Why Older Americans (and Older Historians) Are Happier at Work

At 65, W. Andrew "Andy" Achenbaum, a professor of history and social work at the University of Houston, doesn't plan on retiring anytime soon. "At this point, I'm sort of an elder of the tribe … I don't want to waste my time doing things that aren't meaningful to me and hopefully constructive to others," he says. To him, mentoring students, teaching, and writing are among the most meaningful activities he can pursue.

A new survey from Charles Schwab suggests that Achenbaum is not an anomaly. In fact, 32 percent of 60-something middle-income workers surveyed said they don't want to retire. Three in four respondents between the ages of 50 and 69 said they are "sticking with their jobs because they want to," and not because they have to for financial reasons. And one in four workers say this is "the happiest time in their working career."...