The decline reflects not only retiring baby boomers but also Gen X workers leaving earlier than expected, with health problems, disability and company changes pushing many into unplanned retirement.
Higher pre-Medicare health insurance costs, strong recent stock gains and reduced Social Security benefits for claiming at 62 are shaping retirement decisions, while returning to comparable work can be difficult.
With healthcare costs soaring after 2025, is early retirement now a gamble most older Americans simply cannot afford?
As the U.S. labor force stops growing, can technology and productivity gains alone sustain future economic growth?
Beyond financial planning, what is the unspoken key to finding purpose and happiness in a modern, longer retirement?