>> It's basically a sign that you've retired/don't have anything that important left to contribute other than steady-state levels of productivity.
That's a pretty blinkered perspective. For the large majority of people, your children are the most impactful thing you contribute. Say you have 2 kids. You marginally reduce your contribution to care for them but in return they contribute two whole lifetimes worth. Way more than you would ever add to your career.
Of course there's prudence in planning, but there are other ways to define your success and contribution other than your immediate economic utililty.
That's a pretty blinkered perspective. For the large majority of people, your children are the most impactful thing you contribute. Say you have 2 kids. You marginally reduce your contribution to care for them but in return they contribute two whole lifetimes worth. Way more than you would ever add to your career.
Of course there's prudence in planning, but there are other ways to define your success and contribution other than your immediate economic utililty.