If Mick Jagger can do it so can you
*This content is brought to you by Brenthurst Wealth
By Charize Beukes *
Rock icon Mick Jagger will be 81 years old in July this year. Despite his millions in the bank, he has no plans to stop working. In fact, the Rolling Stones announced a tour of several cities in North America and Canada, which will kick off towards the end of this month.
This may seem like a bold move, but he is simply part of a global trend to continue working after the 'expected' retirement age of 60 or 65, the standard age for this life change for decades. US labour statistics released in 2021 stated that the number of people 75 and older in the labour force is expected to grow 96.5% by 2030. In Spain, the number of people working past retirement in 2022 leapt 49% compared to 2008.
Why this trend of not retiring or opting for semi-retirement and not retirement? Two main reasons:
- People have realised they do not have enough savings to stop working and earning a regular income because of an expected longer life span. According to the United Nations Population Division, global life expectancy at birth for both sexes has improved from 46.5 years in 1950 to 71.7 years in 2022 and is expected to rise to 77.3 by 2050. This means, if you stop working at age 65 you will need enough money saved to support your lifestyle for 12 years or more. Against the backdrop of higher inflation (especially for medical cover), a very well-thought-out financial plan (and budget) needs to be in place to cover expenses from retirement savings. However, that expected longer life span is an average – in 2020 numbers released showed that there are 593 000 people around the world who are 100 years old. So, if you live to say 90, you will need enough money for 25 years. The truth to consider whether you have enough or are on track to have enough: Financial planners recommend a replacement ratio of 75% of your current salary. To set a target goal for this replacement ratio, a good estimate is to multiply your monthly salary by 200. The total you get is the amount you'd need if you retired today at a 75% replacement ratio. For example, say you currently earn R40 000 a month, which covers your living costs with some to spare. R40 000 x 200 = R8 000 000. So, R8 million is around the total amount you'll need saved at retirement in today's terms.
- Thanks to improved medical care in the past century, people older than 65 or 70 are healthier and fitter and feel they can continue to work. Thus, the semi-retirement trend is growing around the world. Many do scale down and choose to work as, for instance, consultants to other (typically smaller companies) using the skills and experience they gained while working full-time. Others choose a new line of work by starting a small business or earning an income from a passion (e.g. photography or baking) that they could never actively pursue while working. And it works. Not only do they continue to earn an income, a 2023 Pew Research Centre survey showed that senior workers are the group who most enjoy working. Two-thirds of workers ages 65 and older said they were extremely or very satisfied with their job overall, a higher percentage than their younger counterparts.
Planning for retirement remains the cornerstone of most people's financial plans. The best way to secure your retirement is to use the guidance of a financial planner who can devise a strategy suited to your needs and retirement goals, your risk profile and your plans for the lifestyle you want in retirement. A financial advisor can also provide important guidance about how to withdraw from savings in retirement as it is well-known that you will run out of funds if you withdraw too much.
But perhaps be like Mick Jagger (and Warren Buffet) and continue working.
* Charize Beukes, CFP®, is a financial advisor at Brenthurst Wealth Pretoria. charize@brenthurstwealth.co.za.