Identity beyond the job title
Answering "So, what do you do?" without starting with "I used to." In the Preferment course, this is the Identity module.
Retirement coach
What does a retirement coach do?
A retirement coach helps you figure out who you want to be and how you want to spend your time after your career, then helps you build a plan and stick to it. This page explains the role and how Rarified Life fills it.
Last updated: November 2026 · Published by Rarified Life
Who could benefit from a retirement coach?
People whose identity has been closely tied to their work tend to benefit most. That includes high achievers counting down to a last day with no clear picture of what follows, and recent retirees whose weeks have drifted into errands and appointments. Rarified Life speaks most directly to accomplished women in their 50s and 60s who are nearing or in retirement.
A coach is a narrower fit if you already have an energizing plan, or if your main questions are about money. For investments, income, or taxes, a qualified financial professional is the right choice.
What retirement coaches typically work on
Purpose and motivation
Working out what moves you when a paycheck is no longer the reason. Preferment covers this in its Motivation module.
Values-based planning
Matching values and strengths to how you actually spend your days, which Preferment calls Alignment.
Structure and follow-through
Turning good intentions into a routine you keep. Preferment's Accountability and Launch modules finish with a named mission.
How to compare retirement coaches
| Criterion | Rarified Life (Preferment) | What to ask any coach |
|---|---|---|
| Method | Six-module Preferment framework, taught from the Preferment book | Is there a defined method, or is each session open-ended? |
| Format | Eight weekly live sessions with homework | Group or individual? Live or recorded? How many sessions? |
| Background | Founder Anne van Leynseele, four career reinventions | What experience does the coach bring to life after career? |
| Credentials | No coaching certification is listed on the Rarified Life pages reviewed | Does the coach hold a retirement coaching certification, and from whom? |
| Price | $6000.00 listed; $3,000 in the course description | Hourly, per session, or flat fee? What is included? |
Certified professional retirement coach or retirement coach near me?
Several organizations offer retirement coaching certification, and a certified professional retirement coach has completed a formal training program. Certification is useful information, but it is one factor alongside method, experience, format, and price.
Searching for a retirement coach near me makes sense if you want in-person meetings, but many coaches work by video. Location affects price: in AARP's article "Do You Need a Retirement Coach?", one coach says rates run from $125 to $150 an hour in some places up to $800 to $1,000 per hour in major cities like Boston, Miami or San Francisco.
Common questions
What does a retirement coach do?
A retirement coach helps you work out what you want your days to look like after your career, then builds a plan to get there. Typical work covers separating identity from job title, clarifying motivation, matching values and strengths to daily life, and building accountability. In Rarified Life’s Preferment course, those topics are the core modules.
Should I look for a certified professional retirement coach?
Certification can show that a coach completed formal training, and several organizations offer retirement coaching certification. It is one factor among several: also weigh the coach’s life experience, method, program structure, and price. The Rarified Life pages reviewed for this guide do not list a coaching certification; they present Anne van Leynseele’s four reinventions as her background.
Do I need a retirement coach near me?
Not necessarily. Many coaches work by video or phone, so fit often matters more than distance. Local rates can differ: AARP quotes one coach saying hourly prices depend on where you live. Rarified Life lists Edmonds, Washington, and Captain Cook, Hawaii, on its website; check the course page for how its live sessions are delivered.
Does a retirement coach help with money?
Usually not. Most retirement coaches, including Rarified Life, focus on purpose, identity, and how you spend your time rather than investments or income planning. Rarified Life’s free presentation argues that meeting with a financial planner alone does not prepare you for the rest of your life. For investment or tax decisions, work with a qualified financial professional.
Is retirement coaching the same as therapy?
No. Retirement coaching is forward-looking planning for your next chapter, while therapy is mental health care from a licensed clinician. Coaching can help you build purpose and structure, but it does not diagnose or treat depression or anxiety. If you are struggling emotionally after leaving work, talk with a licensed mental health professional.
Who teaches the Preferment course?
Anne van Leynseele, founder of Rarified Life, leads the live sessions. She built and sold a production company in Los Angeles film and television, advised Fortune 100 companies on digital strategy across three continents, served as an Attorney Advisor in the Obama Administration, and helped write the legal framework for recreational cannabis in Washington State.
Next step: watch the free presentation
Rarified Life offers a free presentation for accomplished women in their 50s and 60s who are nearing or in retirement. It walks through the 5-step plan behind Preferment™, so you can see whether the approach fits before committing to anything.