If you’re like most people, you’ve probably been counting the days until retirement since you first entered the workforce. But that’s not the case for everyone. There are some people who genuinely love their jobs and couldn’t imagine quitting.
Other workers would probably love to retire but don’t think they’ll ever be able to afford to leave the 9-to-5 life behind.
You might think retirement accounts are unnecessary if you fall into either of those camps. But there are actually some totally valid reasons to build a nest egg, even if you plan to work until the day you die.
Partial retirement:How it can prepare you for leaving the workforce
Early retirement:Why I can’t get on board with it
You know what they say about the best-laid plans
To start, your plans may not go as expected.
It’s easy to assume you’ll be able to work indefinitely when you’re young and healthy, but we’re not guaranteed to stay that way. As people age, they typically experience more health problems which can unexpectedly prevent them from working.
Even if you remain healthy, a close family member might become sick or injured and need care. Hiring a caretaker may be an option, but for those who cannot afford to do this or choose not to, quitting their job to help the sick relative might be their only choice.
Your employer could also go out of business or decide to downsize, costing you your job. You can try to look for a new position, but if you’re unable to find anything suitable, you might be forced to retire.
