Imagine the following scenario: It is the year 2038, and you are 68 years old. Three years ago, you were forcibly retired from your job as a senior manager at an insurance company, under a new law that instituted mandatory retirement ages across all white-collar occupations. This didn’t panic you because you had sacrificed, scrimped, and saved for years toward the day when you might have to retire. You even owned your home free and clear, having paid off the mortgage with just 24 years of hard, thrifty work. Consequently, while your future would not be luxurious, it would be secure.