Looks like some people are going to be working forever
After several years of shrinking purchasing power and low returns on their savings, many people have come to the conclusion that they'll have to work forever.
Looks like they might be right.
Despite some reports
that working just a little bit longer — to age 70, no less — will allow most households
to have adequate income in retirement, many people will still come up short, says the Employee Benefit Research
Institute.
For approximately one-third of the households between the ages of 30 and 59, even working that long won’t be enough, EBRI maintains.
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The EBRI research stems from projections that large numbers of Baby Boomer and
Generation X workers are likely to run short of what they need to cover general
expenses and uninsured health care expenses in retirement.
“It would be comforting from a public policy standpoint to assume that merely
working to age 70 would be a panacea to the significant challenges of assuring
retirement income adequacy, but this may be a particularly risky strategy,
especially for the vulnerable group of low-income workers,” says Jack
VanDerhei, the author of the report.
But don't give up just yet. Working longer can still have a positive impact, EBRI suggests.
Its numbers suggests that nearly two-thirds of households aged 50‒59 would be considered “ready” for retirement at age 70, compared with 52 percent of those same households if they were to retire at age 65.
Do you see yourself as one of those who will be working well into their 60s? By choice or circumstance?
By Gordon Powers, MSN Money
Photo credit: Juho Tastula
Posted by: zafar | Sep 10, 2021 4:23:23 PM
todays capitalist treat worker as honey bee work theire entire life and dead.socity gives u only to live and work you don't deserve vacations and any type of passtime hobby.
Posted by: Western Guy | Sep 11, 2021 1:43:53 PM
No Zafar
In a capitalist society such as ours you get back what you contribute to the system. If you have nothing unique to contribute you won't get much back.
The solution to financial stability is simply to figure a way to contribute more than you consume.
Personally I am in my early 30's and so far I am planning to retire at around 65. I should have enough equity to manage that in the next 3-4 years at current growth rates. That means I will have 30 years to further pad my nest egg and yes enjoy my success with vacations, luxuries etc.
I find it humerous how many people I see that consme luxuries before their retirement is assured. Personally I consider it extremely short sighted.
Lastly @ Zafar. Today individuals live much longer, enjoy better quality lives, have access to amazing luxuries, and have much easier jobs than ever before in history and yet people like you still complain.
Posted by: Steve | Sep 11, 2021 6:50:36 PM
As a Gen-X er there is no question that I will be one of those who will be working well into their 60s. My children aren't yet university age and my parents who have been aging well will need more help as their health begins to deteriorate.
Were I just to worry about myself I'd be fine, but not looking at my whole family. Plus looking at the level of debt that Canada has (Nationally, provincially, municipally, personally) there is little chance that there will be any old age security net left by the time my generation reaches 68+
.
That said, the leading edge baby boomers will have had a nice cushy run on my behalf
Posted by: Mr. Negative | Sep 11, 2021 11:25:34 PM
The lower class, now the "lower-middle class", wasn't meant to retire early. If you are like me, you know that "we" pay for everything. Most of us work for a someone,either as an employee or a customer. We all know that the cost gets "passed through" to the customer as much as possible. With that being said, the same thing applies for life. Things are passed through and down, good and bad.
"We" the lower-middle class are in Trillions of dollars in debt, and need to figure out how to repay this before we can think about "retirement". The generations before us have left us in a "world of debt" that we need to figure out how to manage and re-balance the books in the next 30 - 60 years if we ever want to see retirement.
We also need to fix the "system" if we want to move forward. The system is broken for about 99% of the world and climbing. Soon, the percentage will be %99.9 if we continue to go this way.
Can anyone answer this question below?
Why are we, the consumer/tax payer in Trillions of dollars in debt? Yet, our corporations and wealthy are in Trillions of dollars in profits?
Now add one and one together. What do you get? I did this on my calculator, and did not have a negative number like the question above suggests. Corporations +1, Governments +1 = Taxpayer/consumer = (-1) (trillions in debt)
If we want to retire, we all need to learn to share again. Share the land, share our time, and share our resources. Not one man, or one country should have it all. We can all be okay, if we stop spelling TEAM with an "I" in it.
I am sure when i hear stories of the generations in the past fighting for a brighter future, it wasn't so one greedy man and his peers could control the world. I am assuming it was for peace and freedom.
