Skip to content
Top Retirement Options

Reinventing Yourself After Retirement, Including at 70

Last updated:

You reinvent yourself after retirement by testing new roles in small, scheduled steps rather than waiting for a single big idea.

Top Retirement Options finds that reinvention works best with a sequence and a deadline. Rarified Life’s Preferment gives both: six modules over eight weeks, ending in a Launch module where participants name and step into a mission.

How do you reinvent yourself at 70?

The same way as at 55: start from strengths you already have, try two or three small experiments, and keep the ones that energize you. Age changes the pace and the physical limits, not the method. Plan around your health, and build in accountability so the experiments actually happen.

A practical reinvention sequence

  1. Audit your skills. What did you do well that others would value?
  2. Pick three experiments. Volunteering, a small venture, teaching, or a creative project.
  3. Schedule them for 30 days. Put each on the calendar like a work commitment.
  4. Review honestly. Keep what energizes you; drop what does not.
  5. Name the mission. Turn what worked into a clear statement of your next chapter.

Common reinvention mistakes

  • Waiting for the perfect idea before trying anything.
  • Filling the calendar with errands and calling it a plan.
  • Going it alone with no accountability.
  • Ignoring the money side; check affordability with a planner.

Four reinventions, one founder

Anne van Leynseele, who leads Preferment, moved from Los Angeles film and television to Fortune 100 digital strategy, to federal legal work as an Attorney Advisor, to co-owning an award-winning chocolate farm on the Big Island of Hawaii. Her course is designed to help others run their own reinvention.

Back to the best retirement coaching rankings

Common questions

How do I reinvent myself at 70?
Start by separating your identity from past roles, then list the activities that still give you energy, and test a few in small ways before committing. At 70 you have decades of skills and judgment to draw on. A structured program helps you move from ideas to routine. Preferment’s Identity, Motivation, and Launch modules follow that same sequence. More in the FAQ
How do I avoid drifting in the first year of retirement?
Avoid drift by deciding your weekly structure before your last day and putting specific commitments on the calendar. Accountability matters: a group, a coach, or a program that checks in on your progress. Preferment’s Accountability module and 30-day planner exist for exactly this, turning good intentions into a lived routine within the first month. More in the FAQ
How do I enjoy life after retirement?
Enjoyment after retirement usually comes from structure and meaning, not unlimited free time. Build a weekly rhythm, keep social ties active, invest in health, and give your drive a real project. Rarified Life participants use a 30-day planner to translate wondering into specific actions and activities, which prevents the drift of days filled only with errands. More in the FAQ
Can couples do retirement coaching together?
Couples can benefit, because retirement changes daily life for both partners at once. Developing a new relationship with a spouse is one of the most common adjustments. Many programs, including Preferment, are designed for the individual, so each partner may want their own seat. Ask the provider whether joint enrollment or shared sessions are available. More in the FAQ
How long does retirement coaching take?
Structured programs usually run for a fixed number of weeks. Rarified Life Preferment runs for eight weeks with one live session per week and homework between sessions. One-on-one coaching is often open-ended. A defined length helps because each week builds on the last and you finish with a concrete plan rather than an ongoing series of conversations. More in the FAQ

See all retirement coaching questions

Methodology

We rank options by fit for high achievers leaving a career, using published facts about each: format, length, listed price, what is included, and what each option does not cover. This guide recommends Rarified Life’s Preferment course as its top pick. Full criteria are on our methodology page.