Beyond Retirement

In this solo episode of Beyond Retirement, Jacquie reflects on a powerful idea from her recent conversation with Jeff Corcoran, founder of Kinwood: family stories can disappear quickly when no one takes the time to ask for them. The episode opens with the familiar regret many people experience after losing someone, namely, realizing there were questions they never asked and stories they will never hear.Retirement often gives people something they may not have had for years: time to slow down, reflect, and reconnect. Jacquie explores why this stage of life can be the perfect opportunity to preserve family history, ask better questions, and think more intentionally about legacy, not only in terms of money, wills, or estates, but also in terms of values, wisdom, memories, and example.This episode is a reminder that legacy is not simply something left behind. It is something built every day through conversations, relationships, decisions, mentoring, volunteering, and the way we live our values.KEY IDEAS:Family stories can disappear quicklyMuch of a family’s history exists only in memory.If no one asks the questions, entire chapters may be lost.Retirement creates space for meaningful conversationsMore time can allow for reflection, reconnection, and curiosity.These conversations do not need to be formal or complicated.Legacy is more than moneyEstate planning matters, but personal inheritance matters too.Stories, values, lessons, and family context are part of what we pass forward.Legacy is built while we are livingEvery conversation, decision, relationship, and example contributes to it.Retirement can be a time to become more intentional about that impact.One meaningful question can open the doorThe episode encourages listeners to choose one person and ask one thoughtful question this week.The goal is not a perfect interview, but genuine listening.QUESTIONS TO REFLECT ON:Who in my life has stories I would regret not hearing?What question have I been meaning to ask but keep putting off?What family story do I know that younger generations may not know?What values do I hope people learn from my example?Am I living the legacy I hope to leave?What would I want my grandchildren, nieces, nephews, or younger friends to understand about my life?What personal lesson have I learned that might help someone else?Where am I already living my values well?Where am I falling short of the legacy I want to build?Who is one person I can speak with this week?READY TO RAMP UP YOUR RETIREMENT JOURNEY?Start here: https://beyondretirement.ca/start-here/Book a FREE call with Jacquie: https://calendly.com/jacquiedoucette/discoveryCheck out the Beyond Retirement Library: https://placeforbooks.comMentioned in this episode:Women in the Middle - Suzy RosensteinCheck out the podcast: https://suzyrosenstein.com/podcastWomen in the Middle Podcast

Most retirees spend time planning what they'll leave behind financially. But what about the stories, lessons, and memories that make up a family's identity?In this episode of Beyond Retirement, I speak with Jeff Corcoran, founder of Kinwood, a company helping families preserve family history through digital heirlooms and celebration-of-life films.Jeff shares how a personal loss inspired him to rethink the traditional funeral industry and why more families are choosing meaningful celebrations of life over traditional ceremonies. We also discuss why family stories disappear so quickly, how technology can help preserve them, and what retirees can do today to ensure their experiences and wisdom aren't lost.Whether you're thinking about your own legacy, helping aging parents preserve their stories, or simply wondering what future generations will remember about your family, this conversation offers practical ideas and meaningful insights.KEY TOPICS:Preserving Family HistoryWhy family stories often disappear within one or two generationsCapturing memories before they're lostLegacy Beyond MoneyThe value of stories, lessons, and wisdomWhat future generations really want to inheritChanging Funeral TraditionsThe shift toward cremation and celebration-of-life eventsWhy families are seeking more personalized experiencesDigital HeirloomsUsing technology to preserve memoriesCreating lasting records of family historyEnd-of-Life ConversationsWhy discussing wishes in advance mattersReducing stress and uncertainty for loved onesLiving a Meaningful LifeLessons Jeff has learned from hearing hundreds of life storiesWhat truly seems to matter in the endKEY TAKEAWAYS:Family history disappears faster than most people realize.Legacy includes much more than financial assets.Recording stories doesn't require expensive equipment.Future generations often value personal stories more than possessions.Authenticity matters more than tradition when commemorating a life.Retirement is an ideal time to preserve memories and wisdom.THOUGHTS TO PONDER:What stories would disappear if you were gone tomorrow?What life lessons do you most want future generations to remember?How much do you know about your grandparents' lives?What does legacy mean beyond money and possessions?ACTION STEPSRecord one family story this week.Ask an older relative about their childhood.Write down your most important life lessons.Discuss your end-of-life wishes with loved ones.Create a simple archive of family photos and memories.CONNECT WITH JEFF:Website: KinwoodBIO:Jeff Corcoran never planned to build a company in the funeral and bereavement space. After attending several funerals in a short period of time and noticing how little had changed in the industry over generations, he began asking a simple question: why are we preserving bodies more carefully than stories?That question eventually led him to create Kinwood, a modern celebration-of-life company that helps families preserve memories, values, life lessons, and family history through digital films and recorded interviews. Today, Jeff works with families across Canada to create lasting digital heirlooms that help future generations stay connected to the people and stories that shaped them.💥 READY TO RAMP UP YOUR RETIREMENT JOURNEY?Start here: https://beyondretirement.ca/start-here/Book a FREE call with Jacquie: https://calendly.com/jacquiedoucette/discoveryCheck out the Beyond Retirement Library: https://placeforbooks.comMentioned in this episode:Women in the Middle - Suzy RosensteinCheck out the podcast: https://suzyrosenstein.com/podcastWomen in the Middle Podcast

