First post-war ‘baby boomers’ pass the old Default Retirement Age of 65

Securing your eventual financial independence in retirement requires making sure that your plans enable you to achieve this goal. Whatever provision you already have in place must be regularly updated as your circumstances and requirements change, and you need to ensure that you are still saving enough. But for many retirees’ the future looks less certain.

The UK is witnessing the march of a new type of retiree as the first post-war ‘baby boomers’ pass the old Default Retirement Age of 65. According to Aviva’s latest Real Retirement Report, more than one in three (39 per cent) over-55s are continuing to receive a wage and nearly half are intent on using their extra earnings to travel more when they finish full-time work.

Data from the latest census in 2011 showed there
were 754,800 people aged 64 in England and Wales, and almost 6.5 million people are turning 65 over the next decade compared with 5.2 million in the previous decade. The spike is due to the post-war birth rate soaring when the armed forces returned from the Second World War, with the new-born generation dubbed the ‘baby boomers’.

Pushing back the boundaries
Allied with improved health care, more people are remaining active as they approach retirement age, and the report shows how they are pushing back the boundaries at work and in their leisure time.  23 per cent of 65- to 74-year-olds were still wage earners in December 2012, compared with 18 per cent when the report first launched almost three years ago in February 2010.

Fuelling the rise of income and savings
With 55 per cent of 55- to 64-year-olds also still in employment, compared with 41 per cent in February 2010, this trend looks set to continue as more baby boomers pass the age of 65. It has already fuelled the rise of income and savings among over-55s during the last three years. The typical over-55 now has an income of £1,444 each month along with £14,544 in savings (December 2012), compared with a monthly income of £1,239 and savings of £11,590 in February 2010.

Enjoying the fruits of your labour
Despite 80 per cent being concerned by rising living costs over the next six months (December 2012), the UK’s over-55s are determined to enjoy the benefits of extending their working lives. Nearly half (44 per cent) plan to use their extra time in retirement to travel more, while 42 per cent are focused on spending more time in their gardens.

Socialising is high on the agenda for many over-55s in retirement, with 37 per cent planning to invest extra time in their families and 33 per cent keen to socialise more with friends.

The most common motivation 
They also have philanthropic intent: two-thirds (66 per cent) of over-55s would be interested in carrying out charity work or volunteering once they have retired. The most common motivation is to give something back to the community (49 per cent) and to stay active by getting out of the house (48 per cent).

A new model for later life
It’s clear that the first baby boomers are setting out a new model for later life, and getting the most out of their improved physical health and the freedom to continue working for longer. Many people find that staying active in a job helps to keep them young at heart – with the bonus being that it boosts their earning and savings potential in the process.

The key to making the most of this opportunity is for people to start planning for their 60s and beyond well in advance. In this way, rather than accepting the old retirement stereotypes, you can have the freedom of choice about whether you continue to work or not, rather than feeling forced to carry on out of the demand to meet financial commitments.

Flexible for the future
Everyone enjoys using their wealth in different ways. For you, it might be the joy of travel, helping others through philanthropy, sharing your success with family and friends or your passion for collecting. It might be the simple freedom to do what you want, when you want. Whatever your priorities, we can help you use your wealth by ensuring it’s working for you now and is structured to be flexible for the future.