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A new model of retirement is emerging.

Retirement today is much more active and personally defined than in the past.

Working in some way after a full-time career is becoming common.

Since its beginnings in the late 19th century, retirement—the post-career phase of life—has been a central component of American culture, socially, economically, politically, and psychologically. From a social sense, retirement eventually became seen by many Americans as a primary goal in their lives, a much-deserved reward after decades of hard work. With Social Security, a little nest egg, and perhaps a pension, one could finally do what one wanted rather than have to earn a living for oneself and one’s family.

It’s not an exaggeration to say that by the mid-20th century, retirement was perceived by many as a kind of paradise on earth, a time of rest, relaxation, and leisure. Many Americans’ lives became heavily oriented around the concept of retirement, specifically by determining when one could stop working by having........

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