Why I still work in retirement

I WAS 62 WHEN MY FANTASY OF RETIRING EARLY became a reality. My company announced a round of buyouts, and when the offering email came around, I jumped at it. After 30 years on the job, it was time to begin a new chapter in my life, I thought.

As long-time empty nesters, my wife and I were in good shape financially. I could stay on her health insurance, and I was lucky enough to have both a pension and a well-funded 401(k). But I wouldn’t be eligible for full Social Security benefits until I turned 66, so I knew that for me to be able to enjoy the life I wanted in retirement, I’d have to continue to bring in some money. Fortunately, I already had a contract for a newspaper column, and I figured I could find other freelance writing gigs. Still, retiring early was scary.

Now, seven years after my so-called retirement, I can say my post-retirement career has been a success. I finished writing a book that friends have been urging me to write for years — “Fixing the Racial Wealth Gap.” And this year I was asked to be a senior fellow at a non-profit dedicated to expanding economic opportunities for low-income families and communities.

And still, I have more time to enjoy myself and my family than I did when I worked full time, there’s enough money coming in to allow me to explore new things and I have the stimulation and satisfaction of doing creative work that I love. In addition, I’m more confident that my assets will last my lifetime — and it’s possible that I may even have more to leave my loved ones someday.

I’m not alone in my decision to work in retirement. More than a quarter of today’s retirees report collecting income from a job.¹ And with companies increasingly adopting remote work as the new norm, the ability to do your job from anywhere — even your vacation home — could provide more incentive for people to continue working in retirement. If you’re considering doing so, discussing the following questions with a financial advisor could help you better understand what the extra income might mean for your finances.

Q: How long will I need my retirement assets to last?

At age 65, life expectancy for a man is 82; for a woman the same age, it’s nearly 85.² A 65-year-old couple faces a 50% chance that at least one will reach age 92. “We need to be financially prepared for 100-year lives,” says Cynthia Hutchins, director of Financial Gerontology at Bank of America. “That puts a spotlight on the savings you’ve built up since they need to last for that longer life.”

Q: Can working in retirement increase the chance that I won’t outlive my money?

There are a couple of key financial benefits of working in retirement. First, there’s a greater likelihood that you can put off collecting Social Security, notes Merrill Wealth Management Advisor Jenna Carroll. Until age 70, for every year you delay past your full retirement age — 66 or 67, depending on the year you were born — your benefit will rise by 8%.³ Carroll recommends waiting until age 70, if you can. When clients want to start at 66 or 67, she tells them: “Listen, you’re going to get a guaranteed 8% raise every year. Who is giving you an 8% raise?” Claiming your benefits three years before your full retirement age, by contrast, could cut your Social Security income by 30%.

Then there’s this not-inconsiderable advantage: By generating income from a part-time job, you may be able to put off dipping into your retirement savings, allowing your investments more time to seek growth. Because I don’t yet need to take withdrawals from my retirement savings, my investments have grown considerably in the five years since my “retirement.”

You may also find that you can increase your spending rate as a result when you do begin to draw down your savings. Beginning withdrawals at a later age may enable you to create a bit more of a cushion, which could potentially allow you to pursue things you might not otherwise have been able to do, and perhaps also be able to give more to future generations.

Beyond the financial benefits, of course, there are other good reasons to consider working in retirement. “For a lot of my clients, working is not just about the money,” notes Carroll. She points to one client who had been in the tech industry and became a substitute teacher. Another who loved music started working in a concert venue. “You get to do something different — something you’re very passionate about,” says Carroll.

Q: Is there any downside to the extra income?

Earning income in retirement could push you into a higher tax bracket — something you’ll want to discuss with your tax professional. Once you reach age 65, a higher income can also affect your Medicare premiums.⁴ And if you are already claiming Social Security, as much as 85% of your Social Security income could be subject to federal (and possibly state) income taxes.⁵ Your financial advisor and tax professional can help you weigh these considerations. Start early. “The time to do that is five to 10 years before retirement, and then revisit it as you approach retirement — and at any point when your circumstances change,” says Ben Storey, director, Retirement Research & Insights, Bank of America.

Before accepting my buyout, I leaned heavily on my financial advisor, who assumed the roles of career counselor and psychologist, too. Now people ask me all the time, “When will you really retire?” I don’t have an answer. The truth is, I can’t imagine not working.

Rodney A. Brooks is a former deputy managing editor and personal finance and retirement columnist for USA TODAY. He is the author of three books — two on retirement — and currently writes a retirement column for U.S. News & World Report.