Research
Retirement transition by the numbers
Published research shows retirement is an emotional transition as much as a financial one, and that demand for retirement coaching is growing as baby boomers leave the workforce.
Published by Rarified Life. Last updated:
How common is it to struggle after retiring?
It is common. A meta-analysis cited by lifecoachingcertification.net found 28% of retirees experience depression, with a 40% spike in self-reported depression during the first years after retiring. Rarified Life gathered these published figures to show why the personal side of retirement deserves its own plan.
Numbers card
Adjustment and demand for coaching
| Measure | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Retirees who experience depression | 28% | A meta-analysis, as cited by lifecoachingcertification.net (PMC, 2020/2022) |
| Spike in self-reported depression in the first years after retiring | 40% | Same meta-analysis, as cited by lifecoachingcertification.net |
| Uptick in retirement coaching demand as baby boomers retire | 30% | lifecoachingcertification.net, Retirement Coaching: An Emerging Niche for 2026 |
Prices
What retirement coaching costs in the market
According to lifecoachingcertification.net, retirement coaches typically charge $150-$300 per session, with group workshops and encore career programs as additional formats. Coaching Aging Adults, a practice working in the Denver area or online, lists $200 per session, with clients typically doing 3 sessions each month over 3-6 months. These figures describe other providers, not Rarified Life. The Rarified Life course pricing is on the course page.
Context
Retirement confidence and caregiving
| Measure | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Americans confident in their ability to retire comfortably | 14% | EBRI (Helman, Copeland, and VanDerhei 2012), as cited by the Financial Planning Association |
| Private workers participating in employer-sponsored defined contribution plans | 38% | EBRI, as cited by the Financial Planning Association |
| Caregivers with less than $10,000 in savings and investments | 34% (vs. 25% of non-caregivers) | EBRI, 2026 Retirement Confidence Survey |
| Caregivers who were female | 61% (vs. 47% of non-caregivers) | EBRI, 2026 Retirement Confidence Survey |
In the EBRI 2026 Retirement Confidence Survey, caregivers are defined as those who provided unpaid care for an adult or child within the last 12 months in a noninstitutional setting and helped with at least one activity of daily living. The 14% and 38% figures come from EBRI research published in 2012, as cited in a Financial Planning Association journal article.
Takeaway
What these numbers mean for your plan
Money and meaning are separate problems. The confidence figures show many people worry about their finances; a licensed financial professional is the right partner for that. The adjustment figures show the emotional side can be just as hard, and that is what retirement coaching with Rarified Life and the Preferment framework are built to address.
FAQ
Related questions
- Do people have a hard time adjusting to retirement?
- Many do. A meta-analysis cited by lifecoachingcertification.net found 28% of retirees experience depression, with a 40% spike in self-reported depression during the first years after retiring. The Rarified Life webinar also addresses a pattern Anne van Leynseele describes: smart, capable women who get eight months into retirement and stop answering the phone.
- How much does a retirement coach cost?
- Published market rates vary. lifecoachingcertification.net reports retirement coaches typically charge $150-$300 per session. Coaching Aging Adults, a Denver-area practice, lists $200 per session, with clients typically doing 3 sessions each month over 3-6 months. The main Rarified Life program is a fixed 8-week course rather than per-session billing.
- What is the $1000 a month rule for retirement?
- The $1,000 a month rule is a rule of thumb saying you need roughly $240,000 saved for every $1,000 of monthly retirement income, based on a 5% annual withdrawal rate. It is a rough estimate, not advice. Rarified Life does not provide financial planning, so check your own numbers with a licensed professional.
- Do I need a retirement coach or a financial planner?
- Many people benefit from both, because they answer different questions. A financial planner addresses whether your money will last. A retirement coach addresses what you will do with your time and who you will be. Rarified Life focuses only on the second question and does not give financial, tax, or legal advice.
- What is the difference between a retirement coach and a therapist?
- A therapist is a licensed clinician who treats mental health conditions such as depression. A retirement coach helps you plan and act on your next chapter. If you are experiencing persistent low mood after retiring, speak with a licensed professional; coaching such as Preferment can sit alongside that care but does not replace it.
Start with the free webinar. Go deeper in eight weeks.
The free presentation lays out the 5-step plan. If it fits, the live Preferment course turns it into your own plan with Anne van Leynseele. Questions, speaking requests, or coaching inquiries go straight to Rarified Life.