In my prime

Portfolio Working for the Over 50s Birmingham

A portfolio career, as its name implies, is one in which you spread your skills, time and talents over a number of different areas – some of which may earn you money, and some of which – for whatever reason - you may do for free. As a new career structure it has numerous advantages for the over 50s, as this article explains.

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Portfolio Working for the Over 50s

There are many reasons for establishing a portfolio career when you’re over 50.

Today, many people still need to continue to earn money well past traditional ‘retirement’ age but might be bored and unfulfilled with their current full-time jobs and wondering where to turn next. For them, it may be easier and more rewarding on a long-term basis to look at earning from two or three different activities – thereby reducing risk, boredom and complacency.

Others who may not need to work for financial reasons may want to continue to work at more interesting and perhaps less stressful activities, simply because they value the challenge of being able to continue to contribute and develop. Here again, a Portfolio Career gives them choice, flexibility, and opportunity.

On the other hand those who want to set up a new business may also need or want to continue to work in a reduced capacity in their previous career field in order to reduce the risk and maintain a level of income.

A portfolio of advantages

The advantages of developing a Portfolio Career are numerous. Amongst them are:

• It helps you to maintain a business-like framework for how you manage your time.

• It enables you, if you wish, to continue your existing career/job on a part-time, freelance or consultancy basis.

• It allows you to decide and manage how much time you want to spend working, volunteering and devoting to your own interests and hobbies respectively without drifting and losing focus.

• It avoids the pressure of having to be overly-reliant on any one area for financial reward, fulfilment or personal satisfaction.

• It avoids loss of respect and status that can come when you tell people you are retired or not working.

How to go about it

Designing a Portfolio Career comes down to achieving an appropriate and desirable balance in your life between need and want.

You may want to develop a new business, indulge in a long-term interest, passion or hobby and make what you can doing so; you may want to help others or continue your own personal development through education or training.

Even those who haven’t set out to do so may end up establishing a profitable new business simply because they have allowed themselves the time and flexibility to develop a ‘good idea’.

Whatever your motivation, if you’re embarking upon a portfolio career you must manage and develop your options as seriously as you would have at any time in your earlier career.

You need to make it clear to others that this is what you do. And you need to demonstrate to yourself and others that you have just as much commitment as at any other time in your life. It’s not something you’re playing at.

What your Portfolio Career eventually looks like is entirely up to you. Handled properly what it will add up to could be a very rewarding and fulfilling lifestyle that you can adapt and fine-tune as your financial requirements, your interests and your energy levels dictate.

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