Stacey Chin, MA, CFP®, ChFC®, Chief Investment Officer and Private Wealth Advisor at Treehouse Wealth Advisors, was recently featured in a Newsweek article titled “Boomers and Gen X want to retire differently.”
The article examines the growing trend of phased retirement, with research indicating that one in three workers aged 50 and older is either transitioning into retirement gradually or expressing interest in doing so. This represents a significant shift from previous generations, who typically retired abruptly at age 65.
Stacey provided context about traditional retirement patterns: “Employees worked until age 65, the age at which the Social Security Administration defined ‘full retirement age,’ and then they completely stopped working.” She explained that this approach was previously more “financially feasible” due to “defined benefit pensions, more robust social security,” and shorter life expectancies, but noted that economic realities have changed.
She emphasized that today’s workers are transitioning into retirement out of “economic necessity” rather than choice. Stacey also highlighted broader cultural changes, explaining that the historical focus on career-driven identities is being replaced with a “broader cultural shift toward valuing quality of life.”
Looking ahead, Stacey predicted this trend will continue: “Rising life expectancies, concerns about the sustainability of pension systems, and shifts in the traditional work environment, such as the gig economy and remote work, may lead more people to choose phased retirements.”
Treehouse Wealth Advisors is a fee-only wealth management firm based in the San Francisco Bay Area, serving innovators, legacy builders, and impact makers. The firm provides personalized financial planning, investment management, and wealth advisory services, helping clients navigate significant life changes while working toward fulfilling and meaningful lives.
