Thinking About Longevity Should Start Now. And It's About Way More Than Money.

Millennial parents are officially middle-aged. I know, I cringed when I heard that as well. But, in all honesty, the oldest among us hit 45 this year, and with that milestone has come a question that none of us really planned to be asking in our parenting years: What kind of life am I actually building toward?

Not just financially, but physically, socially, geographically. The whole picture. And in a system that wasn't designed with all of our needs in mind - as women, as trans people, as neurodivergent families, as LGBTQ+ and interracial households. We've always had to build that world ourselves. This is no different.

Being part of the sandwich generation has a way of making that clear fast. We're raising kids and watching our parents age at the same time. We're seeing up close what preparation, or the lack of it, actually looks like in real time. That is a gift, if we're paying attention.

The goal isn't just a long life. It's a good one.

Joe Coughlin, director of the MIT AgeLab, says that while retirement savings are the advice most people hear, there's a lot more to the equation. He and his collaborators built the Longevity Preparedness Index, and their first question wasn't about money at all.

They surveyed over 1,300 American adults across eight key life domains. Here's how the U.S. scored:

These are the four domains that matter most for families in the planning stage right now:

The research on community and social connection is worth stopping at. Livable communities for aging well require proximity to healthcare, grocery stores, and transit, but also people. Isolation is one of the fastest drivers of cognitive and physical decline in older age. The community you invest in now is not just nice to have. It's infrastructure.

On care: many older adults will need long-term care at some point, and many of us will also become caregivers ourselves before that. Planning for it, rather than assuming a partner or your kids will figure it out, is one of the most loving things you can do for your family right now.

Relocating isn't just for snowbirds anymore

There's a quieter conversation happening among families who are thinking about the long game right now, in their parenting years, not waiting until retirement. You've probably seen it. Our Rich Journey on YouTube. Families on House Hunters International. Your neighbor who moved abroad and keeps posting beautiful photos. For a lot of these families, it's a strategic decision about quality of life - not just vibes.

The financial case is hard to argue with. Monthly living expenses in top retirement destinations run 34–71% lower than the U.S. average:

A few countries surface consistently in research and firsthand accounts from families like ours. None of these are perfect. There is no perfect. But imperfect with better support systems beats imperfect and stranded every time.

The Builder hack on all of this

You do not need to have it all figured out. You need to start thinking about it now: at 45, at 35, at 55 - before the decisions get made for you by default.

We're already Builders, so let's build this too.

This post is for informational and planning purposes, not financial or legal advice. For decisions about retirement, relocation, or long-term care, please consult a licensed financial planner or advisor who understands your full picture.