EXHIBIT 99.2

                            CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
                             18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350
                             AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
                  SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

In connection with the Quarterly Report of American Retirement Corporation (the
"Company") on Form 10-Q for the period ending September 30, 2002 as filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 14, 2002 (the "Report"), I,
George T. Hicks, Chief Financial Officer, Secretary and Treasurer of the
Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to
Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

(3)      The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or
         15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

(4)      The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all
         material respects, the financial condition and result of operations of
         the Company.

/s/ George T. Hicks
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George T. Hicks
Chief Financial Officer, Secretary and Treasurer
November 14, 2002