Posted by: southbound | Sep 12, 2021 12:40:57 AM
I have been able to retire for quite a few years with a monthly investment income higher than most canadians make a year,I love what I do,sometimes I work 7 days a week,I go to sunny places find it boring after a while,friends tell me I have to slow down to enjoy my retirement,but you know what it is more satisfying to physically work even in minus 10, I don't complain about the big corporations,bad government,just go find something you love doing and love doing every day and also do it well,the rewards will come.Western guy is right on the money,
live a live you and your family can enjoy don't worry about driving the latest flashy leased vehicle it will make you a slave of the system,
BTW I am 62,may work forever,not because I have to but because I enjoy what I do
Posted by: Blow it all | Sep 12, 2021 3:05:23 AM
Save for retirement? Hah! What guarantees that one will even make it to retirement age? Optimistic assumption.
2012 dollars saved won't be worth a damn in 2042.
Enjoy it while you can. Life is about making memories with loved ones, not saving for retirement. By the time you reach retirement age you'll have done and seen it all while in a young, able, and attractive body. You'll only be good for working when you're old anyway (if you make it that far).
Posted by: Mario | Sep 12, 2021 6:30:56 AM
BALANCE is the way to go. Saving for retirement might mean nothing if things change enough in the future such as social changes, pollution, sickness, etc... So, a bit of fun as we go along as well as a bit of saving might be a better solution than 'just saving' for retirement. If you don't learn to spend your money, you might get to retirement rich but socially/intellectually poor. Also, the financial industry tells us how many millions you need to retire but, the only time to spend your money is usually before 75. MOst of the time, you're gonna be too tired after 75 to do anything with your cash! It's fairly cheap to be in a rocking chair after you're too old to do other things. Agreed, some people are in excellent shape well into their 90's but, most are dead! The average age of death is 79 in Canada for men. You usually get unwell after 75 (if not dead to give the space to some folks who live to 90) and will not need much and you might not care... So, Live a little, play a little, learn a little, love a little and try to balance a lot!!!
Posted by: Marie | Sep 12, 2021 9:26:33 AM
I agree with @Western Guy. Life s what you make of it. I was raised by parents who taught life or society doesn't owe you anything and you will get of it what you put into it. When both my partner and were laid off due to downsizing over 15 yrs ago we didn't wast a lot of time complaining or saying poor me. We dug deep and started our own business out our small apartment because we could afford a house and drove old cars for years. We worked extremely hard and sacrificed for many years to build what we now have. And no, w did NOT get a big payout when we lost our jobs, nor a benefit or residual retirement pkg...we had almost NOTHING plus kids to support. We had some support from family and friends and early employees who were carefully picked for their skills, can-do attitude and willingness to work in very small quarters. We have built a strong thriving small business and I assure you have a very low staff turn over and cultivated an environment of mutual respect. Those with poor me/ worker bee attitudes do not last long (well in unions maybe). My parents also built a life by working had for themselves. Did I mention I also did a SECOND while we're still growing plus taking part time courses at school. When others say, "you're so LUCKY", we say, "yes, the HARDER we work the luckier we get!". I can give many other examples of those I know at all name levels and situations n life who have made the best of life.
Posted by: GenXer | Sep 12, 2021 10:25:30 AM
I agree with Western Guy, Marie and Southbound - the ones that see that life is what you make it and that you get out what you put in. I am so tired of the negative, life isn't fair, poor me types that blame others for where they are in life. I work hard for what i have, I grew up in a family where my parents didn't get past grade 10. I went to University and did well and when i couldn't go into my chosen career, i found another one and worked hard to work my way up from Receptionist. I am now well established in management and the few luxuries I have mean i don't get new clothes all the time or eat out or vacation very much at all. There is a trade off and you cannot have it all at the same time. My husband is not working right now and is changing careers mid life and i am 100% supporting him happily and we are watching every penny. We will be fine because we are prepared to do whatever it takes to take care of our family and children.
I plan on retiring at age 62 and have been focused on this goal since i was in my late 20's. It will take hard work, continued focus and dedication all while trying to pay off our house and also save for two kids to go to University. We have had 2 vacations in 11 years (Florida, nothing exotic) and won't have another until my husband is secure in his new career and we have savings in the bank as a cushion for harder times.
Life is what you make it and the more energy you spend thinking about 'poor me' and how others have it easier/better etc. the less time you will have to make your own success and stay focused on your goals and the steps you need to make them happen.
