From the Editor
Retirement Ain't All It's Cracked Up to Be
My parents worked until they couldn't. Mom ran her own accounting business until she was in her 80s. Dad was a long-haul trucker into his 70s and only retired due to physical reasons.
Neither worked because they had too; they loved their jobs and saw no reason to give them up. Work was woven into their lifestyle.
The apple doesn't fall far from the tree in my case. I'm 66 and still working with no desire to retire — at least not yet.
Unlike my parents, I am dependent on work to fully fund my budget (Social Security provides a nice foundation). But, honestly, I don't know what I'd do with myself if I retired.
My wife is into thrift store shopping and watches the Crazy Lamp Lady on YouTube endlessly. I enjoy spending time with her, but a few episodes in and I get antsy.
I have a few hobbies that occupy my time, but those only comprise an hour or two of my day at most.
So, I continue to work as a freelance writer and editor and have no intention of stopping.
Neither does Ed Britton, my podcast guest this week. He is a career coach who calls himself the "Not Retirement Rebel."
Ed inspired me to dedicate this issue to "not retiring." Practically everything you will see here revolves around it, especially in the Opportunity category. That's because, to me, retirement is spelled "o-p-p-o-r-t-u-n-i-t-y."
Paul Chaney
Top Pick
To Retire When You’re Almost Dead Is the Greatest Lie We’re Told
Aussie writer Tim Denning puts the "not retirement" cards on the table when he says that the modern idea of retirement needs to die.
"The formula we’re told is this… Work 40 years. Then enjoy 10-20 years of freedom. I can’t believe we fell for this (including me). We must urgently rethink retirement."
His advice includes:
- Create a new goal. Make your goal to retire working for other people.
- Follow in Warren Buffet's footsteps. Learn about financial assets.
- Spend less than you earn. Good advice for any age.
- Drop status symbols for the real flex. In this new world, the real flex is time freedom.
Tim's final thoughts on the subject: "You’ll know you’ve destroyed the traditional retirement nightmare and upgraded to time freedom when Monday feels like Saturday. Or when work doesn’t feel like an obligation but an opportunity. Or when work feels uplifting instead of exhausting."
Truth.
medium.com
Podcast
Podcast Interview: Ed Britton, the 'Not Retirement Rebel'
In this episode, I interview Ed Britton, a career coach who calls himself the "Not Retirement Rebel." We talk about retirement fallacies and the many options pre-retired and retired people have, including continuing to work.
anchor.fm
Opportunity
8 Reasons to Work in Retirement (4 Have Absolutely Nothing to Do with Money)
Most retirees (69% according to the Employee Benefit Research Institute, EBRI) have never worked in retirement. However, EBRI research shows that there are many highly compelling reasons to have a job and only half of them have to do with money.
newretirement.com
8 Reasons to Keep Working Not Good Enough? How About 10
Does staying mentally and physically fit sound good to you? Want to delay taking Social Security? Need a new sense of purpose? All are good reasons to continue working after retirement. This article lists ten.
moneycrashers.com
Why People Are Still Working in Their 70s and 80s
These days, it's not uncommon for us Baby Boomers to continue working well into our 60s, 70s, or even 80s. Some because they need the money, and others because they love what they do or need to stay busy.
"With continued improvements in health care and life expectancy, people can spend as long in retirement as they spent working."
This article lists as the top reasons not to retire:
- Finding fulfillment in an organization's work.
- Improving your retirement finances.
- Continuing to support worthy causes.
- Staying engaged and mentally sharp.
The Rise of the Semi-Retired Life
Maybe you don't want to "fully" retire. How does "semi-retirement" sound? It's a choice many seniors make.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau and Bureau of Labor Statistics, 13 million Americans age 65 and older will be in the labor force by 2024.
This article provides the 4-1-1 on what the semi-retired life looks like, reasons to consider it, and types of work you can do.
investopedia.com
Why You Should Keep Working After You Retire
AARP comes right out and says it: You should keep working after you retire.
"Working in retirement might sound like a contradiction in terms, but that’s not necessarily the case. Just because you have moved on from your primary career doesn’t mean a part of your week can’t or shouldn’t go to some moneymaking endeavor."
We agree 100%!
aarp.org
News
Too Old for Internship? Try 'Returnship' Instead
Companies are hiring older people for short-term gig work, Bloomberg says. Kind of a new twist on freelancing after 50.
bloomberg.com“Older workers are coming back but with very specific needs. ... They’re less concerned about things like perks and offices and just want something that pays reliably and is superflexible.”
Jobs
8 Part-Time Work From Home Jobs for Retirees
If you are considering working during retirement, these eight jobs might be a good fit, especially if you want to work from home.
aarp.org
Trivia
8 'Unvigintillion' Ways to Sort a Card Deck
There are more ways to arrange a deck of cards than there are atoms on earth. It's called a "unvigintillion." (8*10)67 is the mathematical equation. That's an 8 with 67 zeros behind it.
Actually, a unvigintillion is 66, but who's counting? (Apparently, someone is.) Regardless, that's a lot of ways to sort a deck. If you're retired and not working, test it out! ;-)
mcgill.ca
And Finally...
I would love to connect with you via social media. LinkedIn is where I hang out mostly. Also, check out the website, podcast, and online store.
If there's a topic you would like to see covered in the newsletter or podcast, reply to this email and let me know.
Finally, if you like the newsletter, become a subscriber and share it with your 50 and older freelancer friends. Thanks!
Paul Chaney