Average Retirement Age

To see how early many people retire?

To find the norm on how long folks wait before they retire?

To find out what the earliest possible Social Security age is?

To help make a decision on their own totally personal retirement decision?

Is there really an average? I'm not so sure... after all, retirement age depends on your perspective, your working lifetime, your health, financial status and so much more. For example:

Early Retirement

Do you work a lifetime and save lots so you can retire early?

Were you forced into an early retirement because of a disability?

Does your family history have a shorter life expectancy so you choose to retire early?

Was your lifetime focus an early retirement so that you thought about this years ahead?

Do you live a frugal lifestyle so that you can retire earlier?

Do you choose to retire early for a career change (burned out)?

Do you retire early to start your own small business?

Do you retire early as you were forced into retirement due to the economy, layoffs, downsizing?

Later Retirement

Do you retire early, but go into an entirely different career direction after retirement and enjoy working?

Do you simply enjoy your employment and feel you have lots to offer still?

Do you need to maximize your Social Security benefit (for financial or personal reasons)?

Did you work a lifetime, but after paying for children, college, etc, you choose to work longer?

Did you stay home and raise kids, and need to work a bit longer now?

Are you single and your retirement depends on you alone?

Did you divorce late in life and now need to increase your savings before retirement?

I'm sure this quick list is just the tip of the iceberg... what IS the average retirement age?

Please please -- don't let an "Average Retirement Age" become your reason for retirement.....

What do YOU think the "Average Retirement Age" is?

Based on your experience, and your friends and family, what do you think is the normal, average retirement age?

If you have any stories on friends or family who retired too young, tell us about WHY you think they retired too early... same with someone who worked too long.