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Longevity Upends Traditional Financial Planning: MIT AgeLab Study

MONews
8 Min Read
Retired couple enjoying time together outdoors.

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The fact that Americans are living longer has made the typical approach to financial planning less than ideal. New study by MIT AgeLab and Transamerica surveyed nearly 1,200 people and 10 focus groups. They conclude that the traditional three-part plan of education, work, and retirement, and one aimed at ensuring people can live comfortably in retirement, fails to take into account the increasing longevity of Americans. Instead, the researchers who wrote the report advocate focusing on three factors: well-being, work, and finances as three key stages of adulthood.

Do you have questions about long-term planning for retirement? Talk to a Financial Advisor Now.

Americans live much longer Average life expectancy increased from 68 years in 1950 to almost 79 years in 2009. Longer life expectancy means longer retirement periods. While men who retired in 1970 had less than 13 years to retire, the average retirement time for men in 2020 was almost 19 years. A person turning 65 in 2023 has about a 50% chance of living another 20 years.

This trend is expected to continue. As of 2020, there are approximately 92,000 people in their 80s in the United States, but that number is expected to nearly triple within 25 years, totaling 270,000 Americans over the age of 100 by 2045. That means if they stop working at age 67, they could have up to 33 years in retirement.

To get a sense of how long 33 years is, consider that in 1990, George HW Bush was president, Madonna was number one on the music charts, and the number one TV show was ‘Cheers.’

“Americans are generally optimistic about their future, but they may not fully appreciate how much their financial needs, priorities, and living circumstances will change over time,” said Dr. Joseph Coughlin, director of the MIT AgeLab. “More than ever before, planning for a long life means understanding what is most important at each stage of adulthood, finding balance, and supporting those priorities with actions and actions that lead to a better future.”

“The way we approach life and the way we work is changing,” said Phil Eckman, President of Workplace Solutions at Transamerica. “People want flexibility and choice in all areas of their lives, at work and at home.”

Traditional financial planning is built around relatively short time periods by today’s standards. retirement. This meant leisure became the focus and creating a suitable nest egg to fund what now appears to be a relatively short retirement. However, now that the length of retirement has increased significantly, this stage of life is more dynamic rather than solely focused on leisure.

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