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Back to Work

James Kerr

CALL IT THE GREAT unretirement. Hit by rising living costs and unexpected feelings of boredom, one out of eight retirees plan to return to work this year, according to a recent survey.

I’m one of them. Two and a half years after retiring from the corporate world, I’m headed back to work. I’ve accepted a position as lead writer for the CEO of a Fortune 200 technology company. I’ll be writing the CEO’s speeches, board letters, and internal and external communications, while working with the firm’s marketing team to shape her public image.

You may ask why, at age 64, I’d want to give up my newfound freedom to jump back on the corporate hamster wheel. Well, it should be noted that my new gig is part-time and also a contract role, which should give me the flexibility to continue doing the things I love, like blogging, writing books and fly fishing. I’ll also be a sole contributor, and not managing a global team of professionals, as I did during my 30-plus-year career.

Still, I recognize that there will be some weeks when I need to drop everything to take on a pressing project. It comes with the territory. Are things really that bad for me financially that I need to go back to work?

Not really. Yes, inflation is taking a big bite out of my budget, as it is with other retirees. I’m also getting remarried in October and am being hit by a lot of big wedding-related expenses. But with the stock market at all-time highs, my investment portfolio is doing fine and I still have a decent-size cash position, despite drawing from it over the past two and a half years.

The bigger reasons I’m going back to work are personal in nature. They’re things I’ve learned about myself since I stepped away from my corporate management job in 2021.

1. I like to work. I’ve been surprised by how much I’ve missed work. I’m not talking about the meetings, the politics or those useless performance evaluations—sorry, HR—but rather the actual work of setting an important objective and going about accomplishing it. I estimate that, during my corporate management career, I spent upward of 80% of my time doing stuff in the former category. Now, as a contractor, I can focus on the actual work, which is the stuff that gets me energized and, I suspect, most other people as well.

What can I say? I’m not one to sit around. I’m not a golfer. I’m not much of a joiner. My fiancée is 12 years younger than me and still working, which means that most of the week I’m on my own. I don’t have an interest in traveling by myself, and there’s only so much fishing and personal writing I can do. Why not do meaningful work and get paid for it?

2. I like a challenge. As a results-driven person, I have a deep psychological need to achieve and make good use of my God-given talents, such as they are. As much as I’ve tried to temper my type-A tendencies over the past couple of years, I haven’t been able to do it. I feel like I still have a lot to offer the world and I’m not ready to be put out to pasture.

This new position offers me that kind of challenge. I’ll be working with a young, incredibly smart CEO who is leading a turnaround at one of the biggest fintech companies in the world. My job will be to help her tell her story in a way that energizes employees and differentiates the company in the minds of customers and Wall Street. It’s a job that, if done well, could have a tangible impact on the company’s stock price. That’s pretty exciting.

3. I like having money coming in. I’ve been living a rather minimalist lifestyle over the past two-plus years, doing my best to subsist on my savings and a small monthly pension, while holding off on withdrawing from my retirement funds or taking Social Security until I reach my full retirement age of 66 and 10 months. I think I’ve been doing a pretty good job of it overall—witness the relatively minimal drain on my cash savings—which is satisfying at a certain level.

But even minimalism can get old after a while. I miss the ability to splurge on things the way I could when I was working full-time. For instance, I’ve always wanted to have a hot tub at my mountain house to soak my aging joints. I would also like to help my adult kids with some of their financial needs and ratchet up my charitable contributions. This part-time contract role will allow me to do that, with—I hope—minimal sacrifice of my freedom.

Life is short. There’s no sense scrimping if we don’t have to.

4. I miss the work world’s camaraderie. This was also a big revelation to me in the time I’ve been away from the corporate world. Blogging and writing books are, by their nature, a solitary business. I spend the bulk of my days in front of the computer, creating story worlds from the contents of my head.

