It also happens to us in the civilian world. When I left the service and got the ATPL there was forced retirement for airline pilots at 60. As a result all the financial planning (paying off mortgages, endowment maturity, pensions) etc was based on being out of work on the 60th birthday.
3 months before this birthday, a letter arrived offering a 'shed load of money' if I took redundancy - effective in 3 months time!!
Mrs Staircase was convinced it was a wind up from the 'mates', until I put her on the 'dog and bone' to the line manager.
Mind you with the bank of mum and dad called on for kids housing, a couple of weddings and a boat soon saw most of it off.