My Thoughts on the History of Retirement, From Early Man to A.A.R.P.

This week, I want to share with you my synopsis of an article written in the New York Times by Mary-Lou Weisman over 15 years ago.

Let's take a look at the History of Retirement:

In the Beginning

There were no old people. Everyone was fully employed, and most died around age 20. Retirement planning was non-existent. 

Elder Hostile

Centuries passed, and the number of gray beards was reaching critical mass. Some, in an effort to get their hands on their inheritances, committed patricide. This was a rather messy but effective way to handle the problem, a bit like our current death panels proposed in today’s health-care solutions.

Bismarck Invents Retirement

In his infinite Marxist wisdom, Chancellor Otto Von Bismarck of Germany decided that anyone who lived to be 65 would thereafter be taken care of by the government. Sound familiar to anyone? Of course this was 1883, and as we know, hardly anyone lived to age 65. He did, however, set the benchmark we live by 132 years later.

If this is starting to make sense, I want you to remember, WE let them create the concept of retirement so the wizards of the Banking Industry and Wall Street could remain extremely wealthy!

Pasture-izing the Elderly

A world-renowned physician from Johns Hopkins, William Osler, suggested that between ages 25 and 40, workers were in their period of plenty. Between 40 and 60, we were simply uncreative and therefore tolerable, but after age 60, workers were "useless" and should be put out to pasture. Whoa!

Guess what? You will have to check in next week to hear more of the History of Retirement and as a bonus hear my very own best advice on Retirement Planning. Until then, try to keep the anxiety and worry to a minimum. Life is meant to be lived!

For more videos and insider secrets, go to our site at www.enspheremg.com or contact Chris directly.

Mike Giffin, Ensphere Marketing Group