No, No Way, Absolutely Not

MANY FOLKS CAN’T WAIT to retire. I hope to avoid it—at least in the traditional sense. I can’t imagine having endless days with no clear purpose, other than to “relax” and “have fun.” I much prefer devoting at least part of every day to work, whether it’s banging out my next column or writing my next book.

If you’re retired, this daily sense of purpose doesn’t have to generate income, but it’s sure helpful if it does. As I point out in this week’s column, if retirees can find part-time work that simply covers the bills, and lets them delay Social Security benefits and avoid drawing down their portfolio, it can make a huge financial difference. An added bonus: It can give retirees a reason to get out of bed in the morning—something, I believe, that we all need.