Have you ever wondered why some retirees seem happy, healthy and engaged while others do not? There are important benefits to staying productive during retirement when productivity is defined as paid work, care giving, and volunteering. How older adults stay engaged in productive activities varies by age, health status, and other personal characteristics. Retirement counselors have a unique opportunity to influence the number of engaged older Americans. As the number of engaged retirees increases not only will the individual benefit but so will the economy and all of society.

Your presenter for this session is Dr. Barbara A. Butrica, Senior Research Associate, Urban Institute. Barbara is a labor economist with research interests in aging and income dynamics. Dr. Butrica currently is a Senior Research Associate at the Urban Institute where she studies issues related to the economic security of the boomer generation, retirement and pensions, Social Security, and the engagement of older adults. She previously served as an analyst at Mercer Human Resource Consulting, and as an economist at the Social Security Administration. Dr. Butrica holds a Ph.D. from Syracuse University and a B.A. from Wellesley College.