Retirement in North Carolina is on the rise and the picturesque shores of the Outer Banks are becoming a Baby Boomer hot spot. The mild weather, leisure activities and low property taxes draw new residents to this unique stretch of islands.

Richard and Frayda Kerstein have relocated to sunny Florida, yet they have found new ways to easily stay in touch with their children and grandchildren back in Massachusetts. Like many relocated retirees, the Kersteins take advantage of today's communication technologies to breach the physical distance separating them from family and friends.

You might not know it, but Las Vegas is more than just bright lights, casinos, and golf​ courses. The city has plenty to offer for active adults and retirees who don't to experience the traditional Sin City.

It is frequently said that you must love yourself before you can love someone else. This bit of wisdom is often given to young adults in search of new love, yet it applies in later stages of life and to relationships that are well established as well.

Saying goodbye to the home you've lived for most of your life and your children have lived in their whole life can be hard. But new beginnings are something to be celebrated. Here are a ​few ways to make the transition easier - and even fun.

A century ago, kitchens were relegated to the back of the house. A kitchen far removed from the social areas of the home was a sign of affluence. Yet today, many Americans recognize the kitchen as the true heart of family gatherings and design the room accordingly.

It's 4:30 in the afternoon and the house is quiet. The whirlwind of racing to after school activities is no longer a part of your daily life. You are free to plan dinnertime without first checking team practice schedules and your weekend is again your own. This is life in a newly empty nest; simultaneously freeing and perplexing.

Meritage Homes Corporation purchased Province in Maricopa, AZ. Province is a popular active adult community near Phoenix. In 2006, it was voted the Best Active Adult community in the country by the National Association of Homebuilders.

No matter how well we plan for the future, there are some things we just can't foresee. Planning for retirement is one of the most thought-out, long term processes, as well as one of the most important financial journeys we can undertake. Unfortunately, retirement finances are just as subject to volatile changes in the market as any other investments.