree from Northern Illinois University, and an ESL teaching certificate from the College of Lake County.
Russ’s work experiences included three complementary work paths: working in juvenile justice and clinical settings, managing higher education student services departments, and teaching and advising community college students and business executives in the Chicago area.
In 2018 he incorporated his business, Brussell with his partner Bruce Bohrer. They have written Two books: Embrace Retirement and Chicago - A Great Retirement Resource. Brussell also does workshops on retirement for libraries, banks, educational institutions, and retirement communities.
Bruce Bohrer Bio
Bruce Bohrer was born and raised in the Chicago area. He earned both his bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in counseling psychology at the University of Illinois. Upon receipt of his master’s degree, he worked as a college counselor, first at Parkland College in Champaign, Illinois, and then at Harper College in suburban Chicago. After a few years as a counselor at Harper, Bruce transitioned into the admissions office and spent his last 20 years or so as director of admissions for the College.
Bruce was quite young when he retired from Harper, leaving the College in December of 2002 at the age of 51. Bruce began to follow his dreams by spending some of his winters in Florida and pursuing various part time work exploits.
Since retiring, Bruce has held numerous part-time jobs and volunteer positions. He agreed early in his retirement to work on a part time basis for a friend who is director of admissions at a college in Iowa, recruiting students in the Chicago area. He spent nine years as an usher at Wrigley Field. He has served as business manager for a choral group, worked as a producer for a video production company, and volunteered for a number of organizations.
But retired life has not been all work and no play. Bruce has followed his passions when it comes to enjoying his free time. Whether it be spending lots of time with his family, socializing with friends, singing in the community chorus that he's been a part of for over two decades, playing tennis, or soaking up the Florida sun in the winter, Bruce appreciates every moment that retired life has brought forth. And he’s especially appreciative that he lives in Chicago
