If SS isn’t a mere afterthought in your retirement plan, you’re screwed.
Well we do what we can. No one can plan for an
unexpected layoff health crisis or family issue or how
other family members will help. Life isn’t always fair.
My wife had a wonderful professional job and career as did I
she went on maternity leave and never returned after
full time mother role because our child ended up low end
Of ability autistic . A conservative estimate is 450K in
lost after tax wages over 18 years. She is still 7+ years away
from collecting.
My 70yo sister who has struggled with mental and other health issues
was given a life estate to compensate for other considerations given
to siblings and while she made it to full retirement until the recent death of another sibling refused to move out of a modest home she didn’t need that has 3 owners left (2 died) now worth at least 900K and maybe more. 2 brothers were both laid off for 1.5 yrs in the crisis that
emerged after (D) took Congress in 06 and could have used the $
But between SS, SSI, a small pension, small 401k Whole life
annuity and downsizing / moving out of blue state suburban Home
now worth 600K we won’t starve. Others don’t have it that good