1. PLANNING FOR LIFE
AFTER A CAREER IN
ATHLETIC ADMINISTRATION
STEVE BERSETH, CMAA
RETIRED ACTIVITIES DIRECTOR
BROOKINGS, SOUTH DAKOTA
STEVE.BERSETH@K12.SD.US

2. RETIREMENT
WHO AM I NOW?
CONSIDERATIONS FOR
REDEFINING SELF FOR A
GRATIFYING RETIREMENT

3. RETIREMENT PLANNING
OFTEN FOCUSES ON FINANCES
1. HOW MANY YEARS DO MY ASSETS NEED TO LAST?
2. WHAT IS AN ADEQUATE STANDARD OF LIVING?
3. WHEN CAN I AFFORD TO RETIRE?
4. WILL I NEED TO WORK DURING RETIREMENT?
5. WHAT WILL BE THE IMPACT OF MEDICAL EXPENSES?
6. SHOULD I PAY OFF DEBT OR MAINTAIN MY SAVINGS?
7. WHAT ARE THE PROS AND CONS OF DOWNSIZING?
8. WHAT IS AN APPROPRIATE ASSET ALLOCATION FOR MY
RETIREMENT FUNDS AND WHEN SHOULD I BEGIN TO
DRAW SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS AND TAKE
DISTRIBUTIONS FROM MY RETIREMENT ACCOUNTS?
9. ARE MY ASSETS ADEQUATELY PROTECTED BY HEALTH
& MEDICAL AND LONG-TERM CARE INSURANCE?

4. RETIREMENT MAY COME
SOONER THAN EXPECTED
IN SOME CASES, PREMATURE
RETIREMENT IS THE RESULT OF:
1. EMPLOYER DECISIONS
2. HEALTH CONSIDERATIONS
3. ETC.

5. WHEN I BEGAN TO THINK
ABOUT RETIREMENT . . . . .
I REALIZED THAT “MY DEFINITION OF SELF”
WAS LARGELY RELATED TO MY DUTIES AS
AN ATHLETICS ADMINISTRATOR:
1. LEADER, FACILITATOR, SUPERVISOR
2. VOLUNTEER TO VARIOUS SPORTS GROUPS
3. MENTOR
4. SCHOOL DISTRICT LIAISON
5. ETC.
I HAD BECOME MY PROFESSION.

6. SETTING NEW PRIORITIES
SEEMED CENTRAL TO
“REDEFINING SELF”
TO IDENTIFY WHO I WANTED TO BE
DURING RETIREMENT, I FOCUSED ON:
1 . FAMILY
2 . SERVICE
3 . PERSONAL INTERESTS

7. FAMILY LIFE OFTEN SUFFERS
FROM THE DEMANDS OF
ATHLETIC ADMINISTRATION
NEW OPPORTUNITIES
1. AS A HUSBAND – EXPLOIT COMMON INTEREST IN SPORTS
AND THEATER, MANAGE RETIREMENT INCOME, CATCH
UP ON HOME PROJECTS, YARDWORK AND GARDENING,
TRAVEL MORE
2. AS A SON – VISIT MOTHER ONCE A MONTH, TRY TO TAKE
HER TO ALL MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS
3. AS A FATHER – BOTH SON AND DAUGHTER HAVE
RETURNED TO BROOKINGS, AND WE CAN SHARE MEALS,
OCCASIONAL GOLF AND ANNUAL VACATION
4. AS A GRAMPA – OLDEST GRANDDAUGHTERS LIVE 1.5
HOURS AWAY WHICH ALLOWS ATTENDANCE AT SOME
ACTIVITIES. 4-YR OLD GRANDDAUGHTER AND 2-YR OLD
GRANDSON LIVE A FEW BLOCKS AWAY. JOB #1 FOR ME
IS TO BABYSIT, TRANSPORT AND SUPPORT THEM AS
OFTEN AS POSSIBLE.

8. SERVICE – FRIENDS SAID THEY
MISSED THE RELATIONSHIPS
WHEN THEY RETIRED.
I DECIDED TO MAINTAIN RELATIONSHIPS WITH FRIENDS
AND COLLEAGUES BY CONTINUING SERVICE WORK:
1. SDIAAA PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR
2. NIAAA – NATIONAL LTI FACULTY & SPECIAL PROJECTS
AND ATTEND THE NATIONAL ATHLETIC DIRECTORS
CONFERENCE EACH YEAR
3. PRESENT NIAAA LEGAL ISSUES COURSES AS NEEDED
4. NFHS COMMITTEE
5. LOCAL, CONFERENCE AND STATE TRACK MEETS –
ORGANIZE A CREW OF TRACK UMPIRES
6. SUBSTITUTE TEACH FOR PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND
SOCIAL STUDIES AT HIGH SCHOOL WHEN AVAILABLE
7. OPTIMIST CLUB – MAIN PROJECT IS H.S. CONCESSIONS

9. PERSONAL INTERESTS
1. GOLF – RARELY PLAYED FOR 20 YEARS.
NEARLY 100
ROUNDS (6 MONTHS) DURING FIRST YEAR OF
RETIREMENT
2. LANDSCAPING – OUR YARD IS MORE THAN AN ACRE
WITH 75 TREES AND MANY PERENNIAL GARDENS.
ENJOY LANDSCAPING PROJECTS.
3. WIFE WORKED THE SCORER’S TABLE FOR MANY
ATHLETICS EVENTS WHEN I WAS ATHLETIC DIRECTOR.
WE STILL ATTEND MANY HIGH SCHOOL CONTESTS AND
HAVE SEASON TICKETS FOR FOOTBALL AND MEN’S AND
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL GAMES AT SOUTH DAKOTA
STATE UNIVERSITY.
4. GOOD INTENTIONS OF REGULAR EXERCISE PROGRAM.

10. RESEARCH SHOWS
RETIREES ARE MORE HAPPY AND SATISFIED
THAN WORKERS THAT ARE ANTICIPATING
RETIREMENT.
IN AN OVERALL SENSE, RETIREES ARE MUCH
MORE SATISFIED THAN WORKING PEOPLE.
I AM SO BUSY THAT I DON’T KNOW HOW I HAD
TIME TO WORK 60-70 HOURS PER WEEK.
I HIGHLY RECOMMEND RETIREMENT!