[GJones2]

Steve_Seattle wrote: “I just turned 70 two months ago. According to one source, the average life expectancy for a white American male is 76.1 years. I guess that means I have roughly a 50% chance of dying in in the next six years...”

That life expectancy is for persons starting at birth. You’ve already gotten past all the risks that could have killed you before 70. According to the Life Expectancy Calculator at the Social Security site, a person who turned 70 in October has a life expectancy of 85.3 years. https://www.ssa.gov/oact/population/longevity.html

(No thanks are necessary, but I just added nine years to your life. :-)

[Steve_Seattle]

"That life expectancy is for persons starting at birth. You’ve already gotten past all the risks that could have killed you before 70. According to the Life Expectancy Calculator at the Social Security site, a person who turned 70 in October has a life expectancy of 85.3 years."

Thanks. I knew I was being a bit loose with the numbers, but I'm not familiar with actuarial stats, and don't know all the ins-and-outs of how they are calculated or interpreted.