Work Until You Die: But do it the right way...

People occasionally ask for my perspective on retirement. When they raise the question, I look them in the eye and respond,

"I want to work until I die."

I deliver the statement with a completely straight face.

They nearly always look at me with confusion. Work has exhausted most Americans, leaving them unable to imagine performing any more labor than is necessary. But I view work differently. I consider it a gift from God: A venue for purpose, focus, and service.

Right now, my organization is expanding rapidly, and I need your assistance. I am not recruiting standard employees; I seek partners who refuse to rust out in a traditional retirement. This work often begins on a part-time basis, yet it can easily grow—but it does not have to. The trajectory depends entirely on your personal relationship with work. If you possess a lifetime of business expertise and feel ready for meaningful, fulfilling, and life-changing work, we should talk.

Let me explain the philosophy behind this request, and why our current cultural view of work requires complete disruption.

The American Relationship with Work

I am an American. As a culture, we often maintain a difficult relationship with retirement because we maintain a complicated relationship with work.

In the United States, the cultural blueprint often emphasizes decades of intense labor in pursuit of a distant finish line. Many people spend forty years in demanding careers shaped by what Claudia Goldin calls “greedy work”—jobs that reward long, unpredictable hours and consume disproportionate amounts of time and energy. American culture frequently treats hard work not merely as a necessity, but as a measure of character and worth.

As a result, many people express surprise when I say I want to work indefinitely. For them, work has often been something to endure rather than sustain. They struggle to imagine labor as a lifelong source of meaning rather than something to escape.

In other countries, however, citizens view this stage of life with greater nuance.

Global Perspectives on Retirement

Other cultures do not view life as a binary switch between grueling labor and the work-off switch. Their languages reflect a holistic view of aging and societal contribution.

• IIkigai (Japan): This term translates loosely to “a reason for being.” It describes the intersection of personal passion, skill, meaning, and contribution. In places like Okinawa, known for exceptional longevity, many people continue pursuing their ikigai well into later life, maintaining purpose beyond formal retirement.

• Desjubilación (Spain and Latin America): While jubilación refers to retirement, modern Spanish-language discourse uses desjubilación to describe “un-retiring.” It reflects the conscious choice to reengage in work, learning, or community life—not out of necessity, but out of purpose.

• Vanaprastha and Sanyasa (India): In Hindu philosophy, life unfolds through distinct stages. The later phases emphasize stepping back from material ambition toward mentorship, spiritual growth, and service. Aging is seen less as decline and more as a transition into wisdom and deeper reflection.

• Friluftsliv (Scandinavia): In Nordic countries such as Denmark and Sweden, the philosophy of “open-air living” shapes all stages of life. Retirement often becomes a continuation of active engagement through nature, community involvement, and lifelong learning rather than an escape from work.

Shifting the Internal Perspective

My mind operates differently from the standard American narrative. I remain highly attuned to the specific value I receive from my labor.

I have worked my entire life diligently. However, I follow a simple rule: when the cons outweigh the pros, or even approach a net-negative balance, I view that shift as a clear signal to enter change mode and depart. I never expect a job to offer perfection, but I refuse to stay when the trajectory leans toward the negative. I did not design this as a grand life strategy; it simply reflects my natural disposition.

This approach yields excellent results.

Now, in the final third of my life, I possess sufficient wealth to ensure my financial independence. My children are grown, and my wife and I love our life together. I work for satisfaction. I retain ownership of my time and autonomy over my projects.

When I state my desire to work until I die, I refer to authentic, inspiring work. This labor brings me personal happiness and provides tangible value to others.

This philosophy inspired me to launch Personal Finance Reimagined.

Reimagining Education and Entrepreneurship

Personal Finance Reimagined operates as a decision-making and financial education organization through two distinct, interrelated verticals.

1. Financial Education Reimagined

We are transforming financial education in this country. We reject dry formulas in favor of a behavioral economics approach. We help young people build consistent, repeatable decision systems to navigate an environment filled with abundant information and scarce attention. Simulation is our primary teaching modality. As I share with my students: "We practice getting rich!" This method engages students effectively, and participants from middle school through college praise the curriculum. In student surveys, our class is regularly rated very high.

Our growth validates the model. The program currently operates in five universities and thirty middle and high schools.

2. The Founder’s Copilot

This vertical incubates new and growing startups. Our entrepreneurs range in age from nineteen to sixty. Inspiration and drive matter far more than age.

We utilize a proprietary framework combining personal coaching with technical guidance. Our Copilots possess over thirty years of industry experience as serial entrepreneurs, former corporate finance officers, or strategists. They guide these founders through every stage of growth.

An Invitation to Service

This initiative brings me back to you.

Everything depends on your definition of retirement. If you share my belief that you possess ample energy and desire to give back in a meaningful, fulfilling way, we should talk.

If you possess a background in finance or business but require structure and encouragement to enter this space, your skills can assist us. It is less about your technical skills and more about your motivation to give back.

If you wish to work part-time, teach a class, host a seminar, or mentor a rising entrepreneur, we welcome your involvement.

Our programs are expanding, our momentum is growing, and we offer a place for you here.

Let us build something enduring together.

About the author:  Jeff Hulett leads Personal Finance Reimagined, a decision-making and financial education organization. He teaches personal finance at James Madison University and provides entrepreneurial services. Check out his book -- Making Choices, Making Money: Your Guide to Making Confident Financial Decisions.

Jeff is a career banker, data scientist, behavioral economist, and choice architect. Jeff has held banking and consulting leadership roles at Wells Fargo, Citibank, KPMG, and IBM.