7 Key Signs It’s Time To Unretire in 2025

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With people living longer than ever, retirement is no longer a one-size-fits-all milestone, it’s an evolving journey, according to Melissa Murphy Pavone, founder at Mindful Financial Partners. 

While increased longevity brings new opportunities in retirement, it also increases financial challenges, such as stretching your savings, navigating changing health needs and adapting to unforeseen expenses. 

For some retirees, it may mean that your full retirement plans aren’t quite working as you hoped, and your next step may be “unretiring.” Just a way of saying going back to work, or finding ways to increase income, unretiring can look different for everyone who undergoes it.

How do you know you should unretire in 2025? Experts like Pavone and others offered seven key signs that it may be time.

You Need Flexibility 

Retirement plans should evolve as your life does, accounting for shifting goals, market conditions and personal circumstances, Pavone said. Whether that’s revisiting your financial strategy, exploring part-time work or rediscovering your purpose, a dynamic, adaptable approach ensures your retirement remains as vibrant as your life, she said.

She encouraged retirees to not think of unretiring in 2025 as a setback. “It’s an opportunity to realign your financial and personal goals. Whether motivated by financial necessity, personal fulfillment, or external circumstances, unretiring can provide a meaningful way to enhance both your lifestyle and security.”

You Are at Risk of Running Out of Money

“If your retirement income strategy shows that there is a chance that you could run out of money, you should consider unretiring to bring in some more funds to bolster your nest egg,” said Eric Mangold, wealth manager and owner of Argosy Wealth Management.  

“[E]very year that you are earning income but also allowing your nest egg to grow could greatly increase the longevity of your strategy,” Mangold added.

Your Financial Projections No Longer Align With Reality

Maybe you’re not running out of money, but your original goals aren’t quite matching up with reality. “Retirement planning often feels like hitting a moving target, especially with inflation eroding purchasing power,” according to Jeff Mains, founder of Champion Leadership Group. “For instance, I recently worked with a client who retired expecting healthcare costs to grow at a steady rate — but a single unanticipated medical procedure derailed their budget. Instead of tapping into savings unsustainably, they returned to work part time as a consultant in their industry, leveraging their decades of expertise.”

Mains finds that this approach of using part-time or project-based roles to supplement income provides retirees the financial breathing room to handle unexpected expenses without sacrificing their lifestyles or long-term goals.

You’re Feeling Bored or Lacking Purpose

Another signal you should unretire is if you are bored, Mangold said. “Studies have shown that people who are retired yet not engaged with some sort of activities are at greater risk of depression.” 

People can get comfort, friends, identity and income from places of employment. “If those traits are not in your life now, and you are sitting staring at the walls, you may want to consider unretiring,” Mangold added.

Mains added that a feeling of boredom might be masking other feelings. For example, he said, “For many, the absence of a structured day or a clear purpose can feel jarring. One retiree I mentored discovered this after a few months of retirement bliss gave way to restlessness. He started volunteering, which evolved into a paid role advising local startups,” Mains said.

“In my opinion, unretirement can be a way to rediscover passion while creating value for others. If you’re missing the sense of accomplishment that work provided, it’s worth exploring roles that align with your interests or legacy goals,” Mains added.

You’re Excited by Emerging Opportunities in Your Field

Unretiring doesn’t only have to be a crisis-oriented move, Mains said. “Industries evolve rapidly, and I’ve seen retirees drawn back into the workforce by innovations they’re passionate about. For example, a former SaaS executive I know returned to work in a fractional leadership role to help scale startups adopting AI technologies.” Because of the flexibility of the role, he was able to contribute without compromising his retirement lifestyle, Mains shared.

“If you’re following trends in your field and feel a spark of excitement, it might be a sign to re-engage — not as a necessity, but as an opportunity to stay intellectually and professionally active,” he added.

Your Social Circles Are Shrinking

One common challenge of retirement is the loss of social connections that work naturally provides, Mains said. If you’re feeling social loneliness or lack of connection, unretiring might be for you. “I’ve seen retirees who re-entered the workforce part time primarily for the community. One client took a role mentoring teams within her old company, and it quickly became a source of social fulfillment.”

If your days feel isolating, returning to a professional environment can help rebuild those meaningful connections.

You Want To Explore a New Career Path

Lastly, Mains said, “Retirement can be a second act rather than a final chapter. I worked with a client who turned his passion for photography into a part-time business after retiring from a corporate role. The financial benefits were secondary to the joy of turning a hobby into something impactful.”

Whichever of these signs tells you to unretire, returning to work in some form can bring a multitude of benefits.

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