• 50-55% of workers retire between 60 and 65
• 7% of workers are 65 or older and actively working
• 20% are 55 or older
• 40 % of workers 50-64 are considering a career change
• Half of older workers must work to survive and the rest have other reasons.

As you can see by those numbers, it’s not unusual for people to continue to work into their sixties (and 70s and 80s) for various reasons, but mostly due to financial necessity (like my mom). I’m sure most people would love to enjoy a life of leisure and travel while they’re still healthy, unhindered by job responsibilities, maybe play with their grandchildren, do some volunteering, serve in the church, explore hobbies. But this is not an option for the nearly half of older Americans with little to no retirement savings and no pension. Yet the younger generation seems to expect us old folks to quit and make room for them.

https://usafacts.org/data-projects/retirement-savings

https://www.newsweek.com/boomers-make-way-gen-z-work-americans-divided-2014633

Well, sorry kids, but I’m just beginning my career at 60, and I hope to keep it going as long as possible! If you’ve been following me for awhile you know I was a full-time, homeschooling mom for many years. After living on one income for so long, barely making ends meet, and having zero knowledge of financial planning, we have arrived in our sixties unprepared to retire. But thankfully God has directed me into a field that I believe has been waiting for me since I was born, taxes, investment and financial planning. I’m not sure exactly where this journey will end up, and it’s still in the learning stage, but I foresee it continuing to grow into something. However, I am leaving it up to God.

For now I am in full on study and learning mode. There is so much to learn and only so many working memory units in my brain! It does feel like the more I study, the better my brain works. Alongside the study material, I also play brain games and try to discuss the topics with anyone who will give me five minutes of time, to stimulate the neurons. I also take mostly daily walks, which they say is good for your brain.

UPDATE! I passed! I’m officially an Enrolled Agent.

The program I am using to study for the Enrolled Agent exam is called Fast Forward Academy. As an Intuit employee, I did not have to pay for the course, which is a great benefit and one reason I love Intuit! The material is written in very formal and technical language, just like the tax code, so at times it takes a few attempts to figure out a sentence. They use the passive voice, ugh! Pray for me.

This is an exciting time for me! I loved being a mom and raising kids, but I have also always had a desire to participate in the world of work. For some reason I find the whole thing fascinating. As usual, I am living my life on a different timeline than the average person. While many women my age are looking forward to retirement after years of hard work, I am really enjoying these new challenges and the rewards of doing something that I find interesting and fulfilling. People tell me it will get old soon and they may be right, but for now, it’s fun.

My family is still my priority, which means my study time is limited to when I am not taking care of Grace and my husband, cooking, cleaning, laundry, shopping, etc.

What about you? Are you looking forward to early retirement, regular retirement, or just getting started ? What do you plan to do after you or your husband stops working?

Time to get back to studying! Have a great afternoon and God bless!