Sep 05, 2022
Planning for retirement triggers all sorts of thoughts: excitement, hope, expectation—and yes, a dose of anxiety. We worry about financial security (did we save enough?) but we’re often not prepared for the emotional and social aspects of this major life transition. In today’s episode, Leah Frankel— who has created the entrepreneurial role of “Retirement Journey Advocate”—offers a sharp and refreshing perspective on how to prepare for this next chapter of life. Whether you want to launch a second career; have a side-job or hobby, volunteer, travel, or just sit back and relax, Leah will guide and support you through a stress-free workplace exit, prepared for a new identity and fulfilling experiences. Leah, herself, retired three years ago from a highly successful 30-year career with L’Oreal, and in the process discovered how to transfer her skills and talents into a meaningful second act—and guide others how to do the same. In today’s conversation with host Ron Roel, Leah will explain her simple, 3-step process for leaving a long-time career—a common-sense approach that combines attention to administrative and procedural details with strategic goals and priorities. She’ll also provide a list of 7 key tips and insights to start your retirement journey, from creating a list of “hard and soft skills”; to adapting from a corporate structure to flexible time schedules; creating new relationships and social networks; and learning how (and when) to take breaks to recharge. Finally, drawing from her own personal experiences, Leah will talk about the importance of finding fulfillment, not just happiness, in retirement—finding ways to continue making a difference, imparting your experiences to the next generations, and feeling that life is important and meaningful.
Thanks to advances in medicine and health, most of us are just at half-life when we reach our mid-40s, with many potentially productive years ahead. But there’s no road map to prepare us for this period. That’s where 45 Forward comes in. My show provides you with strategies to shift the traditional waiting-for-retirement model to a journey of compelling life chapters. Each show tackles an aspect of health, finance, family and friends, housing, work and personal pursuits as part of an integrated plan. Experts discuss topics like revitalizing relationships, creating mini-retirements, managing the maze of technology, finding your next homestead and caring for aging parents. The show instills confidence, and hopefully some comfort, amid the stresses permeating today’s society. Fear of the future is not knowing how to prepare for it. 45 Forward does not proffer prefabricated answers, but helps you shape your life amid the daily anxieties of our time.