Bringing down 5 myths for the years of pension
Retirement is a very sensitive issue, mainly emotional, which most of the times, however, has serious economic implications. A research conducted in the USA defies five ordinary myths for a very special moment of a person’s life.
Fidelity Investment carried out, in cooperation with the longevity center Stanford Center on Longevity, a research for the non-economic factors affecting the decisions of people during retirement.
These factors are related to how the workers feel for their work and their colleagues, for their desire to spend time with their families and their grandchildren and for their overall health condition and the way of life that they want to have when they will be retired. The research was conducted to 12,000 people over the age of 55 years, who are either saving money for retirement or they have retired recently and the answers are truly impressive.
MYTH 1. People do not go into retirement until they have enough money
This is not… quite true. Although it may seem that it is a matter of common sense for someone not to leave his job until there is enough money in the bank to cover the costs of retirement, 49% of the respondents said that this was not the main factor in their decision.
On the contrary, they had in mind a specific date, claiming that they want to have enough time to enjoy their retirement. If necessary, they say they will adapt their way of life during retirement in order to cope with the money they have managed to save.
On the other hand, 51% of the respondents appeared determined to remain in their work until they reach a particular limit in their bank account, because they want to ensure that they will have enough money to do what they want for the rest of their lives.
MYTH 2. Retirement means spending time with your wife
In fact, the absence may start to become likeable, depending on who answers the question. While almost 60% of men who participated in the research are… eager to spend time with their wives during their retirement, ladies are not… so willing to spend time with their husbands. They prefer to do other things like spending time with their grandchildren (almost 70%, when the percentage of those who want to spend time with the husband is 43%).
Are you perhaps among those who think that retirement will be a second honeymoon?
MYTH 3. Many pensioners are having a difficult time and live with guilt
Here is the point where the situation is not as bad as you think. Despite the fact that a large number of retired people wish they had saved more money (36%) and about the same percentage would like to have begun saving earlier (33%), pensioners are extremely happy to stop working and enjoy their lives.
The percentage of pensioners who claim that they left work at the right time is configured in 82%. Even higher (85%) is the percentage of those who say that retirement is the most satisfactory period of their lives.
Probably nobody misses the office… And while they can reduce the costs to live with what they have, 79% says that they get by more easily than expected.
MYTH 4. People work when they are retired because they are forced to
Although some pensioners return to the work due to necessity, it is amazing how many pensioners continue to work for other reasons which are not necessarily economic. When asked why they work during retirement,61% of the respondents say “they love what they are doing” and 48% that “they feel worthy”.
Of course not all pensioners work in the same sector they used to work before. Many find the opportunity to do what they really want and that offers them satisfaction or gives them the opportunity to deal with interesting things or to help at causes for which they did not have time in the past.
MYTH 5. Retirement is all about traveling and hobbies
It may be true for some, but others simply want a chance to just do nothing.
Living nowadays is so hectic and stressful, so it is obvious that workers want a few minutes (days, weeks or even months) to calm down. Hammocks, terraces and stacks of books to read are some of the delights… for those who are ready to retire.
While some pensioners said they have planned leisure trips that they could not do when they worked, or that they are willing to volunteer for various groups and institutions, it is astonishing that 72% say that the main reason they chose to retire is simply to have more free time. “Freedom and ease to do what you want, even if this is just nothing”.
