Realistically, what age do you expect to retire, if you're in your 40s now?

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State pension age will be 68 if not older.

I already know I'm slowing down. I'm very experienced and good at my job so I can get away with it for now but I know I'm not as productive as I was when I was younger.

My parents retired young (in today's terms) at 59. They've had a healthy, active retirement but now, in their early 70s they and their friends all have health issues that would make a full-time job difficult if not impossible, even though they are generally "well" for their age.

I don't know how it's possible for most people to work to 68, certainly not anyone in any sort of physical job.

So, doesn't extending retirement age just mean we'll have lots of people "on the sick" who would previously have been claiming their pension?

I know people can/should be making provision to allow them to retire earlier but I think for most that's a privilege for the relatively well off and many manual labourers/care home workers etc don't fall into that category, Could we really have 68yo care assistants etc?

I'm 35 and my state pension age is 68. I've worked out with my work pension (LGPS) and the state pension I will actually be better off then I am now. But I've seen both my parents health deteriorate, and my in laws health deteriorate, over the last 5 years and they could not work full time any more (they are active but not full time employment active) and none of them are 68 yet so I have no idea how I'm going to manage before that date. I'd like to get to 55-60, then go down to 4 days, then 3 etc.

Nobody knows what’s round the corner

For me I retired at 50 ill health, fortunately able to take pension at 50
I took it all, lump sum and monthly payment.? I could off had no lump sum and bigger monthly payment
I just thought
You don’t know what’s wrong the corner, so I took it then and enjoyed it
Thing was I thought only 10 yrs till state pension
Till they moved the bloody goalpost
Yes 50’s born
So another 4 yrs

Yer you get bored sometimes, but you get bored with work sometimes
And then you don’t have the added
Traffic! Queuing for trains/bus

I'm 55 and there's no way I'd retire now.I've just started a new job, am learning lots and feel like I can make a really big difference (I work in the charity sector). My experience and insight from years of doing this mean I feel I'm at the top of my game.

I've seen a lot of people retire from great careers who have struggled with a sense of purpose. What would I do for the next 30 years that would give me the same sense of purpose and stimulation? I will definitely keep working till I'm 65 - and then move into portfolio volunteering on boards in the charity sector. I'm sure working full time will start to wane so I will want more flexibility. I have good pension provision - better than a lot of my friends who work freelance or in the private sector so it's not about money.

I'm 40. NHS staff (with a pension) for 15 years so far. How long I'll last I don't know, long says and very busy shifts. I know I don't want to be doing that forever. So we are over paying the mortgage now while we can and I plan to go part time once that is paid off by 55. I'll be happy to work into my 60s if I remain well but not doing the job I do now.

I'm 55 and semi retired 2 years ago after loosing both my parents. I live on a narrowboat so minimum outgoings. My partner (56) and I travel the UK inland waterways during the summer months and work FT jobs during the winter months. We've both got private pensions (not huge) but putting off drawing down etc for at least another few years. We live pretty frugal where possible. The small inheritance I got 2 years ago helped. I put a lump sum into my pension and the rest is saved for special occasions and rainy days etc. Retirement is still a worry but I'm counting on enjoying the next 10-15 years while I'm still fit and healthy.

I don’t think I’ll ever be able to retire.

I could probably go part time and downsize to a single room when the dc are grown. We are not in the position to buy a home and once the dc are grown I don’t actually see the point! I will rent a room and keep working and lower my living costs that way.

I don’t expect to live beyond 70 anyway.

Dollymixture22 I work full time and study and have 3 school age children and manage to read good books, go on bike rides and volunteer. My job is socially essential and in a massive shortage area. I don't understand people who want to spend 30+ years pottering around doing things they could still do while working part time. If your job is useless, pointless paper pushing why not retrain and be properly useful, and live a life with purpose?

I've seen my mother retire at 55 and become elderly in her attitudes before her time. My father is older and less physically able but couldn't stand retirement and went back to part time work in his field, doing something useful and mentally challenging. I know who is rather have a conversation with!

People's world's contract when they retire and they become insular and dull. Why struggle to consign yourself to death's dreary waiting room while you're still only in your 50s or early 60s?

