It is crazy the way the masses have been trained to think. Trends that become the norm one way or another and then somehow they last generation after generation.
Retirement isn't an age, it's a number!
Most people, well mainly the 9 to 5ers thing about what age they will work till until they retire.
However, age has nothing to do with it. It's a financial number you need to focus on.
And that number is different for everyone depending on where you live, how you live and what responsibilities you have.
Generating Income from that Number
The amount of income you can generate from your number is also a factor, but you can have a rough estimate of that.
So in the end the working number is still the main goal.
For example, everyone talks about 1 million dollars as this magic number in the U.S.
But is that really enough to retire on? If that million is earning you 4% (because you are supposed to be in "safe" fixed investments at that point, and lets be real 4% is generous right now for traditional investments) then you are bringing in 40K a year.
If that isn't enough then you need to draw on your principal too and your million shrinks because of that and then in turn generates less income for you.
Thus, it is important to know your number. Forget the age. I plan on retiring well before the "typical age."
This issue of not enough return on your money in the fixed space is why so many have their retirement funds, full tilt in the stock market even after they have retired.
It is basically forcing being to gamble their retirements. Alternative investments may be a possible solution. It will be interesting how crypto continues to penetrate this.