Living past 70, have you planned well?

Aegon an English pension and life insurance company asked a panel of 700 consumers from age 18 to 64 to reflect on aspects of life that might influence their financial well-being at age 70 such as work, health and caring responsibilities.

This year there is an increasing number of people who are celebrating their 70th birthdays. As these partiers face the future and all of the challenges it will bring them. Our hope is that they have done all they can to ensure they have all they need to be financially secure in later life.

However, the survey revealed that more than one in four people (26.9%) think they will be working either full or part-time at age 70, with women (24.5%) slightly less likely than men (27.5%) to think this despite them on average living longer. This suggests a clear move away from the previous practice of women retiring at 60 and men at 65.

Working into later life is only possible for those who remain in good health, and it’s positive to see that 45.8% of people believe they will still be fit and healthy enough to work if they choose to at the age of 70 although it’s risky to have no fallback plan should health deteriorate. In general, the survey revealed that most people envisage being physically and mentally fit and able at the age of 70.

50.1% believe they will be fit and healthy enough to enjoy their retirement fully.

65.7% believe they will be physically active at age 70.

62.6% believe they will be mentally agile at age 70.

73.5% are confident they will be financially stable at age 70.

Nearly one-fifth of people (19.5%) think that they will still be financially supporting the family when they are 70. And an additional 21.8% were unsure. This suggests the bank of mum and dad will be a feature of an increasing number of septuagenarians.

Being prepared for later life isn’t just about the amount you have in your pension, although a healthy pension pot certainly helps. There are other influences to consider when it comes to financial well-being.

You can’t predict what life will have in store at age 70, but considering your future in terms of work, health and caring responsibilities will help build a realistic picture of what you should prepare for financially.

Statistics show that the life expectancy at 70 is almost 15 years for men and almost 17 for women meaning people are living well beyond their 70th birthday.

It’s clear that people no longer expect to retire at as early an age as their parents, and the state pension age is not the defining ‘retirement moment’ at which they stop work. For some, working beyond the past ‘traditional’ retirement age will be a lifestyle choice, but for others who put off planning ahead, it could be a financial necessity to cover living costs.

However, it’s risky to plan on working indefinitely with no fallback plan. It’s difficult to predict your future health, particularly into your 70s meaning it’s always best to start making some financial provision for life after work as early as possible. Speak with a financial adviser who can offer tailored advice to meet your personal needs and circumstances.