{'fraction_non_alphanumeric': 0.02077687443541102, 'fraction_numerical': 0.0018066847335140017, 'mean_word_length': 5.404624277456647, 'pattern_counts': {'":': 0, '<': 0, '<?xml version=': 0, '>': 0, 'https://': 0, 'lorem ipsum': 0, 'www.': 0, 'xml': 0}, 'pii_count': 0, 'substrings_counts': 0, 'word_list_counts': {'cursed_substrings.json': 0, 'profanity_word_list.json': 0, 'sexual_word_list.json': 0, 'zh_pornsignals.json': 0}}
Taking Down Your Shingle? Or Not …

What happens with independent evaluation consultants who are age 65 or older? For those interviewed for this chapter, the answer was not just to close their businesses. The chapter discusses why selling a small consulting firm is difficult and, maybe, rare. Solutions derived from the interviews, and summaries of published works on career planning, included gradually phasing out work, refocusing work life activities, and being more selective in what work consultants did. The responses to an exploratory study of seasoned evaluation consultants are placed in a context of recent trends among “retirement age” people, generational shifts in attitudes toward aging, social, and economic changes. The chapter explores psychological and relationship shifts among prospective retirees. It discusses how consulting over a long period may help prepare one for handling transitions as one ages, given the resiliency to have managed challenging business periods. It provides references to resources for consultants to develop individualized work and life solutions as they age.