About PurposeNext

Helping individuals design a retirement filled with meaning, health, connection, and joy through the PHASE Into Retirement™ framework.

Our Mission

Most retirement planning focuses on money. PurposeNext is different. We focus on life.

Retirement sits in the cultural imagination as both a promise and a paradox. The promise is freedom—an escape from alarm clocks, deadlines, and the perpetual rhythm of obligation. The paradox is what arrives when that freedom actually comes.

People spend decades thinking about what they want less of: less work, less stress, less pressure. But very few spend meaningful time imagining what they want more of—more purpose, more connection, more learning, more momentum, more joy.

PurposeNext helps answer a question many people quietly carry as retirement approaches: “Am I ready for what comes next?”

“Money makes retirement possible. Purpose, health, connection, and structure make it fulfilling.”

— The PHASE™ Philosophy

See PHASE™ in Action

Watch this short video to understand how the PHASE Into Retirement™ framework helps you prepare for a fulfilling retirement.

The PHASE™ Framework

PHASE Into Retirement™ guides pre-retirees and retirees through the five non-financial dimensions that predict whether retirement becomes a season of flourishing or simply fading. These dimensions form a living ecosystem—each one strengthening and supporting the others.

P — Purpose

Meaning and identity beyond work. The compass that gives direction to retirement and answers the question: “Who am I now?”

H — Health

Physical, mental, emotional, and cognitive well-being. The engine that allows you to follow your purpose and engage with life.

A — Activities

Engagement, curiosity, and creativity. The hobbies and pursuits that give texture to time and bring retirement to life.

S — Social Life

Connection, belonging, and friendships. The heartbeat that keeps life warm, vibrant, and human.

E — Everyday Life

Rhythm, stability, and structure. The quiet backbone that keeps retirement grounded and purposeful.

Why This Matters

Research across decades confirms that non-financial factors are the strongest predictors of retirement satisfaction.

20-30

Years

Average time spent in retirement

40%

Of Retirees

Experience depression in year one

5x

More Likely

To thrive with strong purpose

The PHASE™ framework synthesizes insights from the Harvard Study of Adult Development, the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging, Boston College's Center for Retirement Research, and decades of research in gerontology, psychology, and behavioral science.

How PHASE™ Works

A straightforward process designed to spark reflection and guide intentional action.

1

Take the PHASE™ Index

Complete a brief assessment that evaluates your readiness across all five dimensions. It takes about 15 minutes and highlights both strengths and opportunities.

2

Review Your Results

Receive a personalized readiness profile that brings clarity to areas often left unexamined—until retirement is already underway.

3

Design Your Path Forward

Use the PHASE™ Booklet and guidance resources to transform insights into action, building the retirement you actually want to live.

Who We Serve

PurposeNext helps individuals and the professionals who support them.

Pre-Retirees & Retirees

Whether you're three years away from retirement or already navigating this new chapter, PHASE™ provides the framework for designing a life of intention.

  • Identify blind spots before retirement begins
  • Rebuild purpose and structure after the transition
  • Strengthen the dimensions that matter most
  • Move from surviving to thriving

Financial Advisors & HR Professionals

Offer your clients and employees a holistic approach to retirement readiness that goes beyond the numbers.

  • Deepen client relationships through meaningful conversations
  • Differentiate your practice with comprehensive planning
  • Support employee well-being and transition planning
  • Demonstrate measurable value beyond financial advice

Our Philosophy

You cannot “accidentally” create the retirement you want. You must design it—not all at once, but gradually, intentionally, and with compassion for yourself as you navigate this significant life transition.

PHASE™ does not prescribe a “right” way to retire. Instead, it encourages reflection and intentional choices—small, manageable steps that align retirement with the life you want to live.

Retirement does not demand perfection. It asks for intention.

Your next years can be among the richest, most meaningful, and most joyful you have ever lived—not by chance, but by design.

Ready to PHASE™ Into Your Best Retirement?

Take the first step toward designing a retirement filled with purpose, health, connection, and joy.

Start the PHASE™ Index →