A new report finds that nearly a third of retirees are considering returning to work for financial and personal reasons.
“The overwhelming majority of seniors are unretiring because housing-related fixed costs have outpaced their retirement income,” attorney and Certified Public Accountant Chad Cummings told NTD.
Those fixed costs include property taxes, utilities, and homeowner insurance premiums.
“Avoiding unretirement requires executing Roth conversions during low-bracket tax years, restructuring fixed obligations before age 60, and eliminating non-essential liabilities like Homeowner Association (HOA) dues,” Cummings added. “Monthly HOA dues are money down the drain for most retirees for devices and amenities they don’t even use.”
The F&G study further found that younger seniors are more likely to consider unretiring by returning to work, compared to those who have been retired longer, with 54 percent of Gen Xers and only 28 percent of Boomers exploring emerging from retirement
The upside of returning to work is a new flow of income and an improved financial future, however, personal finance experts like CouponSnake.com’s Aaron Razon predict a downside.
“The long-term implications of this trend could be far-reaching, affecting not just retirees but also younger generations waiting to enter the workforce,” Razon told NTD.
California-based Certified Financial Planner Andrew Hall blames the need to unretire on inflation outpacing capital market projections.
In July 2025, the U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased 0.2 percent month-over-month and 2.7 percent year-over-year, which matched June’s rate.
The CPI reflects the final price paid by consumers at the retail level.
“For those calculating inflation in retirement with their advisors, it is best practice to plan for a base case and an extreme case,” Hall told NTD. “Re-run the numbers with an adviser or local Alliance on Aging.”
The Alliance on Aging, established in 1970, aims to help senior citizens remain safely in their own homes for as long as possible.
To avoid having to unretire, Hall advises practicing self-care.
“The trend of fitness is not for vanity but vitality,” he said. “Seek a silver sneakers program, whether you’re going to work or not.”
Razon recommends developing multiple income streams.
“With multiple streams of income, retirees can become more confident about their financial stability during retirement,” Razon added. “Unretirement is a realistic approach to retirement planning. However, it would have to be balanced between working to earn a living, and taking enough time for yourself to enjoy life, otherwise burnout is inevitable.”
