The 100 Year Life
In 2016 Lynda Gratton and Andrew Scott wrote a fascinating book called ‘The 100 Year Life’. It reinforced something many of us already know, there are more people than ever reaching the traditional retirement age, and then living longer than they (or the Governments who support them) ever thought they would. This is of course wonderful if you have a plentiful supply of savings to cover this extended period of time, but if you don’t, then you become highly vulnerable to the ever dwindling pool of money made available by Governments for those reliant on a pension.
A Gift
A longer life need not be something to fear. More time to spend with family and friends is indeed a wonderful gift for most of us. Expected advances in healthcare, especially in finding cures to current common diseases of the elderly, mean we can indeed look forward to living healthier, active and more enjoyable lifestyles well into our 80’s and even our 90’s.
What changes are we likely to see?
It’s expected that people will increasingly work into their 70’s and possibly their 80’s. Upskilling will be essential, adapting to technological advances and learning new skills.
The traditional ‘3 stage life cycle’ of Educate, Work, Retire, will evolve into a multi staged life cycle. To avoid burnout or boredom, a longer work life cycle may require that you take career breaks or sabbaticals, just to recharge your batteries. Having a good work/life balance will be even more important than it is now, to ensure you can maintain good physical and mental health.
What are the challenges?
The biggest concern around longevity surrounds the growing unsustainability of the Government Pension system. Whilst it’s not going to disappear in Australia in the foreseeable future, it is going to be much harder to get, and people in the future will be expected to largely take care of themselves financially.
Longevity – the 100 Year Life
Planning for the future
Whatever your age, or stage of life, it’s never too early to plan for the future. At Retire to Asia whilst we specialise in helping people retire overseas or perhaps assist with long stays in their favourite destinations, none of this is possible without a strong financial plan to support their dream lifestyle. And it’s Financial Planning that is our real specialty.
How we can help you
We help you put together a financial plan, then through careful ongoing management of your assets, we develop a nest egg upon which you can then build the sort of retirement lifestyle you always dreamed about. Whether that dream is in Australia, Asia or anywhere else, we will be there to assist you.
The future is bright
The media love a scary headline. They often portray the future as something to fear, but it isn’t. With careful planning, good advice and a willingness to embrace change, the future is full of endless exciting opportunities. And its very likely you’ll have more time than you ever imagined to explore these opportunities.
