Welcome to this week’s episode of “People in Transition”. I’m your host, Bob Gerst, and today I’m joined by Gregg Lunceford, PhD, CFP®, a seasoned wealth advisor and thought leader who is redefining how we think about Retirement. As a Managing Director at Mesirow and an academic researcher focused on 21st-century retirement transitions, Gregg brings a rare combination of real-world experience and deep intellectual insight to this conversation. With more than two decades of advising individuals approaching and entering retirement, his work goes far beyond finances – exploring identity, purpose, and what it truly means to thrive in life’s “third age.” Gregg is also the author of “Exit from Work”, where he challenges conventional thinking and opens the door to a more intentional, fulfilling vision of retirement.
In this engaging and thought-provoking discussion, Gregg and I explore several important yet often overlooked aspects of retirement. We dig into why so many people struggle to feel excited about retirement – touching on the loss of structure, daily accomplishment, and social connection that work provides – and what can be done to address those challenges. Gregg introduces the idea of building a “Coaching identity” and explains how it can provide continuity and purpose during this transition. We also discuss how retirement doesn’t have to be a binary, all-or-nothing decision; it can be a gradual shift, working fewer days over time. Along the way, we examine the untapped sense of empowerment that retirement can offer, the importance of replacing “kinship with friendship,” and how evolving life stages – from youth to middle age to the “third age” – shape our satisfaction and happiness.
This is a conversation that challenges assumptions and opens up new possibilities for anyone thinking about what comes next. Gregg offers practical insights and a refreshing perspective on how to approach retirement not as an ending, but as a beginning filled with opportunity. If you’re preparing for this transition – or even just starting to think about it – this episode will give you plenty to consider. To learn more about Gregg and his work, visit his LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregg-lunceford-phd-cfp%C2%AE-3aa83a15/
