Every day, about 8,000 baby-boomers
celebrate their 65th birthday.
That’s the age Americans have been
retiring at for decades.
But baby boomers, the largest American age group so
far, are changing retirement just as they’ve affected the country’s institutions
and social systems since they burst on the scene.
Here are eight ways baby boomers, born
between 1946 and 1964, are reinventing retirement, according to Kiplinger.
More career second acts – About
70 percent of pre-retirees expect to do some work during their retirement years
and more than half of those want to launch a new career. Nearly half say
“stimulation and satisfaction” are the main reasons they want to work in
retirement.
Rising entrepreneurship – In
2011, people ages 55 to 64 made up nearly 21 percent of new entrepreneurs, up
from 14.3 percent in 1996.
An older dating scene – Unlike
their parents, a significant percentage of boomers will retire alone and more
than half of single boomers say they’re open to dating. Boomers are one of the
fastest-growing segments of the $2.1 billion matchmaking industry.
New focus on fitness – Boomers
are hitting the gym at record rates. In addition to the desire to look younger,
boomers have a powerful financial incentive to get in shape as health insurance
companies are rewarding policyholders who take care of themselves.
Helping family financially – Despite worries about their own retirement security,
boomers are writing checks for family members on both sides of the generational
divide. About 52 percent are providing their children with financial support
and 16 percent are helping their parents or in-laws.
A rise in volunteering – About
one-third of adults age 55 and older volunteer their time for various causes.
And volunteer organizations are eager to enlist boomers as they have more
education than previous retirees and bring skills and life experiences that
charities value.
Aging in place – Numerous
studies show that most boomers want to remain in their homes as long as
possible, but often it’s not realistic to stay in a four-bedroom,
two-car-garage home. Solutions? Cohousing, featuring condos clustered around a
central courtyard or home improvements that make the house more age-appropriate.
Going back to school – Across
the United States, colleges and universities are designing programs for boomers
who want to learn new skills such as a new language. Community colleges are
also reaching out to boomers who want to update their job skills.
