Gen X Retirement Panic Button: A 5-Year Catch‑Up Plan That Actually Works
One day, sometime after a random Tuesday meeting and a reheated cup of coffee, it hits you: the math on your life timeline and your bank balance does not add up. You do a quick, slightly panicked calculation on your phone, think about how old you were when you watched “Friends” live, and suddenly the phrase “I’ll worry about retirement later” feels like it was said by a completely different person living in a completely different economy. Your knees may still be holding it together, but your retirement plan feels like the one who needs an ice pack and a serious check‑in. If this sounds familiar, you are not broken, lazy, or uniquely irresponsible; you are a textbook Gen Xer who grew up in an era that told you to “follow your passion,” handed you multiple recessions, ballooning housing costs, and exploding college tuition, then quietly whispered, “Also, you’re totally on your own for retirement, good luck.” That is a confusing psychological co...