The Early Retirement Crisis: Time for Life Reinvention

Millions of Americans over 50 feel stuck in soul-sucking jobs, or are being edged out and in fear of the future. Here's how to reframe that.

The New Age Out: Reframing Work, Retirement, and Reinvention

Beginnings are hard. Live Reinvention? Even harder.

Millions of Americans are stuck in jobs they don’t love, trapped by financial obligations and fear of the unknown. Others—especially women over 55 and men over 61—are being pushed out of the workforce, forced into early retirement without a safety net. This isn’t just an economic crisis; it’s a near-pandemic of uncertainty, exhaustion, and disillusionment.

We need to talk about this. And more importantly, we need to do something about it.

Why This, Why Now?

My husband, a Harvard-awarded, pharmaceutical physician and globally recognized rare disease expert, was early-retired out of a job at 61. Ego, identity, and decades of expertise—gone in an instant with a targeted ‘‘reorganization”. I saw firsthand how disorienting this can be. But then I stepped in. Minutes after he got the news he was locked out of his computer. I turned up George Michael’s Freedom on YouTube, and made us both dance around the living room, laugh, and celebrate freedom from Corporate America. Work ethic runs deep, so it took him a minute to adjust to the newfound time off, and create new habits, but I new the instant reframe was a key to an easier transition. I’m not just the other half of the global pharmaceutical power couple who knows what it was like, or just his supportive glass-half-full wife, I’m a global leadership coach, podcaster, published author and CEO/entrepreneur who dedicates her life to help leaders facing life transitions of all kinds. And, as a master coach, I also knew that intentional reframing and reinvention is not just possible—it’s necessary.

When I left pharma, I left by choice to pursue knowledge-based entrepreneurial ventures. For me, entrepreneurship = freedom. But it’s not that way for thousands of 50 and 60 somethings who are edged out of corporations.

In that transition moment, we have a choice: let fear take over or create the greatest reframe of our lives. I wan to help you chose the latter. And now, I’m here on Substack to help you do the same. I’m also hear to raise awareness of this dire ageism situation, because I am having this conversation with 50 and 60-somethings now almost on a daily basis.

• Lauren, a banking executive (VP) forced to exit at 61. The writing was on the wall for a while, but the final cut still felt sudden and dramatic.

• Linda, a 30-year Pharma scientist and Director whose department was absorbed by another. Only one department head won and she was made redundant the day of the announcement. She didn’t see it coming.

• Austin, a top GYN sales specialist in the UK, given his early retirement party in the name of a reorg at 60. Western culture countries are not immune. This is an international occurrence.

These “reorganizations” target those with the highest salaries and fun fact: companies always let a few others go in their 40’s and 50s so they can not be liable for ageism. But the good news is when our most experienced and most brilliant minds are challenged to find their footing, they usually do. In fact, I challenge them to finally do what they love, and the outcome is magical. Purpose shines forth. Dreams resurface. Meaning and significance take on a whole new light.

• My husband, Jaime, is now a COO in a management consulting firm. He’s designing his first course to train PharmDs and MDs.

• Lauren lives in the south of France and is starting up a health coaching and clean food initiative with hybrid virtual and retail capabilities.

• Linda followed THE CORELIFE METHOD® and found purpose and joy in creating exactly the kind of knowledge based coaching firm that she dreamed of 20 years prior in an area of her expertise that she was cut off from.

• Austin is working in gardens, and with horses and is happier and less stressed than ever as he considers consultancy.

The Reality: Two to Twenty Paychecks from the Street

Even those earning six+ figures are often just a few paychecks away from financial ruin. The lifestyle creep is real, and so is the illusion of security. Most people never plan for reinvention—until they have no other choice.

And when does social security start? Age 65, but 67 is ideal if you don’t want to give away all you worked for throughout a lifetime of having hands tied with corporate red tape.

Thats a big gap.

And if you collect that $2,000 a month government paycheck, and got your AARP card fired up giving you a discount at Denny’s, will any of that help your $20,000 a month lifestyle?

No.

And even if you figured out a new job, which is 98% unlikely, statistically, how about paying for healthcare after COBRA at a rate higher than your Social Security Income. (We paid $2500.00 a month for two of us for 18 months then were dropped for a ‘pre-existing condition, by a major insurance company we had for over 10 years. Now that makes you BLUE. Get it?)

Before 65 if you lost a job, you didn’t just slip through the cracks, you fell into the abyss.

But what if we flipped the script?

What if, instead of fearing change, we designed it?

The Reframe: How to Take Control

Here are three powerful ways to move from chaos to clarity:

1. Shift from Overwhelm to Centered – Fear thrives in uncertainty. The first step is regaining control over what you can change. Start with micro-wins: simplify your finances, declutter your mind, and build a clear vision of what’s next.

2. Move from Resistance to Openness – Reinvention begins when we stop clinging to what was and start embracing what can be. Identify where you’re resisting change and ask: What if this is happening for me, not to me?

3. Transform Exhaustion into Resilience – Burnout and fear drain energy, but clarity fuels it. A structured approach—like my Corelife Method of coaching—helps you harness your skills, redefine your purpose, and channel your energy into a new path that excites you.

4. Become An Entrepreneur – Part of any retirement plan in 2025 and beyond should be the, “What will I do next?” self-reflection. In our 50’s and 60’s we look good, are more active then previous generations. We are also far more tech savvy, giving us knowledge-based business freedom. Years ago the only admirable options were Walmart Greeter or Home Depot, for those wanting to work into their 70’s and beyond. But today, the internet gives us empowered choices if we are willing to learn new tech platforms.

The Corelife Method®

In 2009, I discovered The Corelife Method, a transformational coaching system helping leaders find balance, strength and clarity in crisis. Since then, I’ve been guiding corporations and individuals through company, career and life transitions, moving from chaos, overwhelm, resistance, and exhaustion to empowered states of centered, open, resilient, and energized. Whether you’re navigating an unexpected job loss, an early retirement, or simply feeling stuck, this coaching approach will help you reclaim your power and design your next chapter. So I’ll be sharing exercises and tips on how to do that on this free on this blog.

I also guide people from career transition into entrepreneurship so they take back their time, money and location future freedom. But here on Substack, I just want to spark the conversation.

If you are going to reinvent yourself, reinvent well.

Your Turn: Have You Experienced This?

Have you faced a forced career transition? An unexpected retirement? A big life change that has impacted your income such as a death, divorce or the diagnosis you never thought you’d have? or know someone who has? Raise Your Voice. Press like. Share your story in the comments—I read every single one.

This is just the beginning. Subscribe to C-O-R-E Expressions for insights, strategies, and real talk on navigating live transition and reinvention with confidence.

---