Once upon a time the script was simple: work hard, get the gold watch, potter in the garden. Today’s 60-somethings have taken that script, scribbled “rewrite!” in the margins and handed it back to life’s director.

Faced with longer, healthier lifespans, inflation that eats superannuation for breakfast, and a post-pandemic taste for flexibility, they’re choosing to blend income, passions and service rather than leave the stage.

In 2024, 37 % of Americans aged 55 + are still in paid work—almost double the rate four decades ago, and the trend is strengthening as we roll into 2025. In Australia, the participation rate of people aged 55-64 now hovers around 70 %—a record high.

 Welcome to the age of the portfolio career.

What exactly is a portfolio career?

Coined by management guru Charles Handy back in the 1990s, a portfolio career simply means earning your living from several concurrent roles rather than one full-time job. Think of it as a bento box instead of a single-serve takeaway: a slice of consulting here, a dash of volunteering there, a sprinkle of hobby-turned-micro-business, perhaps a dollop of grand-kid minding (paid in hugs, of course).

Today’s tech platforms and remote-work norms make this mix-and-match model easier than ever. Upwork’s 2023 Freelance Forward survey showed 64 million Americans—38 % of the workforce—earned freelance income last year. Crucially, the fastest-growing cohort is the 55 + bracket, many of whom say they value control over when and how they work.

Why traditional retirement no longer fits

1. We’re living longer (and better). A woman who reaches 65 in Australia today can expect to live to 87; many will cruise past ninety.

2. Purpose matters. A 2023 survey found 90 % of older workers require meaningful work and 79 % insist on flexible hours. Hobbies and volunteering scratch that itch more satisfyingly than daytime TV.

3. Finances are fickle. Rising living costs and wobbly markets have left 53 % of pre-retirees behind on savings. A modest dribble of portfolio income—say, tutoring two days a week—can bridge the gap without locking anyone into the 9-to-5 grind.

4. Employers are tapping mature expertise. From UK hospitality chains wooing baby boomers for their “soft-skills superpower” to Australian start-ups hiring fractional CFOs in their 60s, experience sells.

 Meet 63 year old Rose who swapped school principal duties for a portfolio career: two days a week mentoring new principals online, one day selling native-flower arrangements at local markets, and Fridays volunteering at a refugee-support centre. “My weeks feel like me again,” she laughs. Her income is roughly 60% of her old salary and her fulfilment is off the chart!

And Ian, 67, spent 40 years in corporate law. Now he combines paid mediation (one big case a month), pro-bono board work for a conservation NGO, and guitar-repair gigs in his shed. “Clients still call me ‘counsel’, but my favourite title is ‘grandad roadie’,” he says.

How to build your own portfolio career

1. Do a ‘skills stocktake’. List hard skills (e.g., grant writing) and human skills (e.g., mentoring) that light you up.

2. Identify value not job titles. Companies want outcomes, not résumés. Frame offerings like “streamline onboarding” or “grow social-enterprise partnerships.”

3. Pilot, don’t plunge. Start with one micro-gig—say, a six-week consulting contract—while you test schedules, energy levels and invoicing apps.

4. Mind the money mix. Know how extra income affects pensions or super drawdowns. A quick chat with a financial planner beats a nasty tax surprise.

5. Embrace lifelong learning. Free webinars on AI tools, Canva tutorials, even TikTok “how-to” clips. Curiosity is your new career insurance.

6. Set boundaries. Freedom turns sour without healthy fences. Block sacred no-work days, automate calendar invites, and learn to say, “That sounds great—let me check my bandwidth.”

Let’s knock out two of the biggest misconceptions. First, “I’m too old to pivot.” Far from being sidelined, seasoned professionals are in demand for their reliability, EQ and hard-won networks—and AARP data show that roughly 27 % of workers aged 50-plus already freelance or do gig work.

 The second is “Gig work is unstable.” Diversifying your week across two or three modest income streams—say, a consulting retainer, a weekly tutoring session and an occasional market stall—actually spreads risk: if one client hits pause, the others keep cash (and purpose) flowing while you stay in charge of your schedule.

The wellbeing dividend

Psychologists call it “occupational enrichment”: balancing challenge, autonomy and social contact keeps brains buzzing and moods upbeat. Studies link ongoing purposeful work with lower dementia risk and higher life satisfaction. Add volunteering—shown to lift happiness as effectively as a pay rise—and you’ve got a recipe for thriving.

For highly sensitive people, portfolio life also offers stimulus control: you choose projects that energise, people who respect, and schedules that honour your nervous system.

Both courses pair beautifully with the portfolio path—because designing a mosaic career is really designing your life. And who says the best years can’t start at 60-something?

Final thoughts

Portfolio careers aren’t a fad; they’re a practical, purposeful response to 21st-century longevity. They let you keep contributing on your terms, sprinkle weekdays with curiosity, and still leave time for that Tuesday-morning salsa class (highly recommended for core strength and joy).

Before you park your talents on the retirement shelf, grab a metaphorical mixing spoon and start blending. The ingredients are already in your pantry—decades of wisdom, a dash of passion, and a generous pinch of community spirit. Mix well, season with flexibility, and serve with a side of adventure.

If this article sparked a fizz of possibility, dive deeper with my upcoming self-paced course on coaching yourself to an epic retirement. You can sign up on The Vessel to find out when the course is launched.

Your 60s? They’re just the opening credits of Act II. Lights up—portfolio career, here you come.