I'm 48. I have a science doctorate, work FT and am LP to 2. I own my house outright with no mortgage but I don't expect to retire ever. I have no pension or retirement savings. AFAIK nobody in my family ever did and I wouldn't have a clue how to organize it?

My Dad retired at 68 having worked since 16. My Mum still works as a care worker aged 72. She refuses to stop working. So it is possible OP even if that's not your experience. What you will see is more people extending their working lives by working part time hours, as their private pensions simply won't stretch. I would be happy working part time any age after 55.

I’d say about 70. I’m mid 40s with a 2yo to get through college/uni. Have only a small, tiny, pension and have been unemployed for the last 4 years!

I’ve saved and saved and am aiming at 60. I have no hopes for any state provision though.

I'm not retiring as my role is desk based, some of it can be done remotely and evolves.

The retired people I know do a lot - many in a different job or do volunteer work where the work can be very intense. My parents died young. One did a lot while working the other didn't so I'm trying to do the former.

Probably not before 70- realistically. With mortgage paid off. Some savings, pension (not great) and can sell the house and drastically downsize, should be able to be ok. I hope.

I am heartened by so many people wanting to continue working beyond their 50s. It doesn't help those of us who will have to work well into our 60s have our peers and younger people write us (and themselves) off as knackered or cognitively impaired.

I really don’t know.

I like the challenge of taking on new roles at work and can’t imagine wanting that to stop in my 50s. Having said that I doubt I’d want to work full-time in my 70s even though my job is not at all physical.

I think there is a big challenge for society as to how we manage an older ageing workforce with jobs that value their experience but don’t demand full time work or physical roles.

I'm early 50s and no plans to retire in the foreseeable future, I'm still p/time because of the DCs and my role doesn't need FT hours but enjoy my work and will probably increase hours at some point. I do worry about finding another job if anything happened to this one though and am thinking about doing some new qualifications just in case.

I'm 40 and planning to retire at age 56, when the youngest will be off to uni. However I have my own business, doing work I enjoy so I may continue working in some capacity, but only part-time. We have enough investments in pension wrappers and ISAs, and our mortgage is already paid off.

I have ongoing health problems already so I wouldn't want to continue to work into my 60s/70s. I expect to be active and busy during retirement though - I love studying so there are lots of adult education courses I'm keen to do, and we're in London so lots of lectures, exhibitions and theatre matinees to keep us busy. I doubt I'd be sitting at home watching TV all the time.

Im 45 and I haven’t thought about it. DH is 56 and took VR earlier this year and TBH, I don’t want to be home with him.

I like to be active, running, walking. He doesn’t. So id rather work PT and continue to fir as long as i can. If I have to, fair enough, but id volunteer just to be t of the house. I don't like days where i think “what do I do today?” And just potter. We would only get on each other’s nerves!

I’m 56 and will be working ( hopefully) until 65. I love being busy & active and enjoy my job so don’t see a reason to stop. Although I will go part time from age 60.

I’m just past mid- 40’s. Had my dc lateish so youngest will graduate ( assuming she goes to college) when I’m close to 60 so wouldn’t be before then. I’m currently working A 0.7 contract but wouldn’t mind FT for a bit but ideally nothing too crazy. Haven’t got the desire to work all the hours now. I’d say somewhere around 70. Longevity runs in the family and I don’t want to outlive my capital.

My current job is the last city high flying job I want to do as it's so stressful and exhausting. In a few years I'll be 45 and I'd want to do a more socially rewarding job. It worries me as I've been a higher rate tax payer 95% of my working life and doing the sums last night, shows that my current pension payout rates in today's money is about 1/3 of my current living costs. I put away 15% of my salary, that is 4 figures into a pension every month and it probably is just enough to keep head above water when I retire. I really don't know how those in lower paid jobs do it unless they invested in a pension when they were born.

I think it's good to continue working as long as you can but I think pension poverty is something not really reported on at the moment but will be a far serious problem in the future.

I’m a bit over 40, 55 to be exact. I expect to need to work until probably 70.
I’m determined not to go a day over.

Oh but I do want to go part time from mid 60’s.

I retired at 58 but dh still works. I have a great life... actually doing what I want as opposed to ehat other people want.
Lots of travelling, walking, gigs, theatre, food and drink. Healthier than I've ever been.
Decent private pension, own house. No debt.