In this solo episode of Beyond Retirement, Jacquie reflects on a powerful idea that emerged from her conversation with Anne Van Leynseele: retirement was designed for a world that no longer exists.For previous generations, retirement often meant a brief period of rest at the end of life. Today, many retirees leave work healthy, active, and facing 20 to 30 years of possibility. That creates an entirely different challenge. Once the novelty of freedom wears off, many people discover they miss something they never expected: structure, engagement, and a sense of purpose.This episode explores why retirement planning must go beyond finances and why building an intentional life may be the most important retirement project of all.Key IdeasRetirement was designed for a different eraFreedom alone does not create fulfillmentWork provides structure, identity, and momentumMany retirees experience a loss of engagementPurpose is rediscovered through action, not endless planningCuriosity may be more important than confidence in retirementRetirement can be an expansion of life rather than a shrinking of itQuestions to Reflect OnWhat parts of your former work life provided structure?What activities genuinely pull you forward?What interests have been waiting in the background for years?Where might you benefit from becoming a beginner again?What would a bigger, more intentional retirement look like for you?READY TO RAMP UP YOUR RETIREMENT JOURNEY?Start here: https://beyondretirement.ca/start-here/Book a FREE call with Jacquie: https://calendly.com/jacquiedoucette/discoveryCheck out the Beyond Retirement Library: https://placeforbooks.comMentioned in this episode:Women in the Middle - Suzy RosensteinCheck out the podcast: https://suzyrosenstein.com/podcastWomen in the Middle Podcast

In this episode of Beyond Retirement, Jacquie speaks with Anne Van Leynseele, creator of Preferment, about why the traditional idea of retirement may no longer serve today’s retirees. Anne believes that after decades of building careers, raising families, and meeting obligations, the post-career years should be viewed as a promotion rather than a withdrawal from life.We explore the identity challenges many people face when work ends, why so many retirees feel lost despite having financial plans in place, and how curiosity, purpose, and intentional exploration can help create a fulfilling next chapter. Anne shares practical examples of people who rediscovered forgotten passions, found new communities, and built meaningful lives around activities they genuinely enjoy.Key Topics CoveredWhy retirement was designed for a different eraThe concept of “Preferment” and what it meansIdentity loss after leaving a successful careerWhy hobbies alone often aren’t enoughExpanding interests into meaningful life themesThe importance of physical, intellectual, and social engagementAdapting passions as circumstances changeRelationships and marriage after retirementLearning to say no and let go of obligationsBuilding a life based on joy rather than achievementGuest LinksWebsite: rarifiedlife.comRelated Episodes#296 - Michael Kay – Chapter X and Finding Purpose#302 - Sandy Laneville – Building Community After Retirement#312 - Marianne Oehser – Your Happiness Portfolio for Retirement (coming soon)*********************Don't forget to check out Aging With Purpose and Passion, a podcast for women over 50 navigating major life transitions.Hosted by Beverley Glazer, MA, CCC, Work and Life Transition Coach, each episode brings you real stories, practical strategies, and expert insights from women who have faced adversity and created meaningful new chapters in life, work, health, and relationships.If you're feeling uncertain, invisible, restless, or ready for change, this podcast helps you gain confidence, clarity and momentum.Because your best years were never defined by your age. They’re defined by the courage to choose what comes next. Find Aging With Purpose and Passion wherever you get your podcasts. AgingWithPurposeandPassion.com

Show NotesIn this solo episode of Beyond Retirement, Jacquie explores a surprisingly common retirement challenge: knowing you have freedom but having no idea what to do with it.Inspired by a recent conversation with Norman Calvo, she shares a practical exercise called the “10 and 10 List”, a simple way to generate possibilities without needing to discover your life’s purpose first. If retirement feels open-ended, uncertain, or lacking direction, this episode offers a gentle framework for creating momentum through curiosity and experimentation.Key IdeasWhy retirement often feels harder than expectedThe hidden challenge of losing structureWhy your mind goes blank when asked what comes nextBuilding your “possibility muscle”Creating a 10 and 10 ListUsing small experiments instead of big commitmentsHow to evaluate new activitiesTurning curiosity into actionReflection QuestionsWhat activities have you always been curious about?What interests did you set aside during your working years?Which possibilities feel energizing rather than obligatory?What is one small step you could take this week?How might experimentation create clarity?Related EpisodesNorman Calvo: Retirement as ReinventionLiving Intentionally After RetirementRebuilding Purpose Through CuriosityREADY TO RAMP UP YOUR RETIREMENT JOURNEY?Start here: https://beyondretirement.ca/start-here/Book a FREE call with Jacquie: https://calendly.com/jacquiedoucette/discoveryCheck out the Beyond Retirement Library: https://placeforbooks.com***************************Don't forget to check out Aging With Purpose and Passion, a podcast for women over 50 navigating major life transitions.Hosted by Beverley Glazer, MA, CCC, Work and Life Transition Coach, each episode brings you real stories, practical strategies, and expert insights from women who have faced adversity and created meaningful new chapters in life, work, health, and relationships.If you're feeling uncertain, invisible, restless, or ready for change, this podcast helps you gain confidence, clarity and momentum.Because your best years were never defined by your age. They’re defined by the courage to choose what comes next. Find Aging With Purpose and Passion wherever you get your podcasts. AgingWithPurposeandPassion.com