George Nash
Age : 68
After retiring from Potomac, George, a 68-year-old, now works full-time with an electric utility company in Philadelphia and radiates energy. On the contrary, his wife, Christina, a former school teacher, seldom ventures outside, grappling with multiple medical conditions, including depression. George hadn’t anticipated Carolyn, his second daughter, returning. The hope for a sigh of relief when your last child leaves the nest is disrupted when, after facing the trials of the adult world, they end up back on your couch. George and Christina, previously introduced, embody the growing phenomenon of boomerang kids—a recent trend in the West where adult children, often called ‘boomerang’ kids, return home.
Despite having worked as an interior designer before, she found herself in a challenging situation when the company retrenched her. Last year, Carolyn’s husband suffered a massive heart attack, and passed away. Contrary to her parents’ wishes, their daughter Carolyn married a man who was twenty plus years her senior.
At the age of 68, George finds himself still working full-time, and the empty nest he envisioned is far from empty. George, along with his wife, had envisioned strengthening their retirement savings once their daughters left home, anticipating a time to travel and relax. Carolyn, along with her two young sons, moved back home after her husband’s death. George, unexpectedly taking on the role of raising his grandsons aged 12 and 14, had to dip into a federal pension to meet his daughter’s special needs. He anticipates continuing to support his daughter and grandsons throughout retirement, whenever that may come.
Reflecting on his situation, George acknowledges, “We had to make choices to spend on our kids—because you are ‘obligated’ to do that. I realised it’s a crazy modern family, but I am fortunate, with decent jobs and good incomes. But everyone is not that fortunate.” Despite the challenges, George never complains.
This predicament highlights a significant risk to retirement: financially reliant adult children. Merrill Lynch reports that over three-quarters of parents offer financial assistance to their grown children, whether it’s accommodating them at home, covering their cell phone bills, or even shouldering their student loan payments. Many parents are giving adult children more money than ever before. In George’s case, this financial support extends to his grandchildren as well.
Takeaway
Adult children may sometimes genuinely need your monetary assistance. Sometimes ‘boomerang kids’ is a reality in old age. Additional responsibilities of grand children also a possibility in the twilight years.
