Personal Finance Retirement
The Luxury of Retirement
Major developed countries of the world are facing an unprecedented problem in modern times. It is the “graying” of their societies where a larger and larger proportion of their populations is getting older much faster than the rest of the population. In fact, some of these countries are having negative birth rates! The mortality rate is higher than their fertility rates or replacement rates, in common parlance. These countries’ social safety nets are staggering under a strain of increasing claims for retirement pensions while fewer younger people are entering the workforce to contribute and support those pension payments. This trend is called as “gentrification” and is perceived to be a result of too much economic success. High levels of income led some people to postpone marriage to a later age (thereby contributing to the lower overall birth rate) and further delaying starting their own families even to a much later age. Other people opted to stay single altogether and did not produce babies at all to replenish their society but choose to pursue their respective professional careers to accumulate wealth.
Retirement Benefits
People who had planned their retirement well in advance can look forward to a comfortable life. It is a retired life full of enjoyable activities without the hassles of their workday lives before. They can look forward to whole afternoons of poker games or bowling at nights or eating dinner by candlelight. It is a grand time for those who have grandchildren to play with. For these retired and still active people, it is like becoming a parent all over again. It is said that grandparents spoil their second-generation offspring or grandchildren much more than the parents themselves. Other retirees go to other countries to enjoy warmer climates and cheaper currencies to live life truly to the fullest.