Since when was retirement death?
I’m a life-long NPR listener and supporter. I’ve had numerous driveway moments, been drawn into reports that brought new insights and perspectives, and, of course, changed plans to listen to the Sunday puzzle.
Recently my main station started a new fundraiser advert. The warm voice of the station’s general manager says, I’ve included this station in my retirement planning. Then she goes on to explain that she can feel good knowing that the station will benefit long after she’s gone. I’m left annoyed and confused.
Retirement is defined as the withdrawal from one's position or occupation or from active working life. Retirement planning refers to the allocation of savings or revenue for retirement. The goal of retirement planning is to achieve financial independence during one’s later years.
What the station manager meant was legacy planning which is the inheritance of money and assets that others receive after you die.
Retirement planning is for living; inheritance is after death. What’s up with this? Is my NPR station really equating retirement for death? Are their listeners so delicate that they can only manage thinking about not working anymore, but can’t handle the finiteness of life?
This kind of ageist language is not helpful. We can and should plan for retirement – especially women. Given that we’re all living longer and women tend to outlive men, planning for retirement is something that will make or break our third chapters. And by all accounts, we are very poor planners. According to some sources, 25% of people not yet retired have no savings at all.
Retirement is not death. It can be a time of discovery, vibrancy, and growth. That is what we believe at WonderCrone and in many healthy aging organizations. Without savings and a good retirement plan, one’s third chapter will be filled with uncertainty, fear, and vulnerability.
So by all means, do plan and plan early! Why not start now to honor May which is Older Americans Month (something President Kennedy began in 1963)? Be consistent and make sure that your third age has the resources you will need to thrive. There are a variety of resources to help you, from AARP to your financial institution to privately-conducted workshops. It is never too early to start, nor is it ever too late.
And if you have assets that will extend beyond your natural years, then by all means, do make a legacy plan. But never conflate retirement and death. This kind of ageist language denigrates the fullness of life that we can enjoy throughout our later years and limits how people think about those years.
Join me at Wondercrone.com for more ideas on how to curate your best third chapter! And, please, support your local NPR station.
Corporate Director of Marketing at SALMON Health and Retirement
3moSo proud to have worked on this video! A real team effort.