if you're 60+, what do you do for work?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I retired at 63.

I worked with colleagues of all ages. My close team of 10 were ages 35-64. We got along but I did feel that the younger people wanted our jobs (if I left it opened up a promotion, which one of them did get). I also had noted a few people who stayed too long (67 and 69 years old) who got bitter/assholish and daffy/absent-minded, respectively, along with a couple of other people who died a month or two after retirement. I didn't want to become these people.

I was happy with my job but started to feel like I was treading water at age 59. When I realized I didn't enjoy doing my favorite parts of the job and felt stressed out, I decided to go. I planned it for a year, not telling anyone. I gave my notice three months in advance. Having that plan made the last year much easier and gave me a third wind.

My house was paid off a year before I left, I had enough in retirement and decided it was okay to go. Thank goodness for that. I am happy with the decision. I thought I would work longer, but I didn't.

Oftentimes younger employees want their bosses' jobs, but for the wrong reasons. They look at such higher-level jobs as a "reward" for their hard work. Furthermore, many younger employees use the phrase "rest and vest" to describe older employees collecting lucrative stock options and RSUs who they perceive as not working as hard as them. Yet what such younger employees fail to see is the 20+ years of hard work it took to get there - the same work they're putting in now. Gen X felt this way about Baby Boomers who lived it up in the 1980s and wouldn't get out of the way in the early-2000s. This led to a compression and in some cases promotions skipped Gen X and were given directly to Gen Y, causing even more resentment.

While there is no magic age for retirement, it does seem like 60 years old is a common age for folks to hang it up. For those who want to keep working, companies need to determine whether they're still providing value. If not, then it's time to let them go (see above bolded).

Xer here. Thanks much for the validation - I was one who felt boomer bosses passed over solid deputies for promotion of kids’ generation (millennials). Never saw someone else write this down. I knew I had not saved enough in retirement early (small biz) so I selected a career to last until minimum retirement age - 67.

[Anonymous]

I’m 62 and in consulting. Oddly age is an asset in my business, which is expertise/experience based. I’ve been doing this for a while though, and have been with my current company for almost 15 years. I plan to retire in the next 3-5 years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I retired at 63.

I worked with colleagues of all ages. My close team of 10 were ages 35-64. We got along but I did feel that the younger people wanted our jobs (if I left it opened up a promotion, which one of them did get). I also had noted a few people who stayed too long (67 and 69 years old) who got bitter/assholish and daffy/absent-minded, respectively, along with a couple of other people who died a month or two after retirement. I didn't want to become these people.

I was happy with my job but started to feel like I was treading water at age 59. When I realized I didn't enjoy doing my favorite parts of the job and felt stressed out, I decided to go. I planned it for a year, not telling anyone. I gave my notice three months in advance. Having that plan made the last year much easier and gave me a third wind.

My house was paid off a year before I left, I had enough in retirement and decided it was okay to go. Thank goodness for that. I am happy with the decision. I thought I would work longer, but I didn't.

Oftentimes younger employees want their bosses' jobs, but for the wrong reasons. They look at such higher-level jobs as a "reward" for their hard work. Furthermore, many younger employees use the phrase "rest and vest" to describe older employees collecting lucrative stock options and RSUs who they perceive as not working as hard as them. Yet what such younger employees fail to see is the 20+ years of hard work it took to get there - the same work they're putting in now. Gen X felt this way about Baby Boomers who lived it up in the 1980s and wouldn't get out of the way in the early-2000s. This led to a compression and in some cases promotions skipped Gen X and were given directly to Gen Y, causing even more resentment.

While there is no magic age for retirement, it does seem like 60 years old is a common age for folks to hang it up. For those who want to keep working, companies need to determine whether they're still providing value. If not, then it's time to let them go (see above bolded).

I am a Boomer and I am working. I plan on retiring in 2029 or 2030.

I have a job I like. A nice big office. It is pretty much 9-5ish. I can do remote one day a week, dress down and get 4-5 weeks vacation.

It is a good chance Gen Z gets my job.

If it actually was the 1980s I would be working 50-55 hours a week in a suit in person in an office full of smoke being pressured to go out drinking with the clients 2-3 nights a week. No way I last past 55.

Work life balance extended boomer shelf life

It’s great that you’re able to keep working into your 70s. I hope I can do the same. But the poster above and then you have pointed out that I probably can’t. I’m already 55 and will be wearing a suit, putting in more than 50 hours in person and also going out in the evening for probably 3-4 of the days this week, here in the 2020s. We can’t all sit back and rest in our jobs. My new-ish boss is *still* a boomer. When he retires, I’m guessing they’ll skip all of us Gen-X people and go straight to a generation below. We aren’t earning enough to retire yet so will have to suffer the indignity of working for someone with less experience, unless they push us out.

[Anonymous]

I'm in my mid 50s and work in the cybersecurity space. The technology is always evolving and it is hard to keep up. I'm just trying to make it to 60 and squeeze every dollar out of the company I can and then move into a part time role. Fortunately, I work in a speciality area that is always in demand and it is easy to find part time work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm in my mid 50s and work in the cybersecurity space. The technology is always evolving and it is hard to keep up. I'm just trying to make it to 60 and squeeze every dollar out of the company I can and then move into a part time role. Fortunately, I work in a specialty area that is always in demand and it is easy to find part time work.

