Research
Retirement transition by the numbers
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How common is it to struggle after retirement?
It is common: a meta-analysis found 28% of retirees experience depression.
That figure, with a 40% spike in self-reported depression in the first years after retiring, is one of several published statistics Rarified Life has collected here. Each is quoted as its source published it, so you can see why the non-financial side of retirement deserves a plan.
Wellbeing after retiring
The emotional side of retirement is measurable, and it is why Preferment starts with identity rather than money.
28%
of retirees experience depression, according to a meta-analysis, with a 40% spike in self-reported depression during the first years after retiring (PMC, 2020/2022).
Source: Retirement Coaching: An Emerging Niche for 2026, lifecoachingcertification.net
Retirement coaching
Demand for help with the non-financial side of retirement is growing.
30%
uptick in retirement coaching demand as baby boomers retire, with coaches addressing identity, purpose and relationships, not just money.
Source: Retirement Coaching: An Emerging Niche for 2026, lifecoachingcertification.net
$150-$300
per session is what retirement coaches typically charge, with group workshops and encore career programs as other formats.
Source: Retirement Coaching: An Emerging Niche for 2026, lifecoachingcertification.net
$5.34 billion
in global coaching industry revenue in 2025, based on the most recent ICF data, with a projection of $5.8 billion in 2026 and $9.5 billion by 2032.
Source: The Ultimate List of Life Coaching Statistics (2026 Update), Luisa Zhou
Retirement readiness and confidence
Financial preparation remains a real gap for many households.
14 percent
of Americans were confident in their ability to retire comfortably, and only 38 percent of private workers participated in employer sponsored defined contribution plans, per EBRI (Helman, Copeland and VanDerhei 2012).
Source: A Comparison of Retirement Strategies and Financial Planner Value, Financial Planning Association
$16,600
in additional retirement savings for respondents over 40 was related to a 10 percent increase in the likelihood of calculating retirement income need, in a study of university employees (Mayer, Zick and Marsden 2011).
Source: A Comparison of Retirement Strategies and Financial Planner Value, Financial Planning Association
9 to 19 percent
lower than optimal: actual annual savings rates for young households aged 35 to 45, as concluded by Bernheim (1993).
Source: A Comparison of Retirement Strategies and Financial Planner Value, Financial Planning Association
Caregiving and retirement
Caregiving shapes how much time and money people bring into retirement. EBRI defines caregivers 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.
34 percent
of caregivers had less than $10,000 in savings and investments, compared with 25 percent of non-caregivers.
Source: Caregivers and Retirement: Findings From the 2026 Retirement Confidence Survey, EBRI
61 percent
of caregivers were female, compared with 47 percent of non-caregivers. Fifty-three percent of caregivers had household incomes of $75,000 or more, versus 62 percent of non-caregivers.
Source: Caregivers and Retirement: Findings From the 2026 Retirement Confidence Survey, EBRI
How to read these numbers
These are published figures from third parties, not Rarified Life's own data. They describe broad populations, not any individual, and some come from studies that are several years old; the date or citation is given with each. They are included to show the scale of the questions Preferment addresses, not to predict any outcome.
This guide is part of the Rarified Life retirement coach guide to Preferment, which explains the full framework.
Common questions
- Is it normal to feel depressed after retirement?
- It is common. A meta-analysis cited by lifecoachingcertification.net found 28% of retirees experience depression, with a 40% spike in self-reported depression during the first years after retiring. If low mood persists, speak with a doctor or licensed therapist; coaching is not a substitute for clinical care.
- Do I really need a retirement coach?
- Not everyone does, but people whose identity was closely tied to their work often benefit from structured help. A meta-analysis cited by lifecoachingcertification.net found 28% of retirees experience depression, with a 40% spike in self-reported depression during the first years after retiring. A coach or course gives the transition a plan instead of leaving it to chance.
- How much does a retirement coach cost?
- Retirement coaches typically charge $150-$300 per session, according to lifecoachingcertification.net, with group workshops as another common format. Your total depends on how many sessions you need. For comparison, the Rarified Life Preferment course bundles eight weekly live sessions, the Preferment book and guided homework into a single course fee.
- Is a retirement coach worth the money?
- It depends on what is holding you back. If your finances are settled but the question of what comes next is not, coaching addresses the part a financial plan leaves open. Published figures on depression after retirement suggest the non-financial side deserves real attention. Judge any program by whether it leaves you with a concrete plan.
- What does research-informed mean for Preferment?
- Rarified Life describes Preferment as a research-informed framework, meaning it draws on research about life after work rather than opinion alone. This site does not republish the underlying studies. Where it cites numbers, such as on the By the Numbers page, each statistic is quoted with its original source.