As much as I like my solitude, it can get old after a while. I miss the day-to-day connections of working with people and collaborating with them toward a common goal. As one of my first tasks in my new job, I flew out to the company’s headquarters for a week-long set of meetings to help the team craft communications for an upcoming event. It was a lot of fun to be sitting at the table with super-smart corporate professionals, talking business and helping them tackle a big challenge.

5. I enjoy the dopamine rush of seeing things come to fruition. The rewards of being an author are few and far between. First, writing a book takes a long time. I’ve been researching and writing my multigenerational novel, Unto the Mountain, for three years, and it’s only now getting to the point where it’s good enough to send to agents and publishers. What’s more, for all the work that goes into a book, there’s no guarantee it’ll get published or, if it does, ever make any money.

Writing for the corporate world, on the other hand, has instant rewards. There’s the money, of course, but there’s also the dopamine rush of seeing a project come to completion and getting positive feedback from executives and colleagues. That’s important—to me, at least.

And so, hi ho, hi ho, it’s off to work I go. How long will I do it for? Who knows? Life’s a journey and I’m looking at this as another adventure. I’m taking it one day at a time, while making sure I thoroughly enjoy the ride.

Author and blogger James Kerr is a former corporate public relations and investor relations officer who now runs his own agency, Boy Blue Communications. His debut book, “The Long Walk Home: How I Lost My Job as a Corporate Remora Fish and Rediscovered My Life’s Purpose,” was published in 2022 by Blydyn Square Books. Jim blogs at PeaceableMan.com. Follow him on Twitter @JamesBKerr and check out his previous articles.

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BenefitJack
6 months ago

FYI, the anomaly here is that the percentage of older Americans who left employment coincident with the pandemic, what some called the Great Retirement, was followed by LESS not MORE individuals returning to the workplace. Many reasons, including: stock market gains, government dole, and of course, all those older Americans who were financially prepared who got a taste of retirement, and liked it.

That’s not so say that the trend won’t reverse – especially as inflation spiked.
The sleeper here may be tax increases because it isn’t what you get that counts, but what you get to keep … after taxes. Taxes are, interestingly, not part of the inflation calculation. We continue to add $1.5 – $2+ Trillion a year to our national debt, even though federal income and employment taxes have nearly tripled, from $2 Trillion to almost $6 Trillion, since the turn of the Century.

The CBO recently predicted that, without change, our national debt will be $146 Trillion in 30 years. When the bill comes due, we may all have to go back to work when increased taxes reduce what we (workers and retirees) get to keep.

Mary Andersen
7 months ago

A two and a half year “sabbatical” has certainly worked in your favor. I’ve had a small side gig most of my eight years of retirement and it gives me some walking around money and focuses a few hours a week. It would fit our financial situation for me to work more, but the hours are not available as I am in caregiver mode. So I do the small things for Joy.

Jim Kerr
6 months ago
Reply to  Mary Andersen

“I do the small things for joy.” I love that. Thanks, Mary. Best to you in both your gig and your caretaking.

Fund Daddy
7 months ago

Jim congrats, your decision fits your situation. Frankly, I never thought of working again because “retirement is the best job I have ever had”…and I made sure to retire with enough money to last me to age 100+.
My last job was the best I ever had. It was 40 hours per week but I worked less than 10. I could work from home or Italy, NZ, or anywhere in the world, the pressure was extremely low and I hardly had meetings. I also loved my job but I planned my retirement years before that. The plan was to retire when I got to a certain amount and I did in 2018. My wife, coworkers, and friends could not believe I would do it.
I have been very busy, there is so much to do, experience, and see. If someone would offer me 3 times what I used to make, I would still not work. I’m in good shape but you never know if you are going to live another 5 years or 30, retiring with enough money = freedom to do whatever you want when you want.

Jim Kerr
6 months ago
Reply to  Fund Daddy

Thank you. Sounds like you have the perfect situation. Congrats on achieving your dream retirement. You’re absolutely right that there is so much to experience and do, and not enough time to do it all. So we need to choose careful.