Posted by: Colour of money | Sep 12, 2021 11:34:11 AM
Retirement is a privilege, not a right.
We all need to eat for the duration of our lives, and so if consumption never stops, why should the work that justifies it. If you are interested in sacrificing consumption now to avoid working later, so be it. If not, don't complain.
At one point, we will all be too old and sick to be able to work any longer, but that point is being pushed till later in life as fast as life expectancies. After that point...honestly I'm stumped. Stay in poverty unless you have kind children to look after you.
Save or don't save, just don't complain.
Posted by: ZREXER | Sep 12, 2021 12:51:36 PM
As others have mentioned, life is about balance. My wife and I enjoy holidays, have our fair share of toys, but are also both savers by nature. We live a modest life style overall.
We invest conseritively, but have close to $2,000,000 in investments and a net worth of around $2,550,000. Our home has been paid off for over 10 years and we resisted getting into a 'mega homes' as may of our friends did.
We both have good paying jobs, but not what I would consider excessively so. We fully paid for both our kids university educations and provided each with a nest egg of $100,000 to get their lives launched. Both my kids are savers and are financially stable in their early 20's.
Our secret was to start saving when we young and let the beauty of compounding work for us. If you have good money management when the amounts are small, when you are able to save larger amounts you already have the discipline. We are still both in our early 50's and continue to work by choice, not out of necessity. That is the best feeling of all knowing you could retire tomorrow if you wanted too.
Finally, don't get caught up with 'things'. Getting more and more stuff does not create happiness! I finally figured out that 'less realy is more.' Enjoy your family and freinds. Having a great fulfilling life does not require a huge house stuffed with crap you never use.
Posted by: southbound | Sep 12, 2021 1:15:31 PM
I found that sometimes the harder you try,the less success you have,if you don't like what you do,or where your at change it,don't wait for government or your company or union to do it for you,the ones that are not able to change,are the ones that will have a hard time getting enough wealth to retire on their own or they will hate everyday life (poor me),
I never had any success (luck) in the stockmarket,there is no magic,the wealthy barber was a great book,save and invest ,compound interest,real estate did it for me,although just remember real estate is a commodity,don't buy unless the numbers make sense and you have a return,patience,
Posted by: Myles O'Howe | Sep 12, 2021 2:28:13 PM
Corrupt Media Maintain Blackout Hemp Fuel Cheap Living Ignored 2012 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8bxDFNtAW0w
Cannabis prohibition is keeping the cost of living artificially high! Nobody dies from cannabis and coffee kills people, think of all the Starbucks the government is keeping the cost of living artificially high, nobody dies from cannabis (marijuana) FEAR over a plant that DOES NOT KILL ANYBODY is keeping the cost of living artificially high, people need to work more and pay more to recieve less. How pathetic how a working man is sharing the truth to educate others and the University of Connecticut can even prove hemp fuel is superior. It would not take long AT ALL for the cost of living to get CHEAPER.
Hemp can create over 50,000 biodegradable products that are in demand! Hemp fuel would make gas/fuel/energy/food prices CHEAP hemp harvests more than corn ethanol AND hemp uses LESS WATER no pesticides, no herbicides, its a lot less energy intensive compared to corn.
Some hemp strains mature in 60-90 days. Ethanol, methanol, methane gas, and gasoline without sulfur can be derived from biomass made from hemp. Hemp can produce 10 tons of biomass per acre every four months. Biomass has a heating value of 5000-8000 BTU/lb. The hemp plant is one of the only plants that can be harvested year-around in states like California, or Florida for example.
http://mylesohowe.com/
http://today.uconn.edu/blog/2010/10/hemp-produces-viable-biodiesel-uconn-study-finds/
"The hemp biodiesel showed a high efficiency of conversion – 97 percent of the hemp oil was converted to biodiesel – and it passed all the laboratory’s tests, even showing properties that suggest it could be used at lower temperatures than any biodiesel currently on the market."
http://www.ims.uconn.edu/associate/Newsletters/January%202011.pdf
http://mylesohowe.com/index.php?page=hemp
Why can't mainstream media help expose the alternative media who spread fear mongering and lies? Alternative media claim to present what mainstream won't but thats a lie because ive had massive censorship from the alternative media. the alternative media promote economic collapse and other disinformation, fear mongering and lies and im not even allowed to prove them wrong without being censored. nice world we live in....
