Comments on: FIG’n Afraid of Retirement? http://www.iplanretirement.com/retirementblog/fear-retirement/ Learn How To Retire Early Mon, 30 Jan 2012 04:44:05 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: RetiredSyd http://www.iplanretirement.com/retirementblog/fear-retirement/#comment-5 RetiredSyd Wed, 16 Jan 2008 18:18:47 +0000 http://www.iplanretirement.com/retirementblog/fear-retirement/#comment-5 Very good insight. I have recently written about this fear as I have observed it over and over again, just as you have. (And your Canadian/American observation is very interesting--Americans hear "dead" when you say "retired".) I think there is a fear of not having enough money in retirement, but more importantly, many are defined by their jobs and they don't really know who they "are" when they don't have that identity anymore. It may very well be an American thing. When you meet Europeans at a party, they almost never ask you what you do for a living when you meet them. In fact, I have offended a few by asking that question. But in the US, that is usually one of the first questions you ask someone when you meet them--because it seems we do believe that is who you "are". I will be retiring in 6 weeks at the age of 44. I can't wait to get to know this person outside of the "finance professional" identity! Very good insight. I have recently written about this fear as I have observed it over and over again, just as you have. (And your Canadian/American observation is very interesting–Americans hear “dead” when you say “retired”.) I think there is a fear of not having enough money in retirement, but more importantly, many are defined by their jobs and they don’t really know who they “are” when they don’t have that identity anymore.

It may very well be an American thing. When you meet Europeans at a party, they almost never ask you what you do for a living when you meet them. In fact, I have offended a few by asking that question. But in the US, that is usually one of the first questions you ask someone when you meet them–because it seems we do believe that is who you “are”.

I will be retiring in 6 weeks at the age of 44. I can’t wait to get to know this person outside of the “finance professional” identity!

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