Dan Hinman
7 months ago

Great to see you grasping and enjoying life fully, Jim! This includes you embracing love with a great lady, clearly! I retired at almost 67 but work on a bank board, which really helps me feel useful. You are making a great choice and I hope you will stay in touch and keep us fully updated!

Jim Kerr
6 months ago
Reply to  Dan Hinman

Thank you very much, Dan. Sounds like you’re in a great situation yourself! I will definitely keep you updated!

Margaret Fallon
7 months ago

Congrats James on your new gig. All the points you mention for returning to work are spot-on. I am so happy for you that you have money rolling in at an expensive time in your life with an upcoming wedding & all the other things you need money for, which often conflict with the minimalist lifestyle of conserving assets for & in retirement. I’ve always enjoyed your articles, you’re humble, honest & down-to-earth & many of your readers have experienced at least one of the life events you talk about.

Jim Kerr
6 months ago

Thank you for the kind words, Margaret. To be honest, I didn’t expect to go back to work, but I am rather enjoying it–at least for the time being. Life really is an adventure. I’m glad you find my articles about my own adventures interesting. Hope I can keep them that way. 🙂

Steve Cousins
7 months ago

I get missing being in the thick of things, but a job is only one way to recapture purpose. In your case where some extra money is useful, paid work makes great sense. In mine more money would be meaningless, so instead I chair a college board of trustees, a hospital board and a foundation board. I still do multimillion dollar acquisitions and expansions. I just do it very part time and on my own terms. But the socialization, the mental exercise and the joy of achievement are very much the same as having a job. I did paid consulting the first five years of retirement but what I’m doing now is better for me. The key is taking action and being intentional. Sounds like you are living life well!

Jim Kerr
6 months ago
Reply to  Steve Cousins

Great points, Steve. You’re right that there are many different ways to achieve that all-important sense of purpose in our later years. I’m still discovering them, I guess. We’ll see how it goes!

William Perry
7 months ago

Congratulations joining the ranks of the unretired. It has been nice for me to again do the parts of my profession that I really enjoy and to be able to say no, mostly, to the parts I do not enjoy.

Depending on your future bride’s work and earning history you may want to revisit the age you decide to claim your social security benefit. Giving a younger spouse a higher survivor benefit was a big factor in my deciding to wait to age 70 to claim. I see providing additional financial security as a gift of love for family in the future after I am no longer around.

I hope you are happy in your new work gig.

Best, Bill

Jim Kerr
6 months ago
Reply to  William Perry

Good points, Bill. I still haven’t decided about when to claim SS but it definitely won’t be at least until I hit my full retirement age. And I, too, would like to be provide that gift of love for my family as well. Thanks for the comment and the well wishes. 🙂

neyugn
7 months ago

“dopamine rush”
I like that term. Dopamine is what we retirees need in preventing that no-cure diseases like Parkinson and other variations of Alzheimer diseases.

Mike Gaynes
7 months ago

Mazel tov on your upcoming marriage, James. Nothing sweeter than finding new love later in life. It happened to both my parents, and it happened to me. No greater gift. Enjoy.

Jim Kerr
7 months ago
Reply to  Mike Gaynes

Thanks a bunch, Mike. It’s my biggest blessing. 🙂

AKROGER SHOPPER
7 months ago

Jim thanks for another view on the last act. Over a decade of mailbox checks, daily puttering, and travel going back to any type of formal work has never crossed my mind.It’s a whole new world out there in today’s work world. Too much to do and experience while the clock ticks down..

Jim Kerr
7 months ago

Agree completely. The key is whether we enjoy what we’re doing and get fulfillment out of it. Right now, I am.

Laura E. Kelly
7 months ago

Your back-to-work situation sounds great, Jim. The pluses you list are partly why I left the corporate world at age 48 to go the self-employed route. It makes even more sense when one is in one’s 60s and within striking distance of the Social Security annuity as a financial floor.

