Why So Many Americans Are Still Working at 80

...And What It Means for Your Retirement Plan

01/09/2026

For decades, “retirement” meant stepping away from work around age 65, traveling a little, and enjoying slower, more meaningful days. But for a growing number of Americans, that version of retirement never arrives. More people than ever are working into their 70s, 80s, and even 90s, not because they want to stay busy, but because they can’t afford to stop.

A new video from Business Insider captures this reality in a way numbers alone never could. It follows several Americans in their 80s who still work full-time or part-time to pay the bills, cover medical expenses, and maintain a basic quality of life. Their stories are honest, often emotional, and impossible to ignore.

Watching the faces and hearing the voices of people who expected to be retired – but aren’t –  forces us to confront a simple truth: retirement has changed. The old model doesn’t work anymore. And unless your financial plan changes with it, you could end up in the same situation these individuals find themselves in.

The Hard Truth: Retirement Has Quietly Shifted Beneath Us

For most Americans, retirement planning is stuck in assumptions that were true 30–40 years ago but no longer match modern realities.

The biggest shifts include:

1. Longer lifespans mean longer retirements

When Social Security was created, the average American didn’t live long past 65. Today many people live into their 80s and 90s, meaning retirement may last 25–35 years instead of 10–15.

A longer retirement requires far more savings, more investment growth, and a plan for rising costs over time.

2. A shrinking social safety net

Social Security now replaces a smaller percentage of your income than in past generations.

Meanwhile:

• Pensions have largely disappeared

• Healthcare costs have soared

• Long-term care expenses can drain assets quickly

Without proper planning, retirees can burn through savings faster than expected.

3. The investment environment has changed

Low interest rates, volatility, inflation cycles, and longer market recoveries mean traditional “set it and forget it” portfolios no longer support a 30-year retirement.

Too many people rely on outdated 60/40 models that don’t account for:

• Extended drawdown periods

• Inflation shock

• Sequence-of-returns risk

• The need for rising income

The people in the video didn’t fail. The system they were told to follow failed them.

Why So Many Americans End Up Working at 80

After thousands of conversations with retirees and pre-retirees, the same factors appear again and again.

They mirror what the video shows:

Not saving early enough

Even small delays compound dramatically. Ten years of waiting often cuts lifetime wealth in half.

Not investing strategically

Some people stayed too conservative, letting inflation erode their savings. Others took excessive risks and suffered large drawdowns.

Relying too heavily on Social Security

Social Security can support part of retirement, never all of it.

Unexpected life events

Job loss. Divorce. Medical bills. Supporting adult children. These derail even good plans if income streams aren’t diversified.

Poor tax planning

Many retirees accidentally trigger higher taxes on Social Security, higher Medicare surcharges, or unnecessary capital gains, reducing their retirement income by thousands per year.

Not adjusting the plan over time

A retirement plan that isn’t reviewed regularly becomes outdated very quickly.

The common theme: Retirement failures are rarely caused by one big mistake. Instead it’s caused by years of no plan, the wrong plan, or a plan that never evolved.

A Better Path Forward: Building a Retirement That Actually Works

Here’s the encouraging part: the problems shown in the video are preventable with the right structure and strategy.

A modern retirement plan must do three things exceptionally well:

1. Create Rising Income, Not Fixed Income

Static income dies in a world where everything gets more expensive.

Modern portfolios should include:

• Dividend growth stocks

• Real estate income

• REITs and preferred equity

• Select fixed income that complements growth assets

You don’t need to chase risk; you need assets engineered to raise income over time.

2. Manage Long-Term Risks Before They Appear

Retirement risks don’t show up at 65. They show up at 75, 80, and 85.

A solid plan anticipates:

• Inflation

• Tax changes

• Healthcare shocks

• Market volatility

• Longevity risk

• Withdrawals that outpace returns

The people in the video often didn’t plan for these risks, and that’s exactly why their stories matter.

3. Make Your Money Last a Lifetime

A portfolio should be built backward:

Start from age 85–95 and engineer the plan to sustain that future self.

Not the present one.

This is the foundation of sustainable retirement planning: a system strong enough to support the person you will become, not just the one you are today.

The Real Question This Video Forces Us to Ask

The emotional impact of watching someone in their 80s explain why they can’t retire is powerful. But the value of the video isn’t in fear, it’s in clarity.

It gives you a moment to step back and ask:

“If I keep doing what I’m doing, will I be prepared for the life I want at 70, 80, and beyond?”

If the answer is no, or even I’m not sure, then the good news is: Now is the time to fix it, not later.

Retirement doesn’t happen by accident. Working at 80 doesn’t happen by accident either.

One is built by design. One is built by default.

This video draws a clear line between the two.

Final Thought

The purpose of sharing this video isn’t to shame or scare anyone. It’s to highlight the reality millions of Americans face, and to inspire better planning while there’s still time to course correct.

If you want a retirement that gives you freedom, choices, and dignity, you can build it. But it starts with a plan designed for today’s world, not the world of decades past.

For a deeper framework on building a real, tax-efficient, multi-asset retirement strategy, you can also read my book “How to Build Portfolios That Actually Work.”

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Disclosures: Investment advisory services offered through BFG Wealth Management, a Registered Investment Advisor. This material is for informational purposes only and should not be considered personalized financial advice. Please consult your insurance, financial, or tax professional regarding your specific circumstances.