Sedgebrook	UPDATED: Friday, November 17, 2006
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John Erickson on Creating a Financially Smart Retirement

Posted on Wednesday, November 01, 2006

Part Two in the Exclusive Three-Part Interview With the Founder and CEO of Erickson Communities

By Regina Harris
THE ERICKSON TRIBUNE

John Erickson, Founder and CEO of Erickson Communities, sat down with the Tribune for an exclusive three-part interview series. Last month, Erickson revealed the inspiration that led him to build his first community 23 years ago. This month, he discusses the financial components of his communities and the innovative structure that has made them so successful.

Tribune: Who did you build your communities like Sedgebrook for? In other words, who can afford to live there?

Erickson: Homeowners. The lifestyle you’ll find at Sedgebrook or any Erickson community across the country is affordable for most people who own their houses. Previously, a retirement of this caliber was just plain out-of-reach for, say, a retired school teacher. I wanted more people to have access to the very best retirement. That’s why, when I built my first community back in ’83, I wanted to create a lifestyle that was truly unique in the amount of amenities and opportunities provided, but that was also the best financial decision for middle-income homeowners.

Tribune: How is an Erickson community “the best financial decision?” What do you mean by that?

Erickson: If there’s one word I hear most from residents it’s “security”—security to plan for the future and manage your life. That’s something you don’t always have living in a house, so we developed one, easy-tounderstand financial plan that lets you enjoy your retirement to the fullest, while still maintaining a legacy for your family.

Tribune: How does the financial plan work?

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Erickson: The plan covers the two costs associated with living at an Erickson community. The first part is your monthly service package, and that includes things like heating, property taxes, home maintenance— basically, the costs you pay to keep up your house combined into one comprehensive service package.

The second, our 100% Refundable Entrance Deposit, is really an innovation. The entrance deposit you put down when you move into a community like Sedgebrook is 100% refundable to you or your estate. Nearly everyone I talk to, tells me how glad they are to have moved into an Erickson community. In fact, I can’t tell you how many people come up to me every day and say “I wish I’d moved sooner.”

Tribune: How sound an investment is an Erickson community? If I were to move, how do I really know I’m protecting my money?

Erickson: A not-forprofit structure and a system of checks and balances protect your finances. Let me tell you a little about the structure of our community so you can see for yourself.

An independent Board of Directors governs a community like Sedgebrook. They work with the elected Resident Advisory Council to set the fees and policies of the community. Erickson builds and manages the community. Additionally, Erickson has solid financial lenders. I realize I keep going back to this notion of the best financial decision, but all of these layers of protection make Erickson just that—the best and most secure financial decision.

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In next month’s Tribune, Erickson discusses health care at his communities and the cutting edge medical technology that has made Erickson Health^SM the leading integrated health and wellness system for older Americans.