Your story made me think about the vagaries of being a consultant. When my boss retired at age 65 and I took over her job, she wangled a year-long contract to be an on-call consultant for me, to help me adjust to the new elevated role. She was so happy to “still be of use,” as she put it. But it was amazing how quickly things changed right after she left—in the job, the people, and the company (a takeover happened), and her knowledge wasn’t useful to me at all in my day-to-day duties. We did have lunch a few times over that year and always reminisced about how great things had been “before,” which didn’t help my morale, I must say. (-: 

It was a great payday for her and a good lesson for me about how once you’re gone, you’re gone. Although, reading HD.com, I’ve been interested to see how many people from different industries than mine (publishing), have managed flourishing post-retirement consultancies with their old companies or industries, for a few years at least.

Jim Kerr
7 months ago
Reply to  Laura E. Kelly

Thanks, Laura. Yes, it’s a good gig–for now, at least. We’ll see how it goes. Fortunately, I’m driving this bus and not a passenger in someone else’s, if that makes sense. As a writer and author, I’d love to know more about your career in publishing.

Mike Gaynes
7 months ago
Reply to  Laura E. Kelly

I didn’t retire from my first career, Laura — I was unceremoniously dumped, which happens very often in TV news. I leveraged my news experience into a PR consultancy to tide me over until I found my next career. The “tide” has lasted almost 30 years now. I still enjoy consulting at 67, and have no intention of retiring until I’m at least 70, maybe longer.

DrLefty
7 months ago

I love this and truly relate to this on a lot of levels. I’m the same age, and though I’m not retired yet, I know already that I’m not one to sit around and I’m wired for achievement.

I also relate to the part about writing books (I have nine plus new editions of several of them). By the time I write a proposal, get a contract, write the thing, and go through the stages of the production process, it’s usually 2-3 years from start to finish. That’s a long time to have nose to the grindstone without seeing a finished project. I’ve long noted that writing articles for journals or chapters for edited volumes provides a lot quicker gratification for a lot less effort and stress. Now I’ve added non-academic volunteer writing pursuits such as contributing here and my weekly column for a baseball website. I’d actually love a job like the one you’re taking on.

Jim Kerr
7 months ago
Reply to  DrLefty

Wired for achievement–that’s a perfect term. There are days I wish I wasn’t so wired, but alas, I can’t help it. I’d love to know more about your published books. Agree completely about the book publishing process–it’s long and arduous and uncertain. Not for the faint of heart …

DrLefty
7 months ago
Reply to  Jim Kerr

My books are all academic/teaching-oriented. I’m a writing professor and my work focuses on teaching English writing and reading to second language learners and on response/feedback to student writers. Here’s my Amazon author page if you haven’t fallen asleep yet!

https://www.amazon.com/stores/Dana-Ferris/author/B001IU0MAE?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true

Jim Kerr
6 months ago
Reply to  DrLefty

Definitely haven’t fallen asleep. Impressive site, Dana!

Mike Gaynes
7 months ago
Reply to  DrLefty

Bravo, sir.

What website do you write for?

Mike the Cubs fan

DrLefty
7 months ago
Reply to  Mike Gaynes

I’m a “she,” but thanks. I write for a San Francisco Giants fan site called “Together We’re Giants.” My handle here (DrLefty) came from there. My column is called Out of Left Field: https://togetherweregiants.com/out-of-left-field/

Jeff Bond
7 months ago

Best of luck with the new gig, the new marriage, and navigating the world of semi-retirement. You can still go fishing.

Jim Kerr
7 months ago
Reply to  Jeff Bond

If I couldn’t fish, I wouldn’t do it! Thanks, Jeff.

parkslope
7 months ago

Given your future wife’s age and your new income, have you considered waiting until you are 70 to start collecting SS?

