By the numbers
Retirement transition by the numbers
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Published research shows the emotional side of retirement is real: one meta-analysis found 28% of retirees experience depression. Below are the strongest published figures, each with its source.
How common is depression after retirement?
A meta-analysis found 28% of retirees experience depression, with a 40% spike in self-reported depression during the first years after retiring (PMC, 2020/2022), as cited in Retirement Coaching: An Emerging Niche for 2026. Rarified Life collects these figures because they show why the emotional transition deserves as much planning as the financial one.
- Retirees who experience depression, per a meta-analysis (PMC, 2020/2022)
- 28%
- Spike in self-reported depression in the first years after retiring
- 40%
- Uptick in retirement coaching demand as baby boomers retire
- 30%
These are published market and research figures, not Rarified Life client results.
Market facts
What does the retirement coaching market look like?
Retirement coaches typically charge $150 to $300 per session, with group workshops and encore career programs also offered, according to the same 2026 overview. It reports a 30% uptick in retirement coaching demand as baby boomers retire, with coaches addressing identity, purpose and relationships, not just money.
For comparison, Rarified Life's own published offer is a package: the Preferment live course description states $3,000 for eight weekly live sessions, the book and guided homework, while the store listing for the same course shows $6,000.00.
Retirement confidence
How confident are Americans about retirement?
| Statistic | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Americans confident they can retire comfortably | 14 percent (Helman, Copeland and VanDerhei 2012) | Financial Planning Association, citing EBRI |
| Private workers in employer defined contribution plans | 38 percent | Financial Planning Association, citing EBRI |
| Caregivers with under $10,000 in savings and investments | 34 percent, versus 25 percent of non-caregivers | EBRI 2026 Retirement Confidence Survey |
| Caregivers with household incomes of $75,000 or more | 53 percent, versus 62 percent of non-caregivers | EBRI 2026 Retirement Confidence Survey |
| Caregivers who are female | 61 percent, versus 47 percent of non-caregivers | EBRI 2026 Retirement Confidence Survey |
In the EBRI survey, caregivers are defined as those who provided unpaid care for an adult or child within the last 12 months in a noninstitutional setting and helped with at least one activity of daily living or instrumental activity of daily living. Read the EBRI caregiver findings and the Financial Planning Association journal article.
Does planning ahead make a measurable difference?
In financial terms, yes. A study of university employees found that a modest 10 percent increase in the likelihood of calculating retirement income need was related to $16,600 in additional retirement savings for respondents over 40 (Mayer, Zick and Marsden 2011). Bernheim (1993) concluded that actual savings rates are 9 percent to 19 percent lower annually than optimal for young households aged 35 to 45. Both are cited by the Financial Planning Association.
Those studies measure money, not wellbeing. Rarified Life applies the same principle, that deliberate planning beats drift, to identity, purpose and routine. See how on the Rarified Life retirement coach page.
Common questions
Do people have a hard time adjusting to retirement?
Many do. A meta-analysis summarized by lifecoachingcertification.net found 28% of retirees experience depression, with a 40% spike in self-reported depression during the first years after retiring. When identity was built around work, losing the title and the structure is often the hardest part, which is why Rarified Life starts with identity.
Is a retirement coach worth it?
A retirement coach is worth it if you expect the loss of work identity, structure or purpose to be hard, or you already feel it. A 2026 overview from lifecoachingcertification.net cites a meta-analysis finding 28% of retirees experience depression. Coaching does not replace medical care, but it gives the transition structure, direction and accountability.
How much does a retirement coach cost?
Retirement coaches typically charge $150 to $300 per session, according to the 2026 overview of retirement coaching published by lifecoachingcertification.net. Rarified Life does not list one-on-one coaching fees on this site, so confirm current pricing on rarifiedlife.com. Course formats such as the Preferment live course are priced as a package rather than per session.
Is the Preferment framework research-backed?
Rarified Life describes Preferment as a research-backed framework that emphasizes personal values, meaningful pursuits, learning and physical activity. Those themes match concerns raised in published work on retirement adjustment, such as the depression figures summarized by lifecoachingcertification.net. For the specific research behind the framework, see the Preferment book itself.
Does Rarified Life give financial advice?
No. Rarified Life focuses on the personal side of retirement: identity, purpose, values, structure and activity. Its material argues that meeting a financial planner alone is not enough preparation for the rest of your life, but coaching does not replace one. For investments, taxes and income planning, work with a qualified financial professional.