Retire at 65 or Earlier? The Data Behind the 'First Bus Out' Debate

A Reddit user recounted a grandfather who spent years looking forward to retirement. He retired at 65. Two months later, dementia set in, followed by an Alzheimer's diagnosis. The poster's advice: 'Take the first bus out.'

The post drew hundreds of responses, many echoing similar stories. One commenter said a colleague retired after 30 years and died two months later. Another said their father waited until 65 and died six months after. The refrain was the same: don't postpone all of life for a retirement that may never come.

Some commenters pushed back on the numbers. The original post cited average life expectancy of 73 for men. That figure refers to life expectancy at birth. For a 65-year-old, the picture is different. One commenter pointed out that a 65-year-old American man can expect to live nearly two more decades on average. A 65-year-old woman can expect about 20.

Many readers agreed the real issue is not the exact retirement age but what comes after. Several noted that those who thrive in retirement tend to have hobbies and purpose outside of work. The risk is not just dying too soon but outliving your savings. For middle-class workers, the trade-off is between more money and more time. The data says you likely have more time than the horror stories suggest.

The decision isn't all-or-nothing. Some people continue working because they enjoy it or need health insurance. Others retire as soon as financially feasible. The key is to plan for both the financial and non-financial aspects. A financial advisor can model different scenarios and help clarify what you are working toward.

The average 65-year-old American man has about 18 years ahead. The question is what to do with them.