Media reports on boomers’ march into their senior years carry a consistent theme: “Guess what, they don’t know they’re old.” Entrepreneur Magazine cites a survey from the Boomer Project (www.boomerproject.com) that found that the average 54-year-old considered himself 41. Further testing showed a psychological age of 39. Rather than believe our years are advancing, we boomers simply redefine: 60 is the new 30.
Boomers are changing old age. It’s what we do. The baby boom generation—those born during the post–World War II years 1946 through 1964—has a track record of rebellion that has caused startling cultural and social transformations, including rock’n’roll, the peace movement, civil rights, and agendas we can be less proud of. Consider “Greed is good,” a phrase that caught hold when boomers entered their peak earning years.
A Merrill Lynch survey reveals that most boomers envision working throughout retirement. It adds a new wrinkle to retirement planning, which may be more aptly described as “Next Career Planning.” Merrill Lynch’s research identifies the new retirement as “cyclical”—a blend of work that can take boomers in and out of new careers balanced with free time, continued learning, volunteerism, and travel.