Harvard Business Publishing

Agreed, no plans to retire, but with lots of plans about how to say healthy and actice so as not to be forced into retirement.

I have actually started my second career now at age 51, moving from working for companies to being a consultant. My third career would be writing about my profession, see http://stores.lulu.com/dwwright99

The sea change between boomers like me and the greatest generation, like my father, is that work is no longer accepted to be toil that must be survived to get to those golden years. If we hate what we do, we change to something else. My dad retired 'early' at 63 but was dead at 66 thanks to the tobacco industry. I just wish he had had a job that really engaged him during his whole working life, not just a 8 hour shift.

You ask the right question. After coaching leaders for over a decade, I am no longer surprised by the disconnect between goals and actions.

People want to work into and past retirement years, but they want more autonomy and part-time work. Alas, but when asked what they are doing about it - the response is vague. Most haven't actively managed their careers and have few skills to do so.

Drucker had it right when he said that if you aren't working on your 2nd career in your 40's, you aren't going to have one.

Susan Cramm
susan@valuedance.com

Tammy, I'm just getting familiar with your blog...and have it RSS'd...
I just turned 60...took early retirement at the end of '06 from a large telecom company where I spent 21 years. Subsequent to doing some networking, I just completed a one-year contracting gig at a local company using my established HR experience and knowledge base. I'm resistant to returning to a full time corporate position...not that I've had anyone banging the door down looking for me. I'm very realistic about today's work world and today's economy...and I accept those parameters for someone like me. I'm ideally seeking independent contract/consulting work. In addition to needing a continued revenue stream, I don't envision myself "retiring"...that word is not in my vocabulary...and I dare to utter Bob Dylan's mantra at his 63 years, "I'm in my middle years and I don't have retirement plans".
This is just a new journey along which I will have to keep a much more open mind to many more new opportunities.
Regards,
Norm

I am wondering about how the recent economic crisis will impact both: near retirees / retirees, and Gen Y.

Is this just a blip, and everyone will return to business as usual. Or, are we about to see a real change in how people think about investing?

Thanks for sharing your article Mr. Tammy Erickson! Being able to make a sound financial plan is really important nowadays. Bankruptcy is a great challenge to the job market. Many countries are facing problems concerning their savings for retirement and investments for future use. Making mortgage loans are beneficial if the beneficiary will make a sound financial planning. In UK, for example, pension payments have lately been disrupted by British citizens living abroad. The exchange organization Moneycorp has found out that British banks have been charging some pretty steep rates for international transfers to expatriates in other countries. No doubt that a lot of people are not happy with their banks’ treatment of the pension money that they worked so hard for, only to have it penalized so a bank executive can buy another ivory plated back scratcher.