The 100-Year Life
There aren’t many books that make you stop and reconsider almost everything – the conversations you have with your kids, the way you approach your work, and your hopes for the future.
But for Senior Wealth Adviser Dawn Thomas and Principal Wealth Adviser Michelle Flanagan, The 100-Year Life by Lynda Gratton and Andrew Scott did exactly that.
In the latest episode of the START WELL® podcast, the pair sat down to review this thought-provoking book, unpacking what living longer really means – not just for retirement planning, but for how we choose to live.
A whole new world
The book explores a future where living to 100 is no longer extraordinary – it’s expected. Dawn reads out an incredible statistic: a child born today in the Western world has more than a 50% chance of living beyond 105, compared to less than 1% a century ago.
And it’s an evolution that turns many traditional assumptions on their head.
For generations, life has followed a relatively linear three-stage path – education, career, retirement. But as lifespans extend, that model no longer fits. Instead, we’re looking at multi-stage lives, with periods of reinvention, learning and exploration woven throughout.
As Dawn reflects, this perspective “made me question everything – from the conversations I’m having with my kids to the conversations I’m having as an adviser… it gave me a personal crisis about my own retirement planning.”
For Michelle, it’s an opportunity for the next generation: “It’s the younger generation who are going to pave the way – my nieces, my step-children, your children.”
For younger people, this shift could feel like either a gift or a burden. But as Michelle points out, awareness is key. The earlier we understand what’s coming, the better equipped we are to make thoughtful, informed decisions.
Health, skills and purpose
Many people believe that a longer life means more years of decline and frailty, but the book challenges that idea.
Instead, planning for a 100-year life is about investing in your health, nurturing meaningful relationships, and continuing to build your skills over time – so those extra years are not just longer, but richer.
Dawn and Michelle discuss a future where reskilling and career changes are not the exception, but the norm. People may choose to keep working – on their own terms – well into their 60s and 70s, not out of necessity, but because they want to stay engaged and purposeful.
They also highlight the importance of having accessible savings outside of superannuation – giving you the flexibility to take time out, retrain, travel, or explore new directions as life evolves.
“It’s something I talk about all the time – just start with some money today,” says Michelle. “That could give us really great options, like taking a year off to reskill or having a period of exploration.”
A shift in perspective
Dawn and Michelle are both experienced financial planners, but they openly acknowledge that this book prompted them to rethink their own plans.
One of the most important messages is that it’s okay for our goals and priorities to change over time: in fact, it’s expected.
The book also highlights that many of our systems – including superannuation and the Age Pension – were designed for a very different life expectancy. As longevity increases, these structures will inevitably evolve.
Ultimately, as Dawn puts it: “We’ve been taught to think about life as linear. But it’s not. There are curves, twists and turns. You’re still moving forward, but you need to be able to adapt to whatever the future brings.”
Listen to the episode here: The 100-Year Life – Michelle Flanagan