What is retirement coaching, and how is it different from financial planning for retirement?

Retirement coaching helps you design a fulfilling life beyond your career—not just how you’ll afford retirement, but how you’ll live it. It focuses on identity, purpose, relationships, growth, and navigating major life transitions. Retirement is a different life experience for everyone so each of us needs to design our own path. Together, using concrete tools and strategies, we find the path forward so you live a fulfilling life that you design.

Why would someone need a retirement coach?

Many people feel lost after retiring. Without the structure, identity, or purpose that work once provided, the transition can be disorienting, even difficult. A coach offers a supportive means to (re)discover and dive your mature and wise self, reconnect with passions, and create a personalized plan for a fulfillinig retirement life.

What can I expect from your coaching program?

You’ll get one-on-one sessions tailored to your unique needs, concrete tools and exercises to rediscover yourself, and guidance to design and experiment with your ideal lifestyle. We’ll work on your values, goals, daily rhythm, relationships, and sense of purpose. The end goal is to build a vibrant, meaningful “second half” of life on your terms.

Is your coaching only for people who have already retired?

Not at all! Many clients begin coaching 1–3 years before retirement. Some clients seek coaching during major life transitions like becoming an empty-nester or making a major career change. This proactive approach allows time to explore what you want your next chapter to be so you’re not caught off guard when work ends.

What kinds of topics do we explore together?

Some areas we might focus on include:

• Redefining identity in retirement or after any life transition

• Designing a meaningful and fulfilling life

• Creating purpose

• Deepening relationships or navigating changes with a spouse

• Exploring volunteerism, service, or part-time work

• Reconnecting with creativity, curiosity, and learning

What if I don’t know what I want in retirement yet?

That’s perfectly normal—and actually a great place to begin. The coaching process is designed to help you uncover or rediscover your desires, values, and potential retirement life structure. Many clients are surprised by what they learn about themselves through our conversations and exercises.

How do you help me find purpose in retirement?

I think of this as a means to create purpose vs. finding purpose which can seem daunting. We explore what matters most to you: your core values, past experiences, and hopes for the future. Then we design meaningful activities, new roles, and small experiments to test what energizes you. Purpose doesn’t have to be grand—it just has to feel meaningful to you.

What is a ‘spring tide’ and what does it have to do with retirement?

A spring tide isn’t about springtime 🌸—it’s a natural phenomenon that happens when the sun, moon, and Earth align just right. A spring tide is a tidal phase in which the water levels rise and fall at the greatest difference. So high tide is really high and low tide is really low. Its a kind of metaphor for the swings of emotion, identity and contribution that happen in retirement especially early retirement. I’m an open water swimmer who learned early on how to navigate tides and love using my mentoring and coaching experience to help others navigate the turbulent tides of retirement.

How do I get started with you as my retirement coach?

You can schedule a free consultation call to see if we’re a good fit. From there, we’ll tailor a coaching package based on your needs. There’s no pressure—just a chance to talk about your goals and what you want your next chapter to be.