My Next Phase may be one of the most significant books you ever read relating to your retirement. Many baby-boomers preparing their retirement focus their planning on only the financial aspect. Not all have considered what comes after retirement. “Success in Retirement comes from self-understanding,” Eric Sundstrom, PhD, Randy Burnham, PhD, and Michael Burnham, offer insight into planning the other aspects of retirement, such as, What you will do with your time? How will you be fulfilled? The answers to these questions depend mainly on your personality.

My Next Phase has a series of seven short personality tests that help the future-retiree to examine how he or she deals with dealing with stress style, decision-making style, social style, and activity style. The authors present examples of people facing real life situations as they plan for retirement or after they have already taken the plunge into retirement life. There are humorous comics scattered throughout the book. My Next Phase by Eric Sundstrom, PhD, Randy Burnham, PhD, and Michael Burnham, came in at just the right time for my husband and me. We plan to retire in the next few years. Together we studied the information provided in My Next Phase, to assist in planning our future. I had to smile at the husband planning his wife’s grocery schedule.

The information is easy to understand and presented in a well-organized style. The topic headings, resources, and template assist the reader in planning their goals. The tests are invaluable and what you learn about yourself may surprise you. I was surprised at what I learned about myself, I am one of those people that have to add to my to-do list just so I can mark it off.

My Next Phase is a textbook and should be treated as such. Everyone considering retirement should read My Next Phase.