Financial coach and planner Hussein Al-Harbi told Al-Riyadh that retirement is not just the end of a career but a new phase often accompanied by fears known as “retirement phobia.” He explained that these fears stem from a fundamental question about life after the salary stops, as many employees fear losing their social role, entering isolation, and experiencing a decline in living standards. Some associate retirement with the end of contribution and the fading of professional identity.

Al-Harbi pointed out that global and local studies confirm that the real difference lies in early financial planning and building a financial lifeline that ensures stability after retirement. International statistics showed that nearly half of retirees regret not starting to save early, while studies proved that those who continued investing after retirement managed to achieve additional returns that guaranteed them a better standard of living than others.

Saudi studies, including one by King Abdulaziz University titled “Retirement Planning in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,” confirmed that the absence of financial planning directly reflects on the loss of financial stability after retirement. Another university study titled “Enhancing the Culture of Saving According to Vision 2030” showed that psychological and social challenges clearly affect saving behaviors among individuals in Saudi society.

Al-Harbi added that the most important lesson every employee should understand is that early financial planning, regular saving, and multiple income sources can transform retirement from a stage of anxiety and fear into a golden beginning, where the retiree lives psychological and financial stability, regains a sense of identity and contribution, and invests time in hobbies, volunteering, or managing small projects.

Regarding what is known as “retirement phobia,” Al-Harbi emphasized that it is not a predetermined fate but a motivational message for employees to prepare early for that stage, affirming that early preparation turns post-work years into an opportunity to enjoy the best periods of life.