When Retirement Isn’t a Choice:

How a Career Ownership Coach™ Can Transform your life as You Near Retirement

Picture this: An 81-year-old woman with heart failure stands on her feet all day at Home Depot, struggling to make ends meet. (Business Insider 0725). She’s not alone.

For millions of older Americans, the golden years of retirement have become a myth. Instead of relaxing after decades of hard work, they find themselves punching time clocks, stocking shelves, and greeting customers just to survive. If you’re reading this, chances are you understand this reality all too well—either personally or through someone you care about.

Let’s be honest about what’s happening in America today. The number of employed Americans 65 and older ballooned more than 33% between 2015 and 2024, according to a CNBC analysis of data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. By comparison, the labor force for all workers 16 or older has increased less than 9% during the same time period. That’s not a small trend—it’s a massive shift.

According to a LendingTree analysis, 22.0% of American adults 65 and older continue to work, and for many, it’s not by choice. Almost half of survey respondents (48%) said they continue working past retirement age due to financial necessity.

The harsh truth? 80% of households with older adults—or 47 million—are financially struggling today or are at risk of falling into economic insecurity as they age. This comes from research by the National Council on Aging, and it should make us all pause and think.

Why This Is Happening

You might wonder how we got here. The answer isn’t simple, but several key factors have created this perfect storm:

• The Disappearance of Pensions: Remember when companies took care of their employees with guaranteed retirement benefits? Those days are largely gone. About half of private sector workers were covered by those so-called defined-benefit plans in the mid-1980s, but by 2022 only 15% had them. What’s left is the 401(k), which 68% of private industry workers have access to, but only 50% use. (Bureau of Labor Statistics)
• Rising Costs of Everything: From healthcare to housing, the cost of living has outpaced many people’s retirement savings. From 1973 to 2023, the consumer price index (CPI) rose 586%. As everyday goods and services become more expensive, many people find it necessary to work longer to bolster their retirement savings and handle other financial obligations.
• Longer Lives, Same Savings: While living longer is generally good news, it means retirement funds need to last much longer than previous generations planned for.
• Social Security Uncertainty: The Social Security Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund that supports retirement benefits is projected to be depleted in 2033, under current law, and continuing payroll taxes will be sufficient to pay only about an estimated 79% of scheduled benefits. (2025 Social Security Trustees’ Report)

Behind every statistic is a real person with real struggles. Take our 81-year-old Home Depot worker. She’s dealing with serious health issues, but she can’t afford to stop working. About 50% of older workers still have physically demanding jobs. Imagine trying to lift boxes or stand for eight hours when your body is telling you to rest.

There’s Hope: A Different Path Forward

Here’s where the story can change. While the challenges are real, there are solutions that don’t involve working at big box stores until you can’t stand up anymore. One powerful option that many older Americans don’t know about is working with a Career Ownership Coach™.

A Career Ownership Coach™ is a trained professional who helps people explore business ownership as a path to financial security and personal fulfillment. Think of them as guides who help you discover opportunities you might never have considered. They don’t just throw business ideas at you—they take time to understand your goals for Income, Lifestyle, Wealth, and Equity (what the industry calls I.L.W.E. goals).

Here’s what makes this approach different:

• You Use Your Experience as an Asset: Instead of being seen as “too old” by employers, your years of knowledge become valuable in your own business. As an employee, the job market values you less as you get older. As a business owner, people value the experience you bring. There is no diminishing return.
• You Control Your Schedule: No more begging for time off or working around someone else’s schedule. You set your own schedule. The flexibility is fantastic. You’re basically the captain of your own ship.
• You Build Something That Lasts: Instead of trading time for money until your body gives out, you can create something that provides ongoing income and might even be passed on to family members.

Working with a Career Ownership Coach™ isn’t about high-pressure sales or get-rich-quick schemes. The process typically involves understanding what really matters to you at this stage of life and learning about business models you might never have considered.  The best part: at no cost to you. They understand that if you’re worried about money, the last thing you need is another expense.

Starting a business as you near retirement might sound crazy. But consider this: older entrepreneurs have some significant advantages.

You Have Real Experience and – The Market Needs You: Americans filed a record breaking 5 million new business applications in 2023 and close to 5.2 million in 2024. There’s clearly demand for new businesses, and consumers often prefer working with experienced, trustworthy business owners.

If you’re tired of watching your golden years slip away while you stock shelves or greet customers, it might be time to explore a different path. Working with a Career Ownership Coach™ doesn’t commit you to anything except taking a serious look at your options.

Remember, you’ve already proven you can work hard and stick with something for the long term. Those are exactly the qualities that make successful business owners.

You don’t have to accept that your only choices are working until you drop or struggling on Social Security alone. Career Ownership Coaching™ offers a third option—one that puts you in control of your future instead of at the mercy of employers who see your age as a liability.

The question isn’t whether you’re too old to start something new. The question is whether you can afford not to explore every option available to you. Because right now, millions of older Americans are discovering that their next chapter might be their best chapter yet.

Ready to explore what’s possible? Connect with a Career Ownership Coach™ today and discover how your experience could become your greatest asset in building the financial security you deserve.

About Your Career Revolution

Our mission is to help individuals explore self-sufficiency as an alternative career.

We help them define their Income, Lifestyle, Wealth, and Equity goals and provide education on the best ways to achieve them. We don’t sell franchises – we help people achieve their dreams of self-sufficiency through business ownership. The approach is different, the experience is different. And it works.

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