Don’t bother reading this column if you’ve already fully funded your retirement. Go play golf and let the rest of us tackle some tough questions without you. To wit, can we picture ourselves working at our current job at age 65? What about 70?

Boomers who answered “no” have got some thinking to do. Because the reality is, many won’t be able to afford to quit working in their early 60s. Those who pulled their money out of the market during the financial crisis haven’t fully rebuilt their nest eggs, and not all homeowners have seen a rebound in their property values. Twenty-two percent of workers reported that the age at which they expect to retire has increased over the past year, according to the 2013 Retirement Confidence Survey by the Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI). “Most people will push out and work beyond 65,” said Kerry Hannon, the author of “Great Jobs for Everyone 50+.”

And yet, plenty of people who plan to keep working find themselves forced to retire earlier than anticipated. Forty-seven percent of retirees in the EBRI survey reported retiring sooner than they’d planned, and of those, 55% stopped working due to a health problem or disability. Roughly nine out of 10 disabilities are caused by illness rather than accidents, and the leading cause in 2012 was musculoskeletal/connective tissue disorders, including neck and back pain and arthritis, according to the Council for Disability Awareness. Those, of course, are exactly the kinds of problems that many jobs—even cushy desk jobs—can exacerbate. “The risk ramps up as people get older,” said Barry Lundquist, president of the Council for Disability Awareness.

If boomers think they’ll need to work longer, they need to make sure they have a job that can take them the distance. (Those who simply love to work have the same imperative, of course, but you’ll have much more flexibility if you don’t need the paycheck.) A suitable situation could come through different means, from requesting accommodations in your current job, to finding a less demanding 9-to-5 job or going into business for yourself. The latter two require significant time and planning. That’s why it’s important not to wait until your 60s to begin weighing your options.

In fact, it’s best to take stock of your career around age 50, many experts say. Are you happy in your current job? Do you still feel relevant and part of the team? Are there aspects of the work—such as frequent travel or long hours—that you don’t envision being able to handle at older ages?

The good news is that as the workforce gets older, many employers see the value of having a veteran staff. And it isn’t only the institutional knowledge they appreciate: For example, a study published in the July issue of the journal of Psychological Science found that older workers beat their younger peers on overall consistency and reliability.

Click her to continue and Read Full Story by Elizabeth O’Brien on The Wall Street Journal MarketWatch