Retirement in America is a disaster for many.

[Harpy Eagle]

https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/retirement-in-america-is-a-disaster-for-many-is-there-hope-130053770.html

Retirement in America is a disaster for many like Withers. And no one — politicians, financial planners, pick your own expert — seems to know what exactly to do about it.

I have been covering all this for years as a journalist, book author, and public speaker. Trust me, the state of retirement in America has never been this bad since the federal law that molded the majority of today’s retirement landscape, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, or ERISA, was signed into law 50 years ago.

The article is a tad long but well worth the read.

The heart of the problem comes down to not saving enough prior to retiring and the cost of healthcare as you age along with the cost of assisted-care facilities and nursing homes.

Lots of suggestions for how to fix it, most rely on the Govt, which does not seem to be the way to go

 

[1srelluc]

Assisted-care facilities and nursing home costs are the killer and are hard to plan for.....7K a month at the very least as of last year.

Hospice care (in home) seems to be the way to "go" till some doctor decides you can't be at home after a medical event and orders you stuck in a "home".

Oh, and BTW, doctors get kickbacks for sticking you in one too.

Better to just eat a bullet at that point if you are able.

 

[candycorn]

https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/retirement-in-america-is-a-disaster-for-many-is-there-hope-130053770.html

Retirement in America is a disaster for many like Withers. And no one — politicians, financial planners, pick your own expert — seems to know what exactly to do about it.

I have been covering all this for years as a journalist, book author, and public speaker. Trust me, the state of retirement in America has never been this bad since the federal law that molded the majority of today’s retirement landscape, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, or ERISA, was signed into law 50 years ago.

The article is a tad long but well worth the read.

The heart of the problem comes down to not saving enough prior to retiring and the cost of healthcare as you age along with the cost of assisted-care facilities and nursing homes.

Lots of suggestions for how to fix it, most rely on the Govt, which does not seem to be the way to go

Yep.... I’m looking at it and it looks a lot worse than I thought it would 20 years ago. I’m luckier than most. I have a pension from public sector work and my 401k, some investments, and I have a growing amount of side work that I do.

The loss of a spouse never stops destroying you. We were supposed to be doing this together.

 

[candycorn]

Assisted-care facilities and nursing home costs are the killer and are hard to plan for.....7K a month at the very least as of last year.

Hospice care (in home) seems to be the way to "go" till some doctor decides you can't be at home after a medical event and orders you stuck in a "home".

Oh, and BTW, doctors get kickbacks for sticking you in one too.

Better to just eat a bullet at that point if you are able.

Please...lead by example you sick fuck.

 

[Polishprince]

A lot of people retire when they don't have the means to do so, this is where they fuck up.

Walmart hires a lot of us old fucks who don't have two nickels to rub together, but a lot of geezers are too proud to fetch carts in a parking lot.

 

[Harpy Eagle]

Yep.... I’m looking at it and it looks a lot worse than I thought it would 20 years ago. I’m luckier than most. I have a pension from public sector work and my 401k, some investments, and I have a growing amount of side work that I do.

The loss of a spouse never stops destroying you. We were supposed to be doing this together.

It is a mess out there. We are blessed in that I have my Marine Crops Pension and my wife will have one from the VA. Plus over the last 10 years we have had the means to put a lot of money into retirement accounts.

But this is not the case for a lot of people.

So sorry about your loss, it is my biggest fear in life

 

[Harpy Eagle]

A lot of people retire when they don't have the means to do so, this is where they fuck up.

Walmart hires a lot of us old fucks who don't have two nickels to rub together, but a lot of geezers are too proud to fetch carts in a parking lot.

Nobody should have to work after 65 if they do not want to.

As for being too proud, perhaps they are not physically able.

 

[candycorn]

It is a mess out there. We are blessed in that I have my Marine Crops Pension and my wife will have one from the VA. Plus over the last 10 years we have had the means to put a lot of money into retirement accounts.

But this is not the case for a lot of people.

