This bpost was extracted from unhealthy longevity
Financially, many people aim lower but end up outliving their nets eggs. I think they become dependent on family members (if they have kids). Many have adult children who struggle financially even without this added burden. Some depend on government or private annuities but statistically, the payout is usually insufficient.
My blogposts about A.Brooks also talk about planning for a late career.
— lifestyle choices affecting healthy longevity
The most fundamental and important aspect of “failing to plan” is wellness
Many in my cohort make lifestyle choices that are likely (by statistics) to reduce life expectancy by a number of months. When we hear that, we often laugh it off. We dismiss 6M (of life expectancy reduction) as negligible, given the numerous bigger factors that are often beyond our control.
I disagree. I believe statistics will prove that most of us die from biological causes such as progressive declines, not external reasons. Most longevity factors are actually within our “circle of influence”. (Even your genetic risk factors can be identified and managed — re Jolie.) Those “lifestyle choices” mentioned above are prime examples.
Life is unpredictable. Even if you do all the right things, your lifespan may still be shorter than average. Well, by the same argument,
- Do you tell your school kids to reduce study effort and rely on luck?
- Do you ignore dental hygiene and bet your teeth would survive all the “hazards” and last
- Do you refuse to drink milk or other bone-healthy foods and bet your young bones would grow well, and after middle age you will be free of bone issues?
- Do you skip annual car check-ups and trust your karma will protect you on the road?