In the recently released 2024 California State Employees Financial Preparedness Report, researchers took a deeper look at the 8% of retirees who say they are dissatisfied or very dissatisfied with their retirement so far. (Note: 79% said they were satisfied or very satisfied with their retirement and 13% were neutral.)
Retired too soon
Some of the most dissatisfied said they felt they had retired “too soon”, potentially leading to lower retirement income, and leaving them feeling bored and lonely.
This sense of dissatisfaction is felt among those who said they were job-centered but “haven’t found their routine”, as well as those who felt forced into retirement, saying they simply weren’t ready and wished they could have worked longer. Several participants in the survey group noted that they retired during the COVID-19 pandemic and lamented the lost opportunity to celebrate with and say goodbye to their team as they left their career with the State.
Financial and health concerns
Health concerns also have played a part in retirement dissatisfaction. Many retirees have found their own health challenges are preventing them from enjoying retirement, which is contributing to their dissatisfaction. Other retirees reported that they didn’t expect to be caregivers of aging parents at this stage of their lives. Both scenarios impact retirement satisfaction.
Financially, the least satisfied retirees are also genuinely concerned that their retirement funds won’t last, citing the cost of living in California and the struggle to keep up with growing monthly expenses. In other cases, retirees feel they did not save enough to travel as much as they’d like to in their retirement years.
Side gigs and part time jobs
With higher costs and inflation being a crucial part of their reality, 18% of retirees lean into part time work or side gigs to supplement their monthly income, while also staying engaged and busy. Rejoining State employment as a Retired Annuitant was the most popular part time job noted among survey participants.
But, while the added income may be welcomed, researchers found that concern about paying the monthly bills is not the only factor that drives retirees to take a part time job. Sometimes a side gig provides an outlet for their time and talent. For example, 15% of retirees who are not at all concerned about paying their monthly bills have a side gig or part time work.
Thousands of California State Retirees shared their post-retirement work experience. The most popular side gigs involve real estate management, caring for grandkids, pet- and house-sitting, delivery services, cleaning and poll working. Others turned their talents as musicians, tutors, bakers, coaches, and beekeepers into a side gig post-retirement.
Interestingly, some said they work for themselves, in their own business. Others work in a business owned or run by a family member to either earn extra money or just to help. A considerable number of these post-retirement workers say their side gig is freelancing or providing consulting services based on their area of expertise.
How to become a Retired Annuitant
If you’re a retiree looking to shore up your monthly income to meet expenses, returning to work as a retired annuitant may be a possibility for you. The additional income can also help fund travel, provide a cushion or pay off debt.
A “retired annuitant” is a CalPERS retiree who, without applying for Reinstatement From Retirement, returns to work with a CalPERS employer, but is hired into a position designated for a retired annuitant. However, a “retired annuitant” position does have some restrictions. For example, a retired annuitant must wait until 180 days after retirement to return to work and they are limited to a maximum of 960 hours each year.
To learn more about becoming a retired annuitant: https://www.calpers.ca.gov/page/retirees/working-after-retirement/retired-annuitant.
For more data and insights from retirees who participated in the survey, read Snapshot: California State Retirees in the full report.
About the Survey: The project was sponsored by the nonprofit California State Employees Association (CSEA) which provides member benefits to members of SEIU Local 1000, CSUEU Local 2579, Association of California State Supervisors and California State Retirees.
The 2024 Report is based on the quantitative study of California State employees across the state, examining their personal financial planning needs, concerns, attitudes, and behaviors for a secure retirement. The report includes insights gleaned from nearly 5,000 active and retired State employees surveyed in November 2023. Individual responses were strictly anonymous. N=3,817 Active employees analyzed at 95% confidence, ±2%. N=1,172 Retirees, 95% level of confidence, ±2% margin of error.
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