Changing careers midlife used to be unthinkable. People spent the first part of their lives building a career, excelling at what they do, and gaining expertise in their jobs. They then spent the time until retirement enjoying the fruits of that labor. However, as people live longer than they did decades ago, second and even third careers begin to make more sense. In the United States, more than 108 million people are 50 years or older. There is a growing population of people who expect to live—and thrive—for at least another 25 or 30 years. This has meant that the idea of a 40-year work life has expanded to 60 years, thus shifting the idea of what it means to work over the course of one’s lifetime.
In addition to a longer life, there are other reasons second and........