Susan's Scoop

Is "Dying at Your Desk" a Valid Retirement Plan?

I was out with a family friend recently when he casually mentioned that “one of my coworkers just died at his desk at age 84 – that’s my retirement plan too.” I’m sure I looked taken aback (I unfortunately have one of those very expressive faces that gives everything away 😬), and then stammered, “well, you are contributing to a retirement plan anyway, right?!”

I’m guessing you know what the answer to that was. (No).

This friend is in his late 30s and has been working at his current job for 15 years. If he had started investing just $500/month in his 401k when he started working (with another $500/month that would have been matched by his employer) and invested it in the S&P 500, his 401k would now be worth $550,000!

This is $90k of personal contributions, $90k of employer contributions, and $370,000 of compounded growth, despite the period from 2011-2026 including the 2018 market correction, the 2020 covid crash, and the 2022 bear market.

Over the next 25 years, that $550k would continue compounding and grow to almost $6m at historical growth rates.

If he starts investing now at $500/month (plus the employer match), he will likely build about $1.3m in the account over the next 25 years.

So even if he REALLY REALLY wants to die at his desk, here are his options:

1) Start investing immediately and die at his desk with over $7 million

2) Start investing after 15 years and die at his desk with over $1 million

3) Never start investing and die at his desk with very little

I’ll be honest – I did fuss at him a little bit! I mean, come on, dying at your desk is not a great retirement plan no matter how you shake it. Just over a year ago, a woman died at her desk at a Wells Fargo office and no one noticed for FOUR DAYS.

At least if he was planning to die at his desk with $7m+, he could casually mention that in conversation with his coworkers and they would probably pay more attention to him, hoping to get a slice of that fat pie when he passes away.

And then there are all of the OTHER THINGS that could get in the way of this “dying at his desk” retirement plan: Getting laid off, the company going under, illness (himself or a family member), disability, getting arrested, having a mental breakdown, getting targeted by a foreign government and having to go into the witness protection program – who knows!!

All of this to say, as much as you may love your job, don’t let “dying at your desk” be your retirement plan. No one is going to want that cubicle after someone has died there, and they’re going to be particularly annoyed if you haven’t even left behind enough money to cover an office farewell party. 🥳

So what should you actually do instead of planning to die at your desk? ☠️

• Start investing now, even if it’s small. $500/month over decades can turn into millions thanks to compounding. Time matters far more than picking the perfect investment.
• Always capture your employer match. If your company offers a 401(k) match, that’s an immediate 100% return on your money. Don’t leave it on the table.
• Automate it so you never have to think about it. Set up payroll deductions and let the system do the work while you live your life.
• Remember that retirement planning isn’t just about retirement. It’s about having options if life throws you a curveball long before age 84.

The goal isn’t to stop working - it’s to make sure you’re working because you want to, not because you have to.

What I'm Reading

📕 Parent Like a Millionaire (Without Being One): Outsmart Big Baby, Save on Childcare, and Secure Your Family's Financial Future – Kristy Shen and Bryce Leung (book)

The authors’ previous book Quit Like a Millionaire played a big role in shaping how I approached my own financial freedom journey. Now that they’ve had a son, they’ve followed it up with a book aimed at parents. While I didn’t agree with everything (especially their take on schooling), it offers a useful look at how to avoid getting sucked into unnecessary baby purchases, how to structure 529 plans effectively, and ways families can reduce the overall cost of child-rearing and college.

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