Why Retire? - by Julie Stackhouse
Why Retire?
When I announced my plans to retire from the Federal Reserve in mid 2018, my colleagues informed me that I would be a “failure” at retirement. Like many of you, I was the child of low-income depression-era parents. I learned to work hard at an early age, and as a result, enjoyed a rewarding and successful career as an adult.
What I did not expect is that my retirement date would be less than a month before the onset of COVID. “Quarantine” gave me a chance to think about my retirement priorities. They soon became clear. I now have three “buckets” that define my days: my “community service” bucket, my “learn-and-grow” bucket, and my “get paid for my time” bucket.
My “community service” bucket led me to Neighbor-to-Neighbor, the rental assistance and low-income housing nonprofit in Fort Collins. Although new to Fort Collins, I became a front-desk volunteer, answering client calls. There is nothing more impactful than personally talking to people who are struggling to “make rent” and stay housed.
When N2N decided to partner with Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) to offer an income tax intake service at N2N, I asked to help. Our clients are generally very low income. Many of our clients are immigrants who are anxious about filing a tax return. It’s hard to express the joy you see on their faces when they realize they are eligible for a tax refund. Our clients’ refunds averaged nearly $2,000 per family last year!
While the “service” bucket has been an important part of my life, the “learn-and-grow” and “get paid for my time” buckets are also rewarding! In particular, I have enjoyed serving on the Fort Collins Planning and Zoning Commission, the board of the League of Women Voters of Larimer County, and the Audit Committee of Colorado State University Foundation. I also have the privilege of serving on the Board of Directors of Simmons Bank, a publicly traded bank in Little Rock AR.
So, did I fail at retirement? I’ll let you decide!
Julie Stackhouse is the retired Executive Vice President of bank supervision, discount window lending, community development, and learning innovation at the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. Her career at the Federal Reserve spanned 32 years. Julie and husband Jim enjoy traveling and spending time with their amazing grandsons: James (5) and William (10 months).