Jim Kerr
7 months ago
Reply to  parkslope

Yeah, I’m mulling that. It’s a gamble. How long will I live? If only I knew … Wait–no, I don’t want to know.

Patrick Brennan
7 months ago

Good luck Jim. Sounds like you now have more control over your work situation, and the chance to put some creativity to work. Those are two good aspects that should make the work enjoyable. All the best.

Jim Kerr
7 months ago

Thanks, Patrick. Yes, I like being in the driver’s seat. Most of all, I’m enjoying the work and getting fulfillment from it. We’ll see how it goes!

Rick Connor
7 months ago

Congratulations Jim and best of luck, it sounds like a great gig. For all the reasons you mentioned, I’m glad I had some meaningful consulting during the first several years after stopping full time work. I was never comfortable calling myself retired, and still will entertain a consulting gig if offered. I guess the difference is I’m not actively looking for work at this point. Covid certainly helped put a damper on the availability of opportunities, and on my desire to travel for work.

I especially resonate with this line.

I feel like I still have a lot to offer the world and I’m not ready to be put out to pasture.

I still feel that way, and almost a small sense of duty to use my experience and skills in some useful ways. My volunteer tax prep meets 4 of the 5 points in your article, other than getting paid. We have received several boxes of cookies, fresh croissants, and other baked goods.

Jim Kerr
7 months ago
Reply to  Rick Connor

Thanks, Rick. I always enjoy your articles and the perspectives you offer on retirement and financial topics. I wasn’t really looking for work either but it came my way, and it feels good to be wanted in a world that so often ignores us and our skills.

David Powell
7 months ago

Sounds like a great gig, James. Best wishes for much success and happiness. Hoping it’s AMD, would love to see them thrive long-term.

Jim Kerr
7 months ago
Reply to  David Powell

Thanks, David. It’s not AMD but that’s a great company.

SanLouisKid
7 months ago

Several years ago, I visited the home of a CEO who ran a mid-size company. I complimented his lawn and said he must have a good gardener. He said he mowed it himself because it was one of the few things he could look at afterwards and see an immediate result. It sounds like you are the same way. Congratulations on retiring, unretiring, and finding a good gig. Your thoughtful analysis of your situation and personal aptitude is something too many people don’t do.

Jim Kerr
7 months ago
Reply to  SanLouisKid

Thank you. Having worked for 30-plus years in the corporate world, I can relate to the story about the CEO. I used to get to the end of my long days as a corporate manager and wonder what exactly did I get done? Now, in this role, I get more of that immediate feedback. 🙂

R Quinn
7 months ago

You make a good case for your decision. I would have welcomed such a gig within a year or so of retiring, but to be honest after two and a half years nothing could have enticed me back in the corporate world.

By then my world had changed along with my priorities. Nowadays I wouldn’t fit in with the people running the show.

I’m content challenging Jonathan’s editing skills and annoying the rest of the world on FB and my blog.

Good luck and enjoy.

Jim Kerr
7 months ago
Reply to  R Quinn

Yeah, I know, Richard. I’m crazy … 🙂

Edmund Marsh
7 months ago

I’ve been hit lately by a number of simultaneous challenges both in- and outside of work that have me thinking life would be easier without a job. Before I had a choice, I just kept plodding along, longing for retirement. Now, your reasons number 1 and 5 keep me in the shop. Congratulations on sorting out your desires and plans, and best wishes for your upcoming marriage.

Jim Kerr
7 months ago
Reply to  Edmund Marsh

Thanks, Edmund. Yes, life may have other plans for me down the road, but right now, I’m enjoying this new work challenge. Appreciate the well wishes on the marriage as well.

Guest
7 months ago

I anticipate the number of people unretiring will soar from only 1 out of 8 in the years ahead as very poor retirement savings, inflation and lower than average investment returns take their toll (and/or folks simply delay retirement altogether).

Jim Kerr
7 months ago
Reply to  Guest

I suspect you’re right.

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