It may bring back memories of the high school guidance counselor who helped you get into college or the job coach who helped you switch careers. Now a retirement coach can hellp you map out your golden years.
Different from retirement planners who will financially prepare you for retirement, retirement coaches aim to get you mentally, socially, and psychologically ready for the next phase of your life.
"There is no precedent for an extended life span of 25 or more years, and a lot of people feel lost," says Howard Stone, cofounder and CEO of retirement planning website 2 Young 2 Retire. "A good retirement planner can change that."
Stone, who prefers to call himself a transition coach, helps people address some of the big questions: Who am I now that I don't have a title or regular paycheck? What will I do in the next 20 to 30 years that is both satisfying and meaningful? What kind of legacy am I leaving for my grandchildren? Stone charges $75 for each 45-minute session and offers a shorter complementary consultation.
"It is critical for retirees to plan the social and psychological aspects of their lives so that they can enjoy the meaningful, fulfilled, and happy retirement they envisioned," says Cynthia Barnett, another retirement lifestyle specialist. She offers a 90-day program for $397 to assist retirees in reinventing themselves; a home-study course for $597 that includes a 194-page volume, introspective exercises, and CDs; and one-on-one coaching (www.mydreamretirementguide.com).
You could probably find the same information by reading books or surfing the Internet, says Matt Thornhill, president and founder of the baby boomer research and consulting service the Boomer Project, but it might be helpful to talk out your individual plans one-on-one.
Although there are no formal credentials for retirement coaches, some take courses that certify them as a retirement planner, like the one offered at 2 Young 2 Retire. The International Coach Federation, an independent trade organization that offers its own certification, recommends that you ask prospective coaches about their experience, qualifications, and skills, and for at least two references. But it is also important to find a coach that you feel comfortable addressing your objectives with, says ICF. |
www.2young2retire.com