An exploration of attitudes towards retirement

The primary purpose of this study is to analyze interviews of a sample of residents of Northern Arizona age 50 to 64 who are contemplating retirement in order to discover their attitudes towards retirement. Theoretically, this analysis was undertaken utilizing grounded theory approach to create inductively a theoretical position. The method of conducting informal interviews provides researcher and participants an opportunity to discover their attitudes towards retirement through the telling of their stories.;This researcher spent approximately 2 years formulating a research topic, obtaining approval, gathering literature, designing a study, and then executing this study. Nine interviews were conducted with willing participants. These interviews were both structured and informal. Through the process of interviewing, the researcher was able to gather a substantial amount of information from the participants concerning their lifestyles, occupations, and engagement in preparation for retirement. The data was then transcribed and analyzed in an attempt to discover emergent theoretical understandings of attitudes and behaviors by utilizing a comparative strategy to understand how, when, and to what extent participants constructed meanings towards their plans for retirement.;This researcher concluded that participants in this study regardless of gender, occupation, level of commitment toward financial preparation, or the effects of the financial downturn of 2009 were optimistic and relatively satisfied with their preparation both financially and emotionally for the transition into retirement. The data suggests that participants highly value their independence, have become more conservative with their investment strategies, and rely heavily on faith rather than empirical evidence to determine their financial requirements in retirement. The data also suggests some ambivalence on the part of the participants in this study towards their retirement preparation and an over optimistic perspective toward retirement despite apparent inadequate financial retirement preparation. Study suggests that more emphasis on educational opportunities with regards to financial preparedness for retirement would create significant benefit.