Who Decided You Retire at 65?

Work for 40 years, save a little, behave… and at 65 you finally get to live. But who decided that number? It wasn't science. It started with a German chancellor trying to stop a revolution, spread to New Zealand (where you had to prove you'd lived a "sober and reputable life"), Britain and Canada… and was locked in by an American committee that literally split the difference between 60 and 70. At the end: three lessons about time, money and the things we keep postponing, including why 10 years of saving can beat 30. ⏱️ Chapters 0:00 Who decided 65? 0:50 Before retirement existed 1:39 Bismarck's clever move 2:31 How the idea spread: New Zealand, Britain, Canada 3:39 America picks 65 4:40 Ida May Fuller's first check 5:13 The "nobody lived to 65" myth 5:53 The deal today 6:42 What people regret most 7:34 3 lessons: your timeline, your money, your life 9:29 So, who decided? 💬 What's one thing you're postponing "until retirement"? Tell me in the comments. ▶ Who decided we work 8 hours a day? Watch the first story of the series on our channel. 🔔 Subscribe for the invisible rules of money, and the things money can't buy. ⚠️ The savings example is an illustration, not financial advice. Real returns vary and nothing is guaranteed. 📚 Sources & further reading Germany's Old Age and Disability Insurance Law (1889): retirement age 70, lowered to 65 in 1916 U.S. Social Security Administration History: "Age 65 Retirement" and "Life Expectancy for Social Security" Robert J. Myers (SSA actuary) on choosing 65: "60 was too young and 70 was too old" Ida May Fuller: first monthly Social Security check, January 31, 1940 (SSA History) New Zealand Old-age Pensions Act 1898 (NZ History) UK Old Age Pensions Act 1908 and the Widows', Orphans' and Old Age Contributory Pensions Act 1925 Canada's Old Age Security (1952) and the 1965 reform lowering the age to 65 UK State Pension age increase to 67 (2026–2028); Australia Age Pension age 67 (July 2023) Bronnie Ware, "The Top Five Regrets of the Dying" Harvard Study of Adult Development (since 1938) #retirement #money #history