Encore Careers: Can Second Careers Bridge the Retirement Income Gap?
Channel: New America
Date: 2012-03-30

Encore Careers: 
Can Second Careers Bridge the Retirement Income Gap?

As Washington grapples with enormous deficit challenges, the nation's 78 million Baby Boomers are approaching retirement age. This demographic wave colors much of the discussion about the nation's long-term finances. Top-down directives, like raising the Social Security eligibility age, get most of the attention. But could carrots work better than sticks? What if millions of Baby Boomers elected not to retire, and instead chose to change jobs, start small businesses, or find other ways to serve their communities?

Encore careers that combine continued income and social purpose already are a real choice for millions of Americans. As that number grows in coming decades, this change in behavior touches an array of federal law and policy even beyond Social Security, including national service programs, job training efforts and higher education. It also raises significant questions about the size, shape, and direction of the labor market itself. How big is the market for encore careers? Could they boost retirement income security? Improve Social Security's finances? Given the state of the economy and the circumstances of the average worker approaching retirement age, does the idea even make sense?

Participants

Introductory Remarks
Former Senator Harris Wofford (D-PA)

Featured Speaker
David Bank
Vice President, Civic Ventures

Panelists
Debbie Banda
State Director, AARP Massachusetts

Nancy Altman
Co-Chair, Strengthen Social Security

Phil Longman
Senior Research Fellow, Health Policy Program
New America Foundation

Stephen Goss
Chief Actuary, Social Security Administration

Moderator
Michael Calabrese
Senior Research Fellow, Asset Building Program
New America Foundation

Participants

Introductory Remarks
Former Senator Harris Wofford (D-PA)

Featured Speaker
David Bank
Vice President, Civic Ventures

Panelists
Debbie Banda
State Director, AARP Massachusetts

Nancy Altman
Co-Chair, Strengthen Social Security

Phil Longman
Senior Research Fellow, Health Policy Program
New America Foundation

Stephen Goss
Chief Actuary, Social Security Administration

Moderator
Michael Calabrese
Senior Research Fellow, Asset Building Program
New America Foundation

http://www.newamerica.net/events/2012/encore_careers