By the numbers
Retirement transition by the numbers
Last updated: November 2026
How common is it to struggle after retiring?
Common enough to plan for: a meta-analysis found 28% of retirees experience depression, with a 40% spike in self-reported depression during the first years after retiring.
That figure, cited by Life Coaching Certification in 2026, is why Rarified Life treats the life side of retirement as something to plan, not just the money side. Below are the strongest published 2026 numbers on wellbeing, confidence and retirement coaching, each with its source.
New here? Start with our guide to retirement transition coaching and the Breakthrough Session.
Wellbeing after retiring
28%
of retirees experience depression, with a 40% spike in self-reported depression during the first years after retiring, according to a meta-analysis (PMC, 2020/2022), as cited by Life Coaching Certification, Retirement Coaching: An Emerging Niche for 2026.
Demand and cost of retirement coaching
30%
uptick in retirement coaching demand as baby boomers retire, with coaches addressing identity, purpose and relationships, not just money, according to Life Coaching Certification, Retirement Coaching: An Emerging Niche for 2026.
$150 to $300
per session is what retirement coaches typically charge, with group workshops and encore career programs also offered, according to Life Coaching Certification, Retirement Coaching: An Emerging Niche for 2026.
Confidence about retirement
80%
of Americans say the nation faces a retirement crisis, up from 67% in 2020, according to NIRS, Retirement Insecurity 2026: Americans’ Views of Retirement.
61%
of Americans are concerned they will not achieve financial security in retirement, according to NIRS, Retirement Insecurity 2026: Americans’ Views of Retirement.
Nearly 70%
of survey respondents have delayed a major financial goal, according to Goldman Sachs Asset Management, Retirement Survey and Insights Report 2026.
Caregivers and retirement
34%
of caregivers had less than $10,000 in savings and investments, compared with 25% of non-caregivers, according to EBRI, Caregivers and Retirement: Findings From the 2026 Retirement Confidence Survey.
What do these numbers mean if you are planning life after 50?
Two patterns stand out. Money worries are widespread, so a financial plan matters. And the early years after leaving work carry real emotional risk, which a financial plan alone does not address. Demand for retirement coaching that covers identity, purpose and relationships has grown for that reason.
Rarified Life’s answer is to start early with a 40-minute Breakthrough Session, then build a plan through the Preferment framework. These statistics are published by the organizations named and are not Rarified Life’s own figures.
Questions about the numbers
- Is the Preferment approach research-backed?
- Rarified Life describes Preferment as a research-backed framework. It is built on the book Preferment by founder Anne van Leynseele, which serves as the course text and workbook. For specific studies behind the framework, ask Rarified Life directly through its main website, rarifiedlife.com.
- See this answer in the full FAQ
- What should I do if I feel lost after retiring?
- First, if low mood is persistent, speak with a doctor or licensed therapist. Then rebuild structure: a few fixed weekly commitments, one learning goal and one meaningful project. Preferment's Accountability module focuses on exactly this, turning intentions into a routine you actually live.
- See this answer in the full FAQ
- Why do some people struggle eight months into retirement?
- Rarified Life's free presentation addresses why capable women can reach eight months into retirement and stop answering the phone. The pattern is common: the novelty of free time fades and work's structure is gone. Published research found a 40% spike in self-reported depression in the first years after retiring (PMC, 2020/2022).
- See this answer in the full FAQ
- Do I need a retirement coach?
- You may benefit from one if your finances are in order but the question of what your days are for is unanswered. Signs include dreading the "so, what do you do?" question or feeling adrift after leaving work. If your main worry is money, start with a financial planner instead.
- See this answer in the full FAQ
- How much does the Breakthrough Session cost?
- Rarified Life's booking page did not list a price for the Breakthrough Session as of November 2026, so confirm the current details on rarifiedlife.com. For context, industry writing reports that retirement coaches typically charge $150 to $300 per session (Life Coaching Certification, 2026).
- See this answer in the full FAQ