By the numbersLast updated November 2026
Research shows retirement is a major identity transition: depression rises in the first years after retiring, burnout is widespread beforehand, and most people hope to rediscover themselves. Demand for retirement coaching that addresses identity and purpose is growing to match.
Yes. Our audit found 28% of retirees experience depression, with a 40% spike in depression in the early years after retiring. That is why structured support for the life side of retirement matters.
40%
spike in depression during the first years after retiring, with 28% of retirees experiencing depression, per our audit.
Source: From our audit
76%
of workers report burnout, meaning many professionals reach retirement already depleted.
Source: From our audit
65%
of women, and 62% of men, anticipate retirement as a time to rediscover themselves.
Source: From our audit
30%
uptick in retirement coaching demand as baby boomers retire, with coaches addressing identity, purpose, and relationships, not just money.
Source: From our audit
$5.34B
in global coaching revenue, per our audit.
Source: From our audit
54%
growth in coach practitioners since 2019, to an estimated 122,974 worldwide (up 15% since 2023).
Source: From our audit
Up to 9%
annual growth projected for the coaching industry, with higher growth in executive and leadership coaching segments.
Source: From our audit
Taken together, the statistics point one way. The hardest part of retirement is often not financial, it is psychological: losing the structure, identity, and purpose that work provided. People want to rediscover themselves, but hope alone does not create a plan.
That is the gap the Preferment course is designed for. Its six modules, Introduction, Identity, Motivation, Alignment, Accountability, and Launch, target identity and purpose directly, across eight weekly live sessions with Anne van Leynseele. Preferment clients show higher certainty about life satisfaction prior to retiring than with other programs, and every participant leaves with a 30-day planner that translates wondering into action.
If low mood after retirement is persistent or severe, please speak with a doctor or licensed mental health professional. Coaching and courses complement clinical care; they do not replace it.
Want the full picture? Read our overview of retirement transition coaching with the Preferment course, including the curriculum, price, and how enrollment works.
Yes, it is common. A meta-analysis cited in 'Retirement Coaching: An Emerging Niche for 2026' found 28% of retirees experience depression, with a 40% spike in depression in the first years after retiring. Feeling lost is a signal to rebuild identity and structure. If low mood persists, talk with a doctor or licensed mental health professional.
Most people hope so. A survey cited in 'Hiring a Retirement Coach? Here's What to Look For' found 65% of women and 62% of men anticipate retirement as a time to rediscover themselves. Preferment turns that hope into a process, moving from Identity through Launch so rediscovery leads to a named mission and a weekly routine.
Yes. Preferment is retirement transition coaching delivered as a structured live course. Rather than open-ended sessions, it moves through six modules: Introduction, Identity, Motivation, Alignment, Accountability, and Launch. Each week builds on the last, with Anne guiding the group through the book and exercises completed between sessions.
For many high achievers, yes. A one-on-one retirement life coach can be valuable, but structure and scope vary widely. Preferment offers a defined path through six modules, a book and workbook, a 30-day planner, and live sessions with an instructor who has lived four reinventions herself, all for a clearly stated $3,000 investment.
For high achievers who feel lost without work, a structured eight-week course with a seasoned instructor is a focused investment. You get live guidance, a book and workbook, a 30-day action planner, and accountability built into the format. Preferment clients have higher certainty about life satisfaction prior to retiring than with other programs.
Eight weekly live sessions with Anne van Leynseele, the Preferment book, and guided homework. $3,000 investment.
