By Daniel Rigney

Here’s a handy checklist of things to do before you make one of the most important decisions of your life -- the decision to retire retroactively, as Republican campaign adviser Ed Gillespie claims Mitt Romney  did from his company, Bain Capital, in 2002, retroactive to 1999.

What is retro-retirement? It's complicated. Talk to your estate planner for details.

If you're considering retro-retiring, we recommend the premium One Percent Plan. In this plan, the first step is to have a fortune. If you don't have a fortune, get one, or borrow one from your parents.

Now hire attorneys and tax accountants – either in-house, out-house, offshored, or outsourced  – and ask them to explain the concept of retroactive retirement and its legal and tax implications in the light of your own unique needs and circumstances. Have them design a custom plan that's right for you.

Weigh the benefits and costs (financial, political, spiritual) of the plan and decide whether you really want to take this important retro-step into your future.

If there are no laws currently governing retroactive retirement in your jurisdiction, you may wish to consider asking your attorneys to draft some favorable legislation and send it along to your lobbyists and legislative surrogates for passage as state or federal statutes.

Don’t be too proud to reach out to your network of friends and anonymous donors for help along the way. Everyone needs a helping hand sometimes. Maybe someday you’ll be in a position to return the favor.

Follow this simple checklist and you’ll be well on your way to a happy and productive post-retro-retirement.

It won't be long before you're chilling the sparkling beverages and asking your staff to start planning your retroactive retirement party.

Cheers.

Danagram

For more on retro-retirement from this citizen-blogger, see Romney's Retroactive Retirement -- Papers Please! and Local Man Announces Retroactive Retirement.