BlackRock CEO Suggests Working Longer to Avoid U.S. Retirement Crisis

I'm far away from retirement age but I would like to continue some form of work pretty much until I die. What I would like though, if to reach a point where I have the financial security to choose work that I find meaningful and to have flexibility in where and how much work I do.

Even if I want to work, I am afraid that ageism and it's many correlated factors will make it difficult for me. I hope that there are more gig-type or freelance consulting type work opportunities for me once I get to that point so that I don't have a boss who will fire me for someone with more recent training, a faster brain, cheaper benefits, or a lower wage.

I guess I need to start setting myself up to be in the position or try to maximize my earnings and savings now so that even if I can only get minimum wage manual labor type work, it will be enough.