Four retirement paths, but blending wins.

TL;DR

Retirement Archetypes: Article outlines four retiree types from Lansbury and Baird's book: stayers, leavers, blenders, and disengaged.
Blenders Superior: Blenders retain work connections while building new passions, giving them the biggest retirement benefits per Lansbury.[[1]](https://www.afr.com/wealth/personal-finance/there-are-four-ways-to-retire-but-this-one-is-best-20260421-p5zpmf)
Holistic Success: Focusing only on money risks a terrible retirement, warns Professor Nancy Pachana.[[1]](https://www.afr.com/wealth/personal-finance/there-are-four-ways-to-retire-but-this-one-is-best-20260421-p5zpmf)

The story at a glance

The Australian Financial Review article discusses four retirement archetypes identified in the book Retiring in a New Age: Life After Paid Work by University of Sydney professors Russell Lansbury and Marian Baird. It argues that "blenders" offer the best path by mixing past work ties with new pursuits, according to Lansbury. The piece is reported amid rising interest in post-work life as baby boomers age and Gen X nears retirement.[[2]](https://www.smh.com.au/business/the-economy/move-over-boomers-gen-x-is-next-up-for-retirement-20251216-p5no6h.html)

Key points

Four archetypes derived from engagement with prior work versus new interests: stayers (strong prior work, weak new), leavers (weak prior, strong new), blenders (moderate both), disengaged (weak both).[[2]](https://www.smh.com.au/business/the-economy/move-over-boomers-gen-x-is-next-up-for-retirement-20251216-p5no6h.html)[[3]](https://www.sydney.edu.au/news-opinion/news/2025/11/07/the-four-types-of-boomer-retirees.html)
Stayers stay linked to old careers for interest or finances; leavers shift fully to community or personal pursuits.
Blenders deliberately keep some prior expertise activities while exploring unrelated passions.[[1]](https://www.afr.com/wealth/personal-finance/there-are-four-ways-to-retire-but-this-one-is-best-20260421-p5zpmf)
Disengaged lack ties to either, often facing isolation from health issues or loss.[[2]](https://www.smh.com.au/business/the-economy/move-over-boomers-gen-x-is-next-up-for-retirement-20251216-p5no6h.html)
Lansbury views blenders as having the best shot at retirement gains through balanced connections.[[1]](https://www.afr.com/wealth/personal-finance/there-are-four-ways-to-retire-but-this-one-is-best-20260421-p5zpmf)
Professor Nancy Pachana warns money obsession alone can lead to poor retirement outcomes.[[1]](https://www.afr.com/wealth/personal-finance/there-are-four-ways-to-retire-but-this-one-is-best-20260421-p5zpmf)

Details and context

The archetypes come from research on baby boomers, now in their 60s-70s, based on how they navigate life after paid work.[[3]](https://www.sydney.edu.au/news-opinion/news/2025/11/07/the-four-types-of-boomer-retirees.html) Examples include leaver Carol, a former radiologist who found relief in new freedoms; stayer Dan, a surveyor continuing for social reasons; and blender Rob, who studied history while scaling back drafting.[[3]](https://www.sydney.edu.au/news-opinion/news/2025/11/07/the-four-types-of-boomer-retirees.html)

Blenders stand out for purposeful transitions, retaining networks while diversifying, unlike disengaged retirees prone to isolation.[[2]](https://www.smh.com.au/business/the-economy/move-over-boomers-gen-x-is-next-up-for-retirement-20251216-p5no6h.html) The article ties this to broader advice beyond finances, as Pachana studies good retirements via UniSuper.[[1]](https://www.afr.com/wealth/personal-finance/there-are-four-ways-to-retire-but-this-one-is-best-20260421-p5zpmf)

Key quotes

"Retirement was a kind of relief. I now had the freedom to do whatever I wanted and to take up new interests." – Carol, former radiologist (leaver archetype).[[3]](https://www.sydney.edu.au/news-opinion/news/2025/11/07/the-four-types-of-boomer-retirees.html)

"In fact, if you focus on money at the expense of everything else, it could even lead to a terrible retirement." – Professor Nancy Pachana, University of Queensland.[[1]](https://www.afr.com/wealth/personal-finance/there-are-four-ways-to-retire-but-this-one-is-best-20260421-p5zpmf)

Why it matters

Retirement planning extends beyond savings to social and personal engagement, challenging money-centric views amid ageing populations. Readers gain a framework to assess their post-work style, potentially avoiding isolation or dissatisfaction by blending old and new. Watch Gen X trends, as superannuation and flexible jobs may boost blenders, though individual health and finances vary.

FAQ

Q: What defines each retirement archetype in the book?

A: Stayers stay engaged with prior work but not new interests; leavers drop work for new pursuits; blenders mix moderate prior work with new activities; disengaged connect to neither, often due to illness or loss.[[2]](https://www.smh.com.au/business/the-economy/move-over-boomers-gen-x-is-next-up-for-retirement-20251216-p5no6h.html)[[3]](https://www.sydney.edu.au/news-opinion/news/2025/11/07/the-four-types-of-boomer-retirees.html)

Q: Why does Lansbury see blenders as the best retirement type?

A: Blenders get the biggest benefits by keeping purposeful work connections while developing new passions, balancing continuity and change.[[1]](https://www.afr.com/wealth/personal-finance/there-are-four-ways-to-retire-but-this-one-is-best-20260421-p5zpmf)

Q: How does Professor Pachana view money in retirement planning?

A: She warns that emphasising money over other factors, like social ties, risks a terrible retirement outcome.[[1]](https://www.afr.com/wealth/personal-finance/there-are-four-ways-to-retire-but-this-one-is-best-20260421-p5zpmf)

Q: What examples illustrate the archetypes?

A: Carol (leaver) embraced new freedoms post-radiology; Dan (stayer) kept surveying for connections; Rob (blender) studied history while winding down drafting.[[3]](https://www.sydney.edu.au/news-opinion/news/2025/11/07/the-four-types-of-boomer-retirees.html)

[[1]](https://www.afr.com/wealth/personal-finance/there-are-four-ways-to-retire-but-this-one-is-best-20260421-p5zpmf)