So, I’d like some honest answers From those established in the profession please.

I am in my early 50’s and have had an “average” architectural career. Fully licensed. Currently freelancing after stints at big firms, small firms, and non profits for the past 25 years.

In spite of the typical challenges of having a lower comparative compensation (compared to other “professionals”) and job consistency struggles with the economic cycles, I’ve been able to save aggressively, invest smartly, and be able to target mid to late 50’s for a potential retirement date.

My challenge is this. I enjoy the work just enough to want to still engage in the profession after “retirement”, but I am struggling how to plug in. Do I want to maintain credentials? But the costs of “doing business” and maintaining credentials and trying to do this work “part time” Or in a semi retirement way, doesn’t feel like there will be any return… and risks losing money as the type of projects a part time effort will lead are basically small scale projects that won’t pay that great. And the costs of insurances, software access, certifications, etc. doesn’t go down just because I take on less work. I’ve run some numbers, and I could honestly do better greeting at a big box store for $15/hour than trying to maintain a freelance practice doing 1/3 of the billing I do now.

I’ve considered some consulting work, but the market I serve and expertise I have don’t really mesh and don’t want to live out of a suitcase half the year doing that. It all makes sense if I am in a full time mode with all those things. But struggling with how to stay involved in practice if it isn’t the full time gig. Is it worth maintaining credentials post retirement? Or do people Just box them up with a nest bow and maybe slide into academics to pass the time? Do people just turn their backs to this world when they are “done”? I’ve also met enough older practitioners to know few actually don’t ever retire and most just die, some literally in the middle of projects. (I’ve taken over projects because of this). I honestly don’t know if they work because they have to, or because they want to.

I find it feels like a codependent cycle of a career choice. One without an exit ramp unless there is some level of formal intervention.