Guide
Retirement coaching: what it is and how it works
Last updated: November 2026
What is retirement coaching?
Retirement coaching is guided support for the personal transition out of a long career: identity, purpose, structure and relationships.
At Rarified Life, retirement coaching runs through the Preferment framework, a fixed sequence of six modules taught over eight weekly live sessions with Anne van Leynseele. The goal is not a binder of ideas but a named mission for your next chapter and a daily routine you actually live.
New here? Start with the Rarified Life retirement coach overview, then come back to this page.
What does coaching for retirement cover?
Coaching for retirement works on the questions a spreadsheet cannot answer. Who am I when nobody asks for my title? What gets me out of bed now that a paycheck is not the reason? Which of my strengths do I want to keep using, and where? How do I build a week that feels full rather than busy?
It does not replace other professionals. A retirement coach does not manage investments, prepare taxes or treat depression. Rarified Life is clear on this point: the Preferment course focuses on the personal side of life after career, and leaves money questions to financial professionals and health questions to clinicians.
Which retirement coaching format fits you?
Retirement coaching comes in a few common formats. Each is judged below on the same four criteria. Price ranges for one-on-one coaching come from published sources; we do not state prices we cannot source.
| Format | Structure | Length | Published price signals | Tailoring |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Group live course (Rarified Life Preferment) | Six modules in order, book plus built-in homework | 8 weeks, one live session per week | Listed on the Preferment course page | Shared curriculum, live discussion with Anne |
| One-on-one coaching | Set by the coach and client | From a couple of sessions to six months or more (AARP) | $125 to $150 an hour up to $800 to $1,000 in major cities (AARP); $150 to $300 per session (Life Coaching Certification) | Fully individual |
| Flat-fee program | Set by the coach | Often fixed, such as six months | One coach charges $3,600 for six months (AARP) | Usually individual |
| Self-directed | Books, journals, conversations | Open-ended | Cost of materials | Entirely yours, with no outside accountability |
Sources: AARP, “Do You Need a Retirement Coach?” and Life Coaching Certification. Rarified Life lists one-on-one coaching as coming soon.
What a week of retirement coaching looks like at Rarified Life
Each of the eight Preferment weeks follows the same rhythm, so the work compounds instead of scattering.
Join the live session
Anne van Leynseele leads the week’s session, working through one chapter of the Preferment book.
Read the chapter
The book is your companion text, so the ideas from the session have somewhere to land.
Do the homework
Exercises are built into the book. Rarified Life describes them as real exercises, not busywork.
Bring it back
Next week builds on this one, moving from Introduction through Identity, Motivation, Alignment and Accountability to Launch.
Retirement coaching certification and associations
Retirement coaching is generally not a licensed profession in the United States. Private organizations offer retirement coaching certification, and associations such as the Retirement Coaches Association keep directories you can search. These are useful for comparing many coaches side by side.
The background Rarified Life publishes for Anne van Leynseele focuses on four career reinventions in film and television, corporate strategy, government law and agriculture. It does not list a coaching certification. If a credential matters to you, ask about it directly, the same way you would with any coach.
Common questions
- What is retirement coaching?
- Retirement coaching is guided support for the personal transition out of a long career. It focuses on questions money planning usually skips: who you are without a job title, what motivates you now, and how to fill your days with purpose. Rarified Life calls its approach Preferment, a framework for treating the next chapter as a step up rather than an ending.
- Is retirement coaching the same as financial planning?
- No. Financial planning addresses money: savings, income, taxes and investments. Retirement coaching addresses how you will live: identity, purpose, routine and relationships. Many people benefit from both. Rarified Life does not offer financial advice; its Preferment course focuses on the personal side of life after career, which a financial plan does not cover.
- Is retirement coaching worth it?
- It depends on what you are missing. If your finances are in place but you feel unsure what retirement is for, coaching targets that gap directly. Life Coaching Certification cites a meta-analysis finding 28% of retirees experience depression, with a 40% spike in self-reported depression during the first years after retiring. Coaching is one structured way to prepare for that shift.
- Is retirement coaching regulated or certified?
- Retirement coaching is generally not a licensed profession in the United States, so the title is open to anyone. Some coaches hold private certifications from coaching associations. The background Rarified Life publishes for Anne van Leynseele focuses on her career reinventions and does not list a coaching certification, so check rarifiedlife.com if a specific credential matters to you.
- How long does retirement coaching take?
- Lengths vary by coach, from a couple of sessions to six months or more. AARP reports one coach offering a couple of sessions at around $150 each and another charging a flat fee for six months. The Rarified Life Preferment course runs eight weeks, with one live session per week.
- What questions should I ask a retirement coach?
- Ask about format, length, price and focus. Is it one-on-one or group? How many sessions, over how long? What exactly is included? What framework do you use? Does it cover identity and purpose, or mainly logistics? What happens between sessions? Ask Rarified Life the same questions you would ask anyone else.
A good next step
The free Rarified Life presentation walks through a 5-step plan for replacing the “what now?” feeling about retirement. It is made for accomplished women in their 50s and 60s who are nearing or in retirement, and you can watch it after a short registration.