Technology Is The New Essential Line Item In Retirement Planning

Technology is the new line item in retirement planning. As we mark the fifth anniversary of the COVID-19 shutdown, it’s clear that what many initially perceived as temporary changes became permanent fixtures in our daily lives. The pandemic propelled the role of technology in our lives at a velocity few would have anticipated. What began as emergency adaptations—virtual doctor’s appointments, online grocery shopping, video family gatherings—have evolved into expectations across the lifespan. Far from being temporary intrusions or stopgap fixes, these technological hacks to cope with life during COVID-19 now represent vital components of modern aging and must be considered essential costs in retirement and longevity planning.

When people consider retirement costs, the conversation typically revolves around housing, healthcare expenses, paying for bucket list dreams, and legacy. However, another critical category deserves its own line item in retirement budgets: technology.