Go-Go, Slow-Go and No-Go phase of Retirement
The “marginal decade,” coined by Dr. Peter Attia, is the last 10 years of life. During this period, physical and cognitive function decline rapidly, and the incidence of chronic diseases increases exponentially.
How does this compare to the go-go, slow-go, and no-go phases of retirement?
What is the Marginal Decade?
What happens in the last decade of life even to healthy people? The marginal decade is a time when you face challenges:
- Reduced mobility and physical strength
- Cognitive decline and memory loss
- Increased risk of chronic conditions, such as heart disease, cancer, and dementia
- Dependence on others for daily activities
Financial planners focus on the marginal decade because it is commonly associated with increased expenses (the final upturn of the Spending Smile). Beyond being prepared for long-term care expenses or in-home healthcare, you can focus on maintaining a healthy lifestyle, including nutrition, exercise, stress management, and maximizing quality of life and dignity.
Vs. Slow or No-Go
Dr. Attia suggests maintaining a high quality of life during your last decade. The idea is not to predict when you will die but to do things that maximize old age. Consider what you want your life to look like in those final years and work backward. Identify specific activities or skills to maintain or achieve in old age and tailor habits to support these goals.
Let’s compare this with the Go-Go, Slow-Go, and No-Go phases of retirement:
Go-Go Years
This phase typically spans from the early stages of retirement, around ages 60-70, when individuals are in good health and have high energy levels. It’s a time for travel, hobbies, and engaging in activities deferred during working years. The focus is on enjoying life to the fullest, often involving higher spending due to more active lifestyles. The go-go years align with preparing for your marginal decade by being active and setting the foundation for health in later years.
Slow-Go Years
Transitioning to the slow-go years, typically around ages 70-80, energy levels decrease, and so does the pace of life. Physical activity is affected by age. The focus shifts towards more relaxed pursuits, like local social engagements, less strenuous hobbies, and decreased spending.
Age makes you cautious for the first time.
No-Go Years
Starting at age 80 and beyond, physical and cognitive abilities significantly decline.
This stage involves staying close to home, managing health issues, or living in care facilities. Healthcare costs often increase expenses again, but overall activity levels are low.
Planning for the marginal decade must account for this phase, ensuring one maintains one’s quality of life as much as possible, even if activities are limited to simple pleasures like family time or reading.
Comparison of the Marginal Decade and No-Go
Activity Level: The marginal decade is about maintaining specific activities you value, which might start in the go-go years but must be adapted as you move through slow-go to no-go phases.
Lifestyle and Health: Preparing for the marginal decade involves a proactive approach to health from the go-go years, ensuring you can transition through slow-go and no-go with as much independence and activity as possible.
Financial Planning: Both concepts involve financial planning but have different focuses. The go-go, slow-go, no-go framework helps plan spending across retirement phases. At the same time, the marginal decade emphasizes long-term health investments, which might not directly correlate with financial outlay but with lifestyle choices.
Purpose: The marginal decade promotes a long-term, goal-oriented approach to life, focusing on what you want to achieve or maintain in old age. It resonates with the go-go phase’s activity but extends into the principles of slow-go and no-go by ensuring sustainability in health and activity.
While the go-go, slow-go, and no-go phases describe the natural progression and adjustment of activities and lifestyle through retirement, the marginal decade focuses on a goal-oriented approach to ensure those years are lived with purpose and capability.
Conclusion
The key idea behind the marginal decade is that proper planning and lifestyle choices can significantly improve quality of life during the final decade.
Go-Go Years precede the marginal decade and are when good habits are formed.
Slow-Go Years overlap with the early part of the marginal decade.
No-Go Years closely aligns with the marginal decade concept.
The marginal decade refers to the last ten years of life, while the go-go, slow-go, and no-go framework is more flexible and spans longer. The former emphasizes preparation and prevention to maintain quality of life, while the latter describes typical retirement phases.
The marginal decade can occur at different ages for different people, whereas the go-go, slow-go, and no-go stages are more generally associated with specific age ranges. The marginal decade is a motivational tool for healthier living earlier in life, while the Go framework is used for retirement planning and expectation setting.
Understanding both concepts helps one prepare for the later stages of life and maximize quality of life throughout retirement and the final years.