Want an Encore Career in Retirement? Consider These Seven Steps
Burnout, a need for a change and/or a desire to stay engaged often propel people to start a new professional chapter. This is how you can do it.


In his 2009 book, Drive, Daniel H. Pink introduced a concept that strikes a chord with many approaching the end of their primary careers: encore careers. These second acts are about more than just staying busy — they’re opportunities to find purpose, explore passions and create fulfillment during retirement.
An encore career is a new professional chapter after you retire or step away from your primary profession. Unlike a simple job change within the same industry (e.g., a doctor joining a new practice or a banker moving to a different institution), an encore career represents a significant shift.
For example:

Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free E-Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
- A corporate attorney transitions to managing a food bank
- A finance executive dedicates their skills to supporting an animal rescue organization
- A retired executive turns a lifelong love of music into a career at a local radio station
What defines an encore career is its sense of novelty, challenge and meaning. It’s about contributing to a cause, exploring a passion or diving into a completely new environment.
Why consider an encore career?
People often pursue encore careers for two key reasons:
- Burnout and the need for change. After years in a high-pressure job, you may find yourself feeling burned out. You may feel ready for a new pace but aren’t financially prepared to stop working entirely. An encore career offers the chance to keep earning while stepping into a role that feels more meaningful or balanced.
- A desire to stay engaged. For some, financial resources are not the issue — it’s the need to stay active, challenged and connected. If you’ve always wanted to channel your skills or passion into a new endeavor, an encore career could be the perfect way to fulfill that potential.
In a real-life example of someone moving on to an encore career, one client left a long corporate career to pursue a lifelong dream of earning a PhD. Now immersed in academia, they’ve discovered a renewed sense of purpose and excitement in this entirely new chapter of life.
How to approach an encore career
If the idea of an encore career sparks your interest, planning your transition is key. Start with these steps:
1. Ensure your financial stability. Choose a role that covers your expenses without jeopardizing your savings.
2. Prioritize work-life balance. Look for opportunities that allow you to enjoy the non-working parts of life, such as travel, hobbies or family time.
3. Pursue your interests. Explore fields or roles that have always intrigued you, offering the chance to grow and learn.
4. Follow your passion. Seek positions tied to causes or organizations you care deeply about, such as nonprofits, religious groups or entrepreneurial ventures.
5. Embrace flexibility. Select work that fits your lifestyle, allowing you to control your schedule and commitments.
6. Opt for energizing work. An encore career should leave you feeling fulfilled and motivated — not drained — at the end of the week.
7. Challenge yourself mentally. Staying mentally engaged is essential for long-term happiness and health. Pursue work that excites you and keeps you sharp.
The case for encore careers
As lifespans grow longer and retirement stretches 20, 30 or even 40 years, the traditional retirement model is