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Retirement RevealedAuthor: Jeremy Keil Language: en-us Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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Designing a Meaningful, Joyful, Purpose-Driven Retirement
Tuesday, 13 January, 2026
Happiness expert Monique Rhodes explains why retirement often feels disorienting at first — and how creating a personal retirement roadmap can turn this transition into one of the most fulfilling stages of life. Retirement is often marketed as the ultimate reward. After decades of work, deadlines, and responsibility, you finally arrive at a chapter filled with freedom, rest, and happiness. But for many people, that moment doesn’t feel the way they expected. In this episode of Retire Today, I sat down with Monique Rhodes, a happiness expert who works with people around the world — especially those approaching or entering retirement — to talk about why this transition can feel unsettling and how to approach it with intention. Why Retirement Can Feel So Uncomfortable For years, work provides structure, identity, and a built-in sense of purpose. Then one day, it’s gone. Monique explained that retirement often removes all of that at once. “The structure, the identity, the daily sense of purpose — they all fall away at the same time,” she said. What’s left can feel like freedom… or confusion. In fact, research shows that many people experience lower happiness in the first year of retirement than when they were working. Feelings of restlessness, anxiety, loneliness, and even grief are common — but rarely talked about. This doesn’t mean retirement was a mistake. It means the transition requires more than financial preparation alone. Comfort vs. Happiness One of the most thought-provoking ideas Monique shared is that too much comfort can actually work against happiness. She described how modern life is designed to remove friction — from climate-controlled homes to effortless entertainment. But living without any “edge” can dull creativity, resilience, and engagement. “If we’re consistently living in comfort, we lose our ability to adapt,” she explained. Happiness, she argues, comes from a balance — not too tense, not too relaxed. Monique used powerful metaphors throughout the conversation, from surfing ocean waves to tuning a guitar string. Too loose or too tight, and it doesn’t work. The same is true for life in retirement. Retirement Is Not a Holiday — It’s a Redesign Many people enter retirement expecting it to feel like a permanent vacation. Monique sees this expectation create unnecessary disappointment. “Retirement is sold to us as a never-ending holiday,” she said. “But when that structure disappears overnight, people are suddenly faced with the question of who they are.” This is where her Retirement Roadmap comes in — a framework designed to help people intentionally rebuild purpose, routines, relationships, and meaning. Rather than drifting through unstructured time, retirees are encouraged to create days that feel energizing and aligned with who they are now — not who their job required them to be. Rebuilding Purpose From the Inside Out One of the most powerful moments in the conversation was when Monique talked about building a new relationship with yourself. After years of serving careers, businesses, and families, many retirees struggle to answer a simple question: What do I enjoy? Monique often starts by asking clients to think back to childhood interests — art, music, movement, creativity — and explore those again without pressure. “Your purpose isn’t gone,” she said. “It’s just no longer handed to you by a job description.” She emphasized that this phase of life offers something rare: the freedom to choose intentionally — where you live, how you spend your time, who you invest energy in, and what brings joy. Three Questions Worth Asking Toward the end of our conversation, Monique shared three questions she believes are foundational for a fulfilling retirement: Where do I want to be that makes me happiest? What do I want to do that makes me happiest? Who do I want to be with that makes me happiest? These questions don’t have one-time answers. They evolve — and that’s part of the beauty of this stage of life. The Bottom Line Retirement isn’t just a financial transition. It’s a psychological and emotional one as well. When approached consciously, it can become one of the most liberating and meaningful chapters of life — not because everything is perfect, but because you’re living with intention. Don’t forget to leave a rating for the “Retire Today” podcast if you’ve been enjoying these episodes! Subscribe to Retire Today to get new episodes every Wednesday. Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/retire-today/id1488769337 Spotify Podcasts: https://bit.ly/RetireTodaySpotify About the Author: Jeremy Keil, CFP®, CFA® is a financial advisor in Milwaukee, WI, author of the bestseller Retire Today: Create Your Retirement Master Plan in 5 Simple Steps and host of both the Retire Today Podcast and Mr. Retirement YouTube channel Additional Links: Buy Jeremy’s book – Retire Today: Create Your Retirement Master Plan in 5 Simple Steps Create Your Retirement Master Plan in 5 Simple Steps Monique Rhodes website In Your Right Mind Podcast with Monique Rhodes Monique Rhodes on LinkedIn Connect With Jeremy Keil: Keil Financial Partners LinkedIn: Jeremy Keil Facebook: Jeremy Keil LinkedIn: Keil Financial Partners YouTube: Mr. Retirement Book an Intro Call with Jeremy’s Team Media Disclosures: Disclosures This media is provided for informational and educational purposes only and does not consider the investment objectives, financial situation, or particular needs of any consumer. Nothing in this program should be construed as investment, legal, or tax advice, nor as a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold any security or to adopt any investment strategy. The views and opinions expressed are those of the host and any guest, current as of the date of recording, and may change without notice as market, political or economic conditions evolve. All investments involve risk, including the possible loss of principal. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Legal & Tax Disclosure Consumers should consult their own qualified attorney, CPA, or other professional advisor regarding their specific legal and tax situations. Advisor Disclosures Alongside, LLC, doing business as Keil Financial Partners, is an SEC-registered investment adviser. Registration does not imply a certain level of skill or expertise. Advisory services are delivered through the Alongside, LLC platform. Keil Financial Partners is independent, not owned or operated by Alongside, LLC. Additional information about Alongside, LLC – including its services, fees and any material conflicts of interest – can be found at https://adviserinfo.sec.gov/firm/summary/333587 or by requesting Form ADV Part 2A. The content of this media should not be reproduced or redistributed without the firm’s written consent. Any trademarks or service marks mentioned belong to their respective owners and are used for identification purposes only. Additional Important Disclosures
