As one much closer to Retirement than at the beginning of my career, I have a lot of discussions with others in my age group about the dynamics of retirement. Because of my focus on time management and the Lifestyle changes one needs to make post-career, I often ask, “Where does your financial advisor fall into the mix?”

In most instances, I get a quizzical look, or even a deer in the headlights stare.

Often the answer is, “Why would I ask my advisor about what I should be doing in retirement? They manage my finances.”

On the flip side, when I talk to advisors about helping their clients, I still get a similar look. Generally, I hear, “Yes, I should do more, but my main focus needs to be the financial needs of the client.”

Fair enough.

The challenge (or opportunity) is that in the United States and most develop countries we are headed towards a demographic stairway down where boomers are descend out of the workforce and flood society as retirees.

As of 2025, Baby Boomers (ages 61-79) make up approximately 12% of the U.S. workforce, down from higher levels in previous decades as more members of this generation retire. By 2035, Boomers are projected to fully exit the workforce, marking a significant demographic shift.¹

In 2030, all boomers (estimated at 71.6 million Americans) will be at or past retirement age. By 2034, for the first time in U.S. history, seniors (age 65+) will outnumber children under 18, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

For an advisor, that demographic stairway represents a huge disruption in business. More and more of your portfolio mix will be managing a distribution model, with funds flowing out and less coming in.

For the retiree, that stairway (while financially steady) might lead to a level of uncertainty, frustration, and boredom. For wealth managers, this will have an impact on your practice and where you spend your time.

Therefore, what can boomers and their advisors do to create a stairway upwards of proactive opportunity and not downward to frustration and reactionary actions?

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Lifestyle Planning as a Differentiator

Lifestyle planning goes beyond numbers—it integrates financial strategies with personal aspirations. For example:

• Advisors can help retirees budget for experiences like Travel or hobbies while ensuring long-term financial Security.
• By addressing common fears such as outliving assets or managing healthcare costs, advisors can position themselves as trusted partners in navigating retirement complexities.

Retirement Time Analysis (RTA): A Strategic Tool

The Retirement Time Analysis (RTA) is an assessment tool that helps individuals and couples understand how they will spend their time in retirement. If your first thought was, “Big deal, how hard can retirement living be?” Consider the following:

• If your client is working 48 hours a week, that is about 40% of their awake time dedicated to their career. When that boomer retires, they must figure out what to do with that time. Are they going to keep their advisor in the loop if they choose to make changes in their lifestyle that make impact on the financial strategy? The data indicates – no.
• If an advisor had a true picture of client’s goals and aspirations, could they do a better job creating a financial program what would save them major adjustments in the future?

The “Boomer Stairway” represents a pivotal moment for the financial industry. This transition signifies a tremendous opportunity for financial professionals to differentiate themselves.

By integrating lifestyle planning, advisors can deepen client Relationships and build more resilient practices. This includes helping clients plan for travel, volunteerism, relocation, Caregiving, and even encore careers that matter deeply in retirement but are often under-addressed in traditional financial plans.

In essence, the Boomer Stairway isn’t just a challenge, it’s a call to evolve. Advisors who embrace holistic Retirement Planning, informed by data and guided by empathy, are poised to lead the industry into a more human-centered future.

I’d like to help.

David Buck is the author of the book The Time-Optimized Life, coauthor of The Retirement Collective, and owner of Kairos (Time) Management Solutions, LLC. Learn how to apply the concepts of proactive planning and using your time. Take the Time Management Analysis (TMA), the Retirement Time Analysis (RTA), or all the other free resources offered to help bring more quality time into your life.

The post Climbing or Descending? Navigating the Boomer Stairway to Retirement first appeared on Infinity Lifestyle Design.

David Buck Time Strategist

In 35+ years of business development, David developed a strong awareness of what it took for people to be productive and efficient, not just busy. He also personally sought to gain a balance of having a successful career along with the ability to pursue a meaningful personal life.

That led David to start Kairos Management Solutions, focusing all his attention to guide business professionals who struggle with a lack of flexibility in their life to gain more quality personal time. David helps others craft a strategy around their current management of time, and then define a lifestyle of intention, ease, and joy.

In 2024, David released two books, the first being The Time Optimized Life. The book reframes the reactive nature of time management and replaces it with a proactive method of time optimization. In addition, he co-authored The Retirement Collective, where he highlights and provides solutions for how to maximize the use of time for people in post-career life.