WASHINGTON – Baby boomers are starting second careers late in life.
For some the second or “encore careers” are their passions.
For other older workers, financial adviser Judith Rosenthal tells CNBC reports they can’t afford to fully retire at the normal retirement age.
Nonprofit Encore.org works with baby boomers to help facilitate these second acts. According to the group as many as 9 million people between 44 and 70 are finding work that combines their personal passions with social purposes. An additional 31 million are thinking about making that type of career change.
What’s more, it’s not just a need for money that fuels these changes. CNBC reports many workers go for altruistic professions in the nonprofit world, even if it means less pay.
One of those people is Louisa Hellegers, a 65-year-old who went to work for Encore.org after 40 years in publishing.
“You feel a little more fulfilled, I think, when you get paid for the work you do,” she said. “This is not the same [money] as I was making in the corporate world, but you do feel good.”
Watch the video below for more about Helleger’s story and these encore careers:
WTOP’s Herma Percy contributed to this report. Follow @WTOP and @WTOPliving on Twitter.
