Retirement Planning Association of Canada-BC/BC Trend Noticed: Go West Older Men and Women-The Geography of Retiring Baby Boomers

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(CCNMatthews - May 15, 2007) - BC's climate, lifestyle and recreation properties are attracting increasing numbers of baby boomers - the generation born between 1946 and 1965 - from across Canada, says the BC chapter of Retirement Planning Association of Canada (RPAC - BC).

BC's recreational opportunities, property values, healthcare services and a growing peer group with whom to socialize are resulting in growing pockets of retired seniors in the Okanagan, Southern Interior, Vancouver Island and parts of the Kootenays, says RPAC - BC President Dr. Terry Colton.

"Baby boomers represent one third of the Canada's population and control almost half of the country's wealth," says Colton, "And their search for a little bit of retirement heaven is focused on BC."

Retiring baby boomers are snapping up recreational property in and around communities such as Comox, Penticton, Kelowna, Vernon, Cranbrook, Invermere, and Fernie says Colton, a Vancouver based Professional Retirement Planner and Social Psychologist.

"Retirement is about much more than bank accounts, seniors today have busier retirements; they exercise more, eat well, worry less, travel more and want to retire to a country place where they can maintain an active lifestyle year round. This means more than a nice view. It means being close to services, a hospital and friends."

Colton says retiring baby boomers should ask themselves the following questions when considering a retirement location:

- Is the location close to relatives and friends? If so is that the only reason you're moving to the area?

- How close are doctors, hospitals, dentists, pharmacies and other services?

- What plans do you have to integrate into your new community?

- As skyrocketing travel and insurance costs might mean you're less likely to live outside Canada, is the location a year round residence?

- What's the resale value of the intended property and how saleable is it if you want to move or your partner dies?

- Consider how you will handle stairs and hills later in life?

According to Stats Canada by 2056 one in every four people in Canada will be a senior.

RPAC - BC is the BC chapter of a National network of retirement planning professionals that provides individuals and professionals with networking and information opportunities, education and development as well as a national registry program that sets standards and provides national recognition in their field. For more information visit www.retirementplanners.bc.ca or the National RPAC website at www.retirementplanners.ca.