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The moment when, usually at some point during our 50s and 60s, we are required to leave behind our careers and embrace whatever’s next, is a very particular point in our lives and one that can bring up unexpected challenges. The day we walk out of the office for the last time, willingly or unwillingly, will be the time to start again. This could be a modest shift, taking our client relationships and developing them for our personal benefit rather than the corporate. On the ot

You might have heard the term Snipers’ Alley. It came to prominence during the Bosnian War in the mid-1990’s to describe a place where civilians were randomly shot by snipers. Today it has a relevance that’s a lot closer to home for anyone who is over 50 and especially for those in their 60s. It’s often used to describe that period in our lives when we suddenly become susceptible to life-ending diseases such as cancer or a heart attack. As I write this, I’m grieving over the

I’m definitely not the first person bring this up and I’m certain that I won’t be the last, but we all need reminding: men have traditionally been taught not to share their emotions and it can have disastrous consequences. For many men of my generation, work has never just been about earning a living. It’s been about identity, structure, status — and often the place where we felt most useful. So, when work ends — through retirement or redundancy — the impact can run much deep

For many people, one of the hardest parts of leaving a senior role isn’t the loss of status or routine. It’s the feeling that you somehow don’t matter any longer.. For years, your judgement was valued, your experience was sought out and people listened to you. Then suddenly the meetings have stopped and your diary is empty. You start asking yourself the question “If I’m not doing all that anymore… then what?” This transition away from corporate life can be a really tough peri

Why You Need To Dip Your Toe In The Water One of the biggest myths about mid-career change is the belief that clarity must come first—that you need a neatly defined destination before you’re able to move. In reality, it’s the opposite, clarity is not a pre-requisite for action. Clarity is a result of action. This matters especially for people in their 50s and 60s who are feeling the uncomfortable weight of identity shock—the moment when the story you’ve lived no longer fits t

Thanks to 55/REDEFINED for their rich, new study, “Purpose, Pay and Possibilities” carried out amongst 3,500 adults aged 50-70. If you haven’t yet read the report, below are the top-line findings. Whilst most of the learnings don’t really surprise me, I was intrigued to see that ‘financial literacy’ is the strongest predictor of a happy retirement. Perhaps there’s an easy win here for companies: They could offer financial planning support as a low-cost/high perceived-value be

I was surprised—and genuinely encouraged—to see that some visionary organisations are beginning to appoint Chief Longevity Officers. Why? Because forward-thinking companies such as L’Oréal and the Portuguese insurer Fidelidade recognise that rising human longevity is reshaping both their workforce and their customer base. The numbers behind this “late-baby-boomer economic boom” are extraordinary: AXA projects that people aged 65+ will spend around $15 trillion globally by 203

s Stephen's story familiar? After more than thirty years in a solid career, he’s just been made redundant. He’s sent out dozens of applications — but hasn’t had a single reply. He doesn’t feel old. He’s still sharp, curious, and full of energy. But the world of work has shifted. Younger hiring managers. New technologies. Different expectations. And suddenly, experience doesn’t seem to open doors the way it used to. Retirement? Not yet. He’s not ready — and can’t afford — to s

My late father-in-law, Jim, retired at 60 and spent the next 38 years pottering happily — gardening, grand-parenting and living life at a gentler pace. He represented the end of an era. For most people leaving work in their 50s or 60s today, the old model of work → stop → leisure  no longer fits. Many don’t want to retire — and most simply can’t afford to fund a life-stage that could last 40 years. Welcome to the age of ‘the 100-year life’,  the subject of a fascinating book

Something can shift in mid-life. You stop running on autopilot and start asking deeper questions. It’s not always a crisis that provokes...