Compliance with government cybersecurity standards is critical because any company playing in government contracting is subject to the False Claims Act - a very nasty and expensive piece of legislation that's fueled by whistleblowers (who get 15%-25%) of the settlement/judgment. International cybersecurity doesn't have the same FCA exposure, but it's still important to those governments.

[Anonymous]

What about teaching?
I knew since I started the job that I can't be doing it past 25. I'm a waiter. Here I am doing it still past 45.
The last 5 years has been great in the market. The next 5-8 should be good too because of all the innovation. A little bit of investing got me to the point where I really don't even have to work anymore. It all took under 5 years and about $60k total. You still have time to make financial freedom happen then you don't have to worry about age, ageism, and a new job.
Health insurance? I just bought Kaiser Plan for 3 people for $860 a month.
I still work, but very part time with 3-4 long vacations a year.

[Anonymous]

Turning 60 this year. Work in county government communications. Plenty of people my age. Plan on retiring in five years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In some federal agencies, I saw people working at late 70s/early 80s.

Lots of them at NIH.

[Anonymous]

This is OP - and I am still following this thread carefully!

I'm in comms/writing and editing/fundraising these days - I hope if I ever need to hang a shingle I'll at least be able to bring in some money. I'm on staff now but have been freelance in the past. Don't know why I am feeling so anxious about this right now - but I am, and am really appreciating hearing from folks about your experiences.

[Anonymous]

I am a tech lawyer who works in house. Retiring at 63 by the end of this year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I retired at 63.

I worked with colleagues of all ages. My close team of 10 were ages 35-64. We got along but I did feel that the younger people wanted our jobs (if I left it opened up a promotion, which one of them did get). I also had noted a few people who stayed too long (67 and 69 years old) who got bitter/assholish and daffy/absent-minded, respectively, along with a couple of other people who died a month or two after retirement. I didn't want to become these people.

I was happy with my job but started to feel like I was treading water at age 59. When I realized I didn't enjoy doing my favorite parts of the job and felt stressed out, I decided to go. I planned it for a year, not telling anyone. I gave my notice three months in advance. Having that plan made the last year much easier and gave me a third wind.

My house was paid off a year before I left, I had enough in retirement and decided it was okay to go. Thank goodness for that. I am happy with the decision. I thought I would work longer, but I didn't.

Oftentimes younger employees want their bosses' jobs, but for the wrong reasons. They look at such higher-level jobs as a "reward" for their hard work. Furthermore, many younger employees use the phrase "rest and vest" to describe older employees collecting lucrative stock options and RSUs who they perceive as not working as hard as them. Yet what such younger employees fail to see is the 20+ years of hard work it took to get there - the same work they're putting in now. Gen X felt this way about Baby Boomers who lived it up in the 1980s and wouldn't get out of the way in the early-2000s. This led to a compression and in some cases promotions skipped Gen X and were given directly to Gen Y, causing even more resentment.

While there is no magic age for retirement, it does seem like 60 years old is a common age for folks to hang it up. For those who want to keep working, companies need to determine whether they're still providing value. If not, then it's time to let them go (see above bolded).

I’m a boomer and at the beginning of the 2000’s I was 40. I definitely wasn’t in anyone’s way at that point and absolutely needed to keep working. I’m also in a generation without pensions so early retirement isn’t that easy. So not sure all the blame can be placed on boomers.

I am now 62 and considering retirement in the next few years. Health insurance is an issue so I need to wait until Medicare kicks in at 65. I pay $25k/year for health insurance right now because I am self employed. People retiring at 60 must have spouses insurance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m 62 and in consulting. Oddly age has been an asset in my business, which is expertise/experience based. I’ve been doing this for a while though, and have been with my current company for almost 15 years. I plan to retire in the next 3-5 years.

I am in my mid-60s as a consultant. My age and experience has been an asset. I don't want to be the CEO or COO any longer, which I make clear, and am consulting for younger executive teams of midsized companies. I make sure I stay current not only in my area of expertise, but on current events. I work out and am fit. I don't try to dress like I'm decades younger, but I dress well.

I "retired" after a liquidity event, but my social group and wife were/are still active in their careers, my kids are all busy in their own careers and kids, though we see them regularly, and I enjoy working. So when someone asked if I would help them out with something, my new chapter began and has grown. I keep saying just one more year, but I'm enjoying myself.

If you have some expertise in an area and a network that can either provide you with introductions or need help, it is a great later in life opportunity for those who aren't ready to retire.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is OP - and I am still following this thread carefully!

I'm in comms/writing and editing/fundraising these days - I hope if I ever need to hang a shingle I'll at least be able to bring in some money. I'm on staff now but have been freelance in the past. Don't know why I am feeling so anxious about this right now - but I am, and am really appreciating hearing from folks about your experiences.

I was in a similar career field and retired early. I saw the writing (literally) on the wall/screen. With the advent of AI-generated content, there will be very few opportunities in the future IMO.

I also thought I might be able to do some freelancing once I retired but have found it's not realistic. Many freelance writing gigs offer a mere pittance for content, from sources which can be shady.

[Anonymous]

My husband, who is 60ish in government, called my start-up employers “pyramid schemes.” Very few older people; those that last are either the best of the best (top 1%) or they are meh but working for any salary and move often, along with “consulting.” It is tough.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am a tech lawyer who works in house. Retiring at 63 by the end of this year.

Same here, but 10 years behind you. Stock options and RSUs have been pretty good to me at various companies, so I could hang it up now if I wanted - but I'd leave a good chunk of change on the table. Besides, I don't have a plan on what I would want to do with my time.