Retirement Coaching
Retirement is not the end of your story. It’s the moment the schedule you’ve lived by for decades disappears, and the question “what now?” gets very loud. If you’re standing at that threshold, excited and unsettled at the same time, you don’t have to figure it out alone. I’m Beverly Zhai, an ICF-certified coach based in Toronto. I work with women approaching or settling into retirement who want more than a financial plan. They want a life plan: purpose, structure, connection, and the confidence to build days that feel like their own. You can also find my coach profile and articles on Offline.now.
If this sounds familiar…
- Counting down to retirement, and quietly dreading it at the same time
- Wondering who you are without the title, the team, and the routine
- A calendar that suddenly looks empty, and days that feel strangely shapeless
- Worrying that stopping work means stopping being useful, relevant, or you
Here’s what changes with coaching
- Clarity about what you actually want this chapter to hold, not what everyone assumes it should
- Structure you design yourself: rhythms and routines that give your days shape without a boss or a deadline
- A plan for the transition itself: the last months of work, the first months after, and the identity shift in between
What retirement coaching actually is
Your financial advisor handles the money. Retirement coaching handles everything the money can’t answer: who you’re becoming, how you’ll spend your time, which relationships and ambitions get more of you, and what a good day actually looks like now. Coaching is forward-looking and practical. We don’t just talk about “staying busy.” We design a next chapter with intention, at your pace.How it works
1. Discovery session: A relaxed conversation about where you are and what you need. No pressure, no pitch. If we’re not the right fit, I’ll tell you honestly. 2. Clarity sessions: We work through the questions in front of you: timing, identity, relationships, and what you want more (and less) of. 3. Rebuild plan: Together we design your next chapter with intention, so you’re not just retiring from something, you’re retiring to something.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is retirement coaching, and how is it different from financial planning? A financial advisor helps with the money side of retirement: savings, income, investments. Retirement coaching is about the life side: who you are without the job title, how you want your days to look, and what gives this chapter purpose. The two work well together, and many clients have both.
I have enough saved, so why do I still feel uneasy about retiring? Because being financially ready and being life ready are two different things. Work quietly provides structure, identity, and people. When it ends, all three need replacing on purpose. That in between feeling is exactly what retirement coaching is for.
When is the right time to start, before or after I retire? Either works. Starting before you leave gives you a runway: you design the transition instead of just arriving in it. Starting after is just as common, once the quiet sets in and the days feel shapeless. We begin wherever you are.
My partner and I want different retirements. Can coaching help? Yes. A lot of retirement stress is really a mismatch of expectations at home: travel versus staying close, busy versus slow, time together versus time apart. Coaching helps you get clear on what you want, so the conversation at home becomes calmer and more honest.
Are sessions online, and how do I get started? All sessions are virtual, by video call. I am based in Toronto and work with clients across Ontario and beyond. The first step is a free 30 minute discovery call through the website, where we talk about where you are and what you want this chapter to look like. No pressure and no pitch.