What To Do If You're Pushed Out Of Work At 60

A man leans his head into his reflection with an upset look on his face.

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You’ve done everything right. You’ve bumped up your savings and massaged your stock allocations. You’ve even scoped out properties in that cute little beach town you like so much, a great place to buy a vacation home.

Then, wham! Your boss calls you in. The company’s downsizing-reorganizing-exploring strategic options-blah-blah-blah. Whatever they call it, you’re being forced out at what is probably the worst time possible. What do you do next?

As hard as it may be, try to stay positive. Don’t despair. “How many times has something happened to you that wasn’t part of the plan? But a year later, you were back to enjoying life,” says Tim Maurer, an Atlanta financial adviser.

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Look at your retirement goals, such as family, travel and hobbies, and think about how you can achieve them on a reduced income. “The numbers might be different, but you can still reach the same type of goals,” says Maurer.

First, review whatever severance package is available. What benefits are being offered? Take as much time as you can. Consult your financial adviser and a lawyer. “You might be owed severance pay, stock options or outstanding bonuses and commissions,” says Karen Birr, a financial adviser in Minneapolis. “These might be enough to bridge the earnings gap until retirement.” Some states allow you to receive both severance pay and unemployment benefits, while others do not.

Most importantly, check your health insurance. Are you eligible for COBRA? Can you get on your spouse’s insurance? Can you get another job — just something that will get you health benefits? Finally, you can get a quote for an Affordable Care Act plan — expensive, but premiums are capped based on your income.

Above all, recognize that your world has changed and you have to change with it. “Step back from any dreams and evaluate where you stand with savings and future retirement income,” cautions David John of AARP in Washington, D.C. “If this is it, what can you truly afford?”

Note: This item first appeared in Kiplinger’s Retirement Report, our popular monthly periodical that covers key concerns of affluent older Americans who are retired or preparing for retirement. Subscribe for retirement advice that’s right on the money.

David is a financial freelance writer based out of Delaware. He specializes in making investing, insurance and retirement planning understandable. He has been published in Kiplinger, Forbes and U.S. News, and also writes for clients like American Express, LendingTree and Prudential. He is currently Treasurer for the Financial Writers Society.

Before becoming a writer, David was an insurance salesman and registered representative for New York Life. During that time, he passed both the Series 6 and CFP exams. David graduated from McGill University with degrees in Economics and Finance where he was also captain of the varsity tennis team.