There is this emerging trend of Americans retiring earlier than planned amid rising living costs, health issues, emergencies, and looming risks of layoffs. Many are claiming Social Security as soon as they become eligible at 62 to settle for lower payments for life. Even the markets are not helpful as extreme stock swings continue to trigger panic-selling in 401(k)s, hampering the retirement goals of millions of Americans who are planning to hang their boots.
88-year-old Barbara Ann Patton still works as a remote mobile notary public in Florida for over 20 hours a week to pay her bills due to low savings. She even depends on her stepdaughter to get by and blames her condition for poor decisions she made years ago.
