One unarguable fact that pertains to flying as opposed to other professions... if you go into law, medicine or consultant engineering, by the time you're into your 50s your approaching the peak of your profession, often have partners and associates supporting you and can look forward to life becoming easier with a steadily rising income. A very different story with the airlines where at the magic age of 60 one's experience counts for nothing. Allowing for the very volatile nature of airline employment as witnessed over the past 20 years together with the normal aches and pains of life generally, college fees, divorce.. medical care etc.. there must be a large group of pilots out there looking at a less than rosy enforced retirement...