Never Retire: Why People Are Still Working in Their 70s and 80s

It is common for baby boomers to remain employed well into their 60s, 70s, or even 80s due to various factors, according to U.S. News & World Report . The leading reasons for not retiring include finding fulfillment in employment, supplementing retirement income, maintaining support for worthy causes, and staying engaged and mentally sharp. The article's author interviewed several boomers as case studies. Gary Wordlaw came to regret his retirement as general manager of a TV station in Tallahassee, Fla., out of a sense of unused, pent-up energy. Howard Wooley, a 33-year veteran of the communications industry, opted to come out of retirement as a public policy consultant, which still allowed him the flexibility of much-needed family time. Sandra McPeak at Wells Fargo Advisors noted that many people follow a non-traditional retirement pathway or even un-retire. "A lot of times, people, when they retire, think they will have all this time . . . but after a while, they are drumming their fingers," she said. "They don't feel engaged. They feel like they aren't contributing."