This week’s theme on the Retirement Quick Tips Podcast is: Retire…Never?

Today, I’m talking about why more Americans are saying never to retirement. 

According to the Employee Benefit Research Institute, 29% of workers expect to work to age 70 or like Jay Simons - the 100 year old attorney I talked about yesterday, have decided to never retire. 

In my own life, I can certainly name several people who worked well into their 70s and beyond. I have clients well into their normal retirement years who are still working. My dad turns 70 this year with no plans to retire, and my father in law still works part time at the age of 75. 

The WSJ profiled several readers in a recent article on this topic. What I found as the most common thread among why people continue to work past the normal retirement age came down to purpose and meaning in work, that they didn’t think they would have in retirement if they stopped working all together. 

Kristine Arlitt, age 73, said:

“I started formally working at 14. As I sit here today, age 73 and feeling like 30, I simply cannot imagine not working. I just enjoy it too much.

I made the decision a few years ago to change how I do it. I left my old firm and took control. Now, I select the clients, the cases I find interesting. I am now able to do a lot of pro bono work for people who simply cannot afford professional services but are desperately in need of them.

I enjoy being relevant, productive and making contributions. I enjoy being happy. I will continue to work as long as I am in control. Slowing down—YES. Changing how I work—ABSOLUTELY. Actually retiring—NEVER!”

That’s it for today. Thanks for listening! My name is Ashley Micciche and this is the Retirement Quick Tips podcast.    

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