Why some Americans are working in their 80s to survive. Here are the money mistakes behind it, and how to avoid them

Core Insights - Many Americans aged 80 and older are still in the workforce, with nearly 550,000 individuals working out of necessity due to rising living costs and insufficient retirement savings [2] Group 1: Financial Regrets and Lessons - Regret 1: Many individuals felt too young to consider retirement planning, leading to inadequate savings as the responsibility shifted from pensions to 401(k)s [4] - Lesson from Regret 1: Small contributions to a 401(k) can result in significant compound growth over time, emphasizing the importance of starting early to reduce future savings burdens [5] - Regret 2: Some individuals sold investments during financial downturns, leading to significant financial losses and long-term consequences [6]