Retirement conversation questions

Age of retirement

 * At what age must people retire in your country?
 * What do you personally think would be the most appropriate age to retire?
 * Should there be a one-size-fits-all approach to retirement age, or should it be flexible enough to take into consideration various factors? What factors?
 * Do you think that men and women should retire at the same age? Why/why not?
 * Women generally live five years longer than men. Shouldn't they retire five years later?
 * What do you think of the suggestion that people be obliged to retire at earlier ages so that younger people have more job opportunities?
 * Most western countries now have negative population growth meaning that there will, in the future, be fewer people working. Furthermore retired people are living longer. This means that while the number of workers is decreasing the number of retired people is increasing.  As a consequence some countries have proposed raising the retirement age to seventy or more.  What do you think of this? What other solutions can you think of?
 * Some countries and religious institutions have leaders who are well beyond the normal retirement age. What do you think of this?

Spending retirement

 * How do you look at the prospect of retiring? Do you dread it or look forward to it?  Why?
 * Some people never fully retire. Do you think you will be one of these individuals? Why or why not?
 * How and where would you like to spend your retirement?
 * What hobbies might you like to take up when you are retired?
 * In your country do retired people take care of themselves or is that their children's responsibility?
 * If you have several children, which child would you prefer to live with when you are older? Why?
 * Some people in the U.S. live in retirement communities. Is this an option for you? Why or why not?
 * What do you think of the idea of living in a retirement home?

The money

 * How important do you think that private pension provision is?
 * Some people say they would retire tomorrow if they had enough money. What is your opinion?
 * How much money do you think you will need for retirement?
 * If the money you have saved is not enough, what will you do?
 * Should the government support retired people? If so, under what conditions?
 * Some people spend a lot of money bringing up children who then go on to become taxpayers who go on to contribute to social security which helps to pay their parents' pensions. Other people have no children and spend all their money on themselves.  Should people who have contributed children (future taxpayers) to society have better pensions than those who have had no children? Why/why not?