Successful Aging

"Coping with an aging population will be the great global challenge for societies and families in the 21st century", says Peter Peterson, chairman of a New York Investment Banking firm. Peterson says to plan ahead for a longer work life.

The best way to plan for this crisis is to recognize that more of your retirement financial burden will fall on you. Prepare now to continue earning an income in your 60's and 70's. Will you continue in the job you're in now? Would you like a less demanding or more interesting new career? What steps will you have to take to become educated or trained for the new work you plan to be doing?

Just wanting to work in retirement isn't enough. You must take responsibility for making yourself economically relevant in your older years.

Source: Peterson, P. (1999, July 15). Winning in tricky times. Bottom Line Personal, p.7.