So sorry about your loss, it is my biggest fear in life

Not to build on the fear but the biggest lie I was ever told after they died was that “they were half your life”. Not even close. At least 95% of my life. Every decision you make from scheduling a trip to the hair salon to the type of oregano you buy involves them. Then when they are gone...the decisions you continue to make are tributes to them. I still buy the same oregano.

 

[Harpy Eagle]

Not to build on the fear but the biggest lie I was ever told after they died was that “they were half your life”. Not even close. At least 95% of my life. Every decision you make from scheduling a trip to the hair salon to the type of oregano you buy involves them. Then when they are gone...the decisions you continue to make are tributes to them. I still buy the same oregano.

Honestly my even bigger fear is that I will die before my wife. I never want her to go through it.

 

[initforme]

55 years old is too old to retire much less 65. We need to find ways to get people out of the workforce much earlier.

 

[braalian]

55 years old is too old to retire much less 65. We need to find ways to get people out of the workforce much earlier.

I’ve seen too many men who age fast and get soft in mind and body quick when they retire in their 50s.

 

[initforme]

I’ve seen too many men who age fast and get soft in mind and body quick when they retire in their 50s.

But it beats wasting one's life away working.

 

[expat_panama]

https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/retirement-in-america-is-a-disaster-for-many-is-there-hope-130053770.html

Retirement in America is a disaster for many like Withers. And no one — politicians, financial planners, pick your own expert — seems to know what exactly to do about it.

I have been covering all this for years as a journalist, book author, and public speaker. Trust me, the state of retirement in America has never been this bad since the federal law that molded the majority of today’s retirement landscape, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, or ERISA, was signed into law 50 years ago.

The article is a tad long but well worth the read.

The heart of the problem comes down to not saving enough prior to retiring and the cost of healthcare as you age along with the cost of assisted-care facilities and nursing homes.

Lots of suggestions for how to fix it, most rely on the Govt, which does not seem to be the way to go

Let's take a big breath and get a grip on reality. OK, so retirement is a disaster for "many". At the same time retirement for "most" is just fine. It's not perfect but perfection is the enemy of the the good. Perfection is not possible in this universe but the good is attainable and it's our goal.

Let's first be happy that retirement for most is good, then we can consider making retirement "better" for "some".

 

[Harpy Eagle]

Let's take a big breath and get a grip on reality. OK, so retirement is a disaster for "many". At the same time retirement for "most" is just fine. It's not perfect but perfection is the enemy of the the good. Perfection is not possible in this universe but the good is attainable and it's our goal.

Let's first be happy that retirement for most is good, then we can consider making retirement "better" for "some".

It is always easy to tell who did not bother to read the link in the OP.

But that aside, how are things doing in Panama? We are hoping for to make another visit in 2025.

Still planning on moving there in 2029.

 

[initforme]

The absolutely worst day of retirement is ten thousand times better than the best day at work.

 

[Mr Natural]

I've been retired 23 years now. By far, the best 23 years of my life.

 

[initforme]

Getting people out of the workforce earlier will strengthen the economy.

 

[initforme]

I've been retired 23 years now. By far, the best 23 years of my life.

Awesome for you. I've been retired 29 years.

 

[expat_panama]

It is always easy to tell who did not bother to read the link in the OP.

But that aside, how are things doing in Panama? We are hoping for to make another visit in 2025.

Still planning on moving there in 2029.

It is always easy to tell who did not bother to read what I posted.

But that aside, things doing in Panama are fine. Sure, the U.S. is the best place to work, but Panama seems like a nice place to live. In this wonderful info age it's not to hard to work in the U.S. (online) and live in Panama. My experience is that living here requires either a high frustration tolerance level, or a powerful sense of humor --preferably both. Fortunately I'm married to someone who can manage local business transactions while I do the U.S. stuff.

 

[westwall]

But it beats wasting one's life away working.

What if you like working? I enjoy the hell out of working on things. I am helping a friend build his airplane, I have two cars I'm working on for an auction sale.

Add to that helping my wife with her gardening, and I am getting set to remodel our bathroom.

Why stop and sit around turning into a vegetable?