Retirement planning always assumes a predictable timeline—work until 65, then relax with savings. But with gig work and career changes, many people don't have steady pensions or 401(k)s. I've seen friends in their 50s with almost nothing saved, yet they're told to just 'catch up.' Is the traditional retirement model still realistic for the younger generation, or do we need a radical rethink of how we prepare for old age?