Research
Life after 50, by the numbers
Last updated: November 2026
Published research suggests purpose after 50 is linked to health and longevity, and that many people face decades of life after their careers end.
These statistics are collected by After the Career, a site published by Rarified Life, from the sources named beside each one. None of them is Rarified Life's own data. Together they explain why planning your time and purpose deserves the same care as planning your money.
Does having a purpose after 50 really matter?
The research says it is associated with real outcomes. In the Boston University study, people with the highest sense of purpose had less than half the mortality risk of those with the lowest. Purpose is not a luxury to add after the finances are settled; it is part of what a healthy later life is made of.
15.2% vs 36.5%
Mortality risk for people with the highest sense of purpose (15.2 percent) compared with people with the lowest sense of purpose (36.5 percent).
79.54 years
U.S. life expectancy for 2026, a 0.18% increase from 2025 (79.40). The 2024 figure was 79.25.
7.4% at 65
In 2024, life expectancy for women in comparable countries exceeded the U.S., on average, by 4.1% at birth and by 7.4% at age 65.
Source: Peterson-KFF Health System Tracker, "How does U.S. life expectancy compare to other countries?"
$6,800
On average, single people without children between 55 and 64 have almost $6,800 in the bank. Singles with children have about $6,900, and couples in the same age group around $16,000.
Source: Credit.com, "Starting Over at 50 Can Be Done, Here’s How"
204%
Between 1991 and 2016, the percentage of people aged 65 to 74 declaring bankruptcy increased by 204%.
Source: Credit.com, "Starting Over at 50 Can Be Done, Here’s How"
10 minutes
A suggested starting point for feeling like yourself again: pick up the book, dust off the paintbrush, sign up for the class, or carve out 10 minutes for something that makes you feel like you.
Source: Platinum Magazine, "Why your 50s is the perfect time to step into your next chapter"
What these numbers mean for life after a career
First, time. With U.S. life expectancy at 79.54 years for 2026, a woman leaving her career at 60 may have two decades or more ahead. That is roughly as long as many careers.
Second, money and meaning are separate problems. The Credit.com figures show many people approaching retirement with modest savings, which makes qualified financial advice important. But even a solid financial plan does not answer what those years are for.
Third, small steps count. The research link between purpose and longevity does not require a grand mission on day one. Platinum Magazine's 10-minute suggestion is a reminder that direction is built from small, repeated actions. Read how to turn those actions into a plan in the main guide to finding purpose in life after 50.
Common questions
See all questions in the FAQ- How not to worry about getting older?
- Worry tends to shrink when the future feels designed rather than imposed. Focus on what you can shape: health habits, relationships, and meaningful work or projects. A Boston University study reported a 15.2 percent mortality risk for people with the highest sense of purpose, compared with 36.5 percent for those with the lowest.
- Why do I feel life is over at 50?
- Often because the markers that measured progress, such as promotions, titles and deadlines, stop arriving, and time starts to feel empty rather than open. Macrotrends puts U.S. life expectancy for 2026 at 79.54 years, so many people at 50 have decades ahead. That is the reason to plan for meaning, not only for money.
- How do you start over at 50 when you have nothing left?
- Start with the basics: stable housing, income and health, with professional financial or legal help where needed. Credit.com reports that single people without children aged 55 to 64 have almost $6,800 in the bank on average, so financial restarts are common. Once the basics are steady, rebuilding identity and purpose can happen alongside, in small steps.
- Should I sort out money before purpose?
- Work on both in parallel. Money questions belong with a qualified financial professional, and purpose questions do not resolve themselves once finances are settled. Credit.com reports that couples aged 55 to 64 tend to have a little over $16,000 in the bank, which shows why many people need both financial and life planning.
- Is retirement coaching the same as a financial planner?
- No. A financial planner helps with money: savings, income and investments. Retirement coaching addresses identity, purpose and how you spend your time. Rarified Life's free presentation argues that a financial planner meeting alone is the worst way to prepare for the rest of your life. Most people benefit from both, for different questions.
Start with the free presentation.
Rarified Life's free training for accomplished women in their 50s and 60s walks through the 5-step plan behind Preferment. Then decide if the 8-week course is right for you.