What would you like to achieve in your retirement?
It seems a slightly odd question to ask, as retirement is so often thought of as a time for doing less. But after many decades of life expectancy rising, retirement needn’t be the slow winding down it used to be. Instead, it could be an opportunity to start afresh and embark on a new adventure.
As these celebrities have proved, your retirement age is just a number, not an ending. Discover how six famous people have changed careers or had their big break later in life.
1. Arnold Schwarzenegger
Arnold Schwarzenegger has enjoyed a varied career. He’s one of the most highly respected bodybuilders in the world, as well as being a familiar face in blockbuster movies including The Terminator and Predator.
At the age of 56, though, far from slowing down and taking an easy retirement, Schwarzenegger was elected the 38th Governor of California in the US. He held the position for eight years after being re-elected for a second term, adding yet another accomplishment to the Austrian’s colourful career.
2. Laura Ingalls Wilder
Laura Ingalls Wilder is known the world over as the author of the Little House series of books, including Little House on the Prairie. The novel is a beloved children’s book that has also been adapted for the screen.
But writing wasn’t Ingalls Wilder’s primary career. She spent much of her working life as a teacher and a farmer. The book that made her famous was published when she was 65 years old after the author was encouraged to pursue writing by her daughter.
3. Sir Michael Caine
Sir Michael Caine has been delighting audiences with his acting career for more than five decades, having acted on stage and screen. Now, aged 90, he’s breaking new ground by writing his very first novel.
Caine worked on his debut crime thriller novel – titled Deadly Game – during lockdown, having been a lifelong fan of the genre. The book is due to be released in late 2023.
4. Dame Judi Dench
Dame Judi Dench is a beloved actress known the world over. She began her career at the esteemed Old Vic theatre company in London before starring in numerous television adaptations of plays and, later on, blockbuster films such as in the James Bond series.
In 2020, Dench dipped her toe into a brand-new industry by becoming Vogue’s oldest cover star at age 85. Shattering industry norms and sharing her famous cheeky smile and twinkly eyes, she’s showing the world that there is always more to experience and enjoy.
5. Shirley Temple Black
Shirley Temple became a household name at an early age, appearing in countless films as an actress, singer, and dancer from the age of three.
In the early 1970s, Temple Black swapped acting for politics. While some found the career move unlikely, she soon proved them wrong by excelling in a number of diplomatic positions. She acted as the first female chief of protocol of the United States, the United States ambassador to Ghana, and the United States ambassador to Czechoslovakia.
6. Vinnie Jones
Of course, sports stars bring a new meaning to the term “retirement”, since their careers tend to be much shorter than average. Vinnie Jones began his career as a professional football player in England, playing as a defensive midfielder for Chelsea, Sheffield United, Leeds United, and Queens Park Rangers.
After retiring from sport, Jones entered the world of acting. The roles that he played drew on his tough-guy demeanour in a number of high-profile films, including Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch.
Get in touch
If you’d like to enjoy a retirement full of brand-new and exciting experiences, we can help you to make sure that a lack of funds doesn’t hamper your sense of adventure.
Either contact your financial planner directly, email us at hello@ascentawealth.com or fill in our online contact form to organise a meeting and we’ll get in touch.
