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About Retirement Wave

Too many websites are "faceless", anonymous collections of text and images. I often wonder who is behind the site and what their purpose is. I think that's a mistake and I don't intend to repeat it here at Retirement Wave. The following paragraphs will introduce you to me, the creator of Retirement Wave, and describe why and how this website is different.

Bob Adams

I've taken an active role in global affairs and done my best to promote ideas that I hope will ease the development of this new "global community" that is forming around us. I've been widely interviewed and published. I have written on three occasions for Barron's magazine, the well-respected financial journal, most recently on the topic of American migration to other nations in an article titled, A New Life in Panama?, and republished with their permission here at the site. In July of 2007, I was honored to be asked to prepare a brief commentary on American emigration for Boston's well-respected Christian Science Monitor. In addition, I was interviewed in October of 2007 by Erin Burnett on CNBC's "Street Signs" financial program. If you like, you can hear the interview. Finally, I also have recently written at the Wall Street site, Minyanville. And, as the photo on the right indicates, I speak publicly from time to time, both in the US and Panama.

One of my outside interests is the aging process, particularly middle age. I've studied it for over 20 years and have run a non-profit website devoted to the topic, MiddleAge.Org, for the last six years that has drawn well over 1,000,000 visitors. You may be surprised to find that I define "middle age" as the years between 25 and 75. As I now approach the latter portion of middle age, I see "retirement" as an active period in my life, perhaps the most active. Also, Retirement Wave sponsors a Panama photo blog. Finally, I have a personal page at MySpace and at Facebook.

I have combined my global experience with my attitudes toward aging to create Retirement Wave. It is as much a "labor of love" as anything else I have ever done.

In addition and in recognition of the surprisingly large number of younger adults who are Retirement Wave members and the growing numbers of European members, I am delighted to introduce Raphael Battig. Raphael is a citizen of Switzerland and a fluent German-speaker, as well as fluent in English. Raphael will be helping me improve and expand the German language section of Retirement Wave. He also will be able to respond to folks who write us in German far better than I can! Raphael has fallen in love with Panama and, as in my case, will be assisting members without compensation.

Why This Website is Different

• I have a good reputation that I have built over many years. I have no intention of losing it by establishing some kind of useless or illicit website. What I write here is what I believe. Others will feel differently and I respect that, but my opinion and recommendations are not for sale.
• I am very well compensated in my current professional position. Retirement Wave is nothing remotely near a basis for my income. If I choose to have sponsors here, they will be expected to share in the costs of operating the site, but they will never direct the site. Simply put, I don't need their money.
• I will focus on what I know. As a result, you may not find what you need here, but if I don't know what I'm writing about, I won't write about it.
• I dislike "retirement sites" that are masses of links to other sites on every imaginable related topic. Retirement Wave will be focused. Any links offered will have a clear reason for being there.
• I really care about my visitors. The Internet is a marvelous communications medium, but it can't be one-way all the time. I'll do my best within my limits to respond to your messages. In addition, I offer useful services to those interested in considering Panama as a retirement home.

My Approach

Enough about me, what is it that I propose? Take a moment to learn why I talk about surfing the wave. If you visit Small Talk, you'll find some brief commentary on retirement issues and options, and the Services section is there for you to use. More sections will be added in the future.

What Visitors Tell Me

I am the beneficiary of many emails from visitors to and members of Retirement Wave. Here are a just a few of the comments received. They are real and they are my primary "payment" for the effort I put into this site.

• Thank you for your unbiased and very informative website. Being a Panamanian and knowing the country, yours is the most accurate and objective site about retiring in Panama and purchasing a home there I have found. - Rafael
• Just a note to let you know how much I continue to enjoy your postings and articles. You are a voice of reason and wisdom, and I cannot express how much your help has meant to me. For those of us who anticipate our move to Panama, it is so great to have a trusted forerunner already in place! Thanks for all you do. - Blake
• It was a refreshing surprise to find honesty and integrity at your site. I do share the same values. - Antonio
• I feel like I found a gold mine having discovered your site. - Daniel
• I wanted to compliment you on your site. It is refreshing to just hear an honest opinion without any hard sell. - Julie
• What a pleasent surprise...a clearly informed, objective overview of Panama on a website where the author doesn't obviously have something to gain! You have succeeded in expressing all my thoughts in a manner I would never have been able to. Great job! - Robert
• Loved your insight about retiring to Panama. Your thoughts are exactly why we are retiring there. We did our research for 3 years comparing countries. Have not found another site with down-to-earth and useful information you provide. Most were primarily selling something! - Fred and Linda
• Just wanted to congratulate you on your website and your "point of view" on every subject you mention (you have a way of explaining things that makes them most interesting). - Catalina
• I have so appreciated this web site. The information provided together with your unbiased commentary on so many subjects is invaluable. Thank you for taking the time and effort. - John
• Just wanted to thank you for your excellent "Retirement Wave" web site. I find your thoughts and observations about Panama most illuminating, your personal philosophy refreshing, and your recommendations very useful. Thanks for taking the time to share such information with others. - Monte
• Just ran across your site! How refreshing. I agree most of the websites about Panama are trying to sell you property, or all kinds of immigration services. I haven't explored every tab, but I certainly will. Thanks for the perspective, which is sorely missing from the other sites. - Franceen
• Howdy Bob from Nevada USA and thanks so much for providing a real sane and cogent site on thoughtful retirement in Panama. - Chuck
• Hi Bob. Mike and I would like to send you a huge THANK YOU!!!! for providing via your website such incredibly wonderful information and guidance. We found your website and the info contained in it to be completely accurate and most helpful...I can't tell you how many times Mike and I said to each other: "Thank God for Bob Adams and his retirementwave website!" - Marianna
• My husband and I plan to retire to Panama in two years and are currently researching "retirement sites". Your web site, found today, with your honest comments and genuine facts is enormously helpful. It is comforting not to have to consider what parts of the web site one should take with a pinch of salt. Thank you for your generosity in running this helpful, trustworthy site. - Teresa

An Afterword

For those who make it this far down the page and who have any interest, here are a few parting comments.