Posted by: PETE | Sep 12, 2021 8:42:43 PM
i have worked 15 years of my life i am 34 now and have work 20 years in hours if you concider 40 hours a work week. i put in to a pension and make very good money welding for a great company.
i am set to retire at 53 really 55 but i am bailing out at 53 with a 1800.00 a month pension that leaving at 53 year old, a long way away. if i have to work past 55 years old i am quiting my job and joining the system (welfair).
there is no insentive anymore for ppl to want to work if there is no retierment insight, you should not be aload to work past 60 what are all your kids going to do for a job if you are hogging the jobs at 60 and 70.
the canadian goverment should be ashamed of them selfs for puting the generation to come in danger the way they have. ( you put out 40, 80, 150.000 out for schooling and then have to wait for grampa to get out of the way so you can get a job ). I will have my house paid off in 5 years i will be 39, this should be your goal pay off the biggest dept you have witch should be your house (not school) by 45 and you should get to retire, hope for the best and bank you money on SILVER, GOLD, AND YOUR HOUSE.
BE SAFE
Posted by: PETE | Sep 12, 2021 8:51:36 PM
"Retirement is a privilege, not a right"
THIS IS WHAT IS WRONG WITH US TODAY WE SHOULD ALL GET TO RETIRE AND HAVE A CHOICE IN LIFE
YOU CAN JOIN THE HEARD OF SHEEPEL (BAAAA), OR YOU CAN BE A WOLF AND GET WHAT IS YOURS WORK HARD PLAY FAIR AND LIFE SHOULD GIVE YOU RETIREMENT
I AM A CANADIAN AND WE ARE SEE ALOT OF THE SAME PROBLEM AS THE USA AND WE WILL GET WORSE AS THEY RAISE RATES AND CHANGE MORE RULES ON LENDING BRACE YOUR SELFS.
Posted by: Uh Oh | Sep 12, 2021 9:55:25 PM
Foe PETE's sake... hopefully you'll have someone to support you when you reach 75-80-85 and maybe due to physical restrictions, you have to move into a retirement home. Don't know where you live but have you looked into the cost of a studio (aka hotel room) in a retirement home ? You hardly get in the door at $1800. per month (in today's money... never mind 35-40 years from now) and that doesn't even include basic utilities such as phone and cable. Hope you don't plan to eat much either.
Posted by: Keith | Sep 12, 2021 10:37:31 PM
The problem is that the older generations are still working well past retirement age and as a result us younger generations can't even get jobs. They grew up in a time of the economic boom when there were jobs, more capital flowing around, and the money was worth more. Now most of them can't pay their debts and as a result are still working when us younger workers need jobs.
We live in a time beyond the economic boom. Our parents, the baby boomers and Gen X have both greatly benefited from this time and now that the credit pools have dried up and remain near to insolvent, the previous generations are unable to pay back these debts. So us future generations are left to pay the bill via taxation, inflation, while competing with so called "skilled" immigration.
We start off in the workforce at wages that barely pay the rent and feed us. There all dead end and theres nothing out there left to grasp.
Just look at our neighbour to the south. The US has approx. 314 Million citizens under their wing. Out of this over 1/3rd of them are on welfare!?!?! wtf!
I'm 25 years old and have been fighting just for a stable decent full time job even for minimum wage! It's near impossible to find! Over 8 years of my life searching just to find work.....HELLO!!
I've worked at a few places most of them out of business and the ones remaining seriously need unions... A lot of peers I have worked with have college and some even university degrees. A lot of the older work force has SEVERAL college degrees, yet they all work with me at the same low paying, below poverty line wage, dead end job.
Where's the future we were all promised as children. Growing up to be something of any sort seems like a fairy tale these days. Even if we get jobs were working until were dead. I wouldn't be surprised if the next generation is labled, "The dead beat generation" .
, Peace
Posted by: SP | Sep 13, 2021 1:36:35 PM
PETE.. You don't mention a wife or children. Let's hope for your sake that you don't get sick after Canada privitizes it's healthcare at the request of the states or your carefully laid plan (of mice and men) "Might" not turn out as you planned.
Posted by: Mr. Negative | Sep 14, 2021 3:42:56 PM
Be careful relying on a pension that may not be there when you are ready to retire. I know a few people in the construction industry that are worried. Worried, that when it is time to collect the unions will have spent it all through the back door. That nice little pension is not always gauranteed. People need to stop having faith in old systems as they were created for the last generation to retire, not us.