I am over 40 yrs old and I am thinking a lot about retiring.?
367536
Unless you have some kind of illness you should probably try to work at least another 5-10 years.You are probably unchallenged at what you are doing now .If you can afford to think of retiring why not instead think of something that you have always wanted to do not necessarily for the money and go for it.\n\nThe best way to suceed is to take what you love and offer it to others.
34730
I would definitely do it.  It is never too late to start a new carrer and it might prove to be even more interesting than you thought.  Good Luck.
1051251
Save your money when you're young. Be lucky and have good health. Spend your youth going after well thought out goals for example marriage and kids and friends. Money and career can be overdone. If you don't have time for exercise, play and family even if you wind up rich you'll be miserable. In other words lead a balanced life. Help others if you are able and they need it. When old, 60 regret nothing.
611926
Think less and act more.\n\nDon't let the goal of preserving the past memories hold you from making new and better ones. There are risks, but that is what life is all about, taking risks. You do not want to live till 80 to start reflecting about what you should have done when you were younger.
544706
unless you are planning on living in a cardboard box, or are filthy rich, you better be saving!!! minimum to set aside is 10% of your income, but that is bare bones minimum. don't count on the government of any country to help you, and if they do, it will be subsistance level only, don't expect to be warm and well fed. you have only yourselves to count on. I certainly hope your children will take care of you, but that mostly depends on how you raise them. are you raising them to believe that family is important, and that old people are to be respected and honored? are you raising them to be responsible adults and to have respect for others and themselves? even so, they could have tragedies in their own lives that prevent them from being there. and when you consider that people are living longer than ever, how do you think you are going to pay for your food, housing, medicine for all those years after retirement if you don't have some set aside? I bet if you go into a senior center or retirement home in any country, you will find plenty of people going without medicine, food, and other important things because their social security or government benefits just aren't enough. contact a financial advisor or do some research yourself and start saving and investing now.
993552
No, you are not too old.  The TSP is more like a 401k.  If you want to retire in 13 years, you have a lot of work to do... I mean a LOT.  What GS are you?  Are you making enought money to save?  With the TSP, you should be contributing atleast 3%, because they will match with 100%, then 50% above 3%.  You might want to look into talking with a financial advisor.  If you dont' want to pay fees to an advisor, you should start learning about different types of investments (if you don't know already).  Try www.investopedia.com to learn and www.sharebuilder.com to actually invest.  I recommend ETFs and Index funds.  Over the long term, they will always have gains.  4.5% is a good rate for a savings account but watch out for "catches" also, it may just be an introductory rate.  \n\nIdeally, if you retire at 40 and live another 40 years, can obtain a 7% rate of return, and need $40,000 a year for the 40 years in retirement, you need to have a little more than $500,000 in savings by the time you are 40 years old.\n\nYou can reach this $500,000 if you save about $27,000 a year for the next 13 years, given a 7% rate of return.  \n\nDepending on your salary, this may be obtainable but you have a lot of work to do since you have basically no savings.  Also, I used 7% because thats the average rate of return in the stock market but depending on your investments, it may be more or less.  I would take full advantage of your TSP because all that matching the gov't does will really pay off.  Also, it may be tough, but buy very few "wants" and try to stick to spending money on "needs."  People usually think it is impossible, but it really isn't.  Also, I'm sure you'll want a home at some point and you have to take that into consideration as well.  Good luck.
232537
I'd stay in for 14 more years and get lifetime benefits. You can always pursue another job when you get out, or you can stay retired!!!
267235
they need to save 80% if they arent going to work after that and plan on living another 40 years afterward.\n\nIf they plan to work after that then they should just try and save up enough so that when they retire in 30 years they will have enough. This might be simple or diffucult depending on how much they make.
609493
I am 29 yrs old and only a high school graduate.  I only make 40k.  I will be returning to school in the fall and I think it is more than worth it.  I wish I would have went back earlier, but was unable to do so.  Now I'm jumping at the chance!
1064268
If you are to marry an 84 year old lady just think that when you are married to her she will die soon  and then you might be rich boy in the end I would do it just for the money if I were you Good Luck
1024080
Read the book "From Success to Fulfillment" By Del Pe \nISBN  81-89631-16-0 \nThis book was just recently published in India -- I don't know where you are, but he is a successful business man, and he teaches people how to be successful, not only from the monitary perspective, but from wisdom. He gives you tools and exercises on how you balance your life fully, so that when your are at retirement age, you're happy and you have the security and good health.  Good luck.
1102972
Please drive a stake through your own ego and don't look at this emotionally or look at a job as a chance for happiness.\n\nYou want PAY.  You wants BENEFITS.  You want a savvy employer who'se going to be around for 20 or 30 years.\n\nIn other words, you don't want, really don't want, to change jobs when you are OLDER than 35, you want a job that will provide a good retirement and allow you to save for a comfortable retirement.\n\nIt is almost impossible to get a really good, new, job in your 40's or 50's.  So leap ONCE and shrewdly so you can burrow in under you're financially secure and the game doesn't matter.
219755
Make sure your active and have hobbies.  Alot of people retire and then don't know what to do with themselves.  Set goals for yourself and have fun!
364821
You're never too old to retrain. Go out and find something you enjoy doing. If your job is getting you down then quit.
268552
Depends a lot on your age.\n\nIf you were 50+, I would consider an inflation indexed annuity, as it would yield more than enough money per month to live off off. No risk, no excitement, but no work either.\n\nIf you were 40-50, I would consider a laddered set of I-Bonds (5 year bonds purchased so that 20% of them mature each year) with about 50% of the money, and the rest invested in dividend-paying solid companies (direct share ownership or low MER mutual fund). The 50-50 split could be played with depending on your feelings. I am more bearish, so I would go more for the I-Bonds, and less for the stocks.\n\nIf you were 20-40, then I would be more speculative. I would put about 25% in the ladered I-Bonds, 25% in high-dividend stocks, 25% gold and silver bullion, and 25% in commodities stocks.\n\nAll of this advice assumes that you have no debt. If you did, pay it off first.
632714
Keep physically and mentally active.  Participate in activities that you have always wanted to but couldn't because of time.  Eat the proper foods.  Get plenty of fresh air and exercise. Be a community volunteer . . . work in a school or at the hospital or with Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts.  Take a class at your community education center.  Learn a new skill because you are never too old to learn.  Become a Master Gardener if you are interested in gardening.  Write a book on your life experiences.  Spend time with your family . . . travel if you have the money.  Do anything and everything!  Just remember . . . that it is very important to keep busy and to remain healthy.  Good luck in your retirement!  Wish I was retiring soon also!
251662
I wouldn't count on it.  If you're young, you don't need to depend on receiving SS when you retire.  It would be a wise idea to participate in your employer's retirement program or invest some money some way so that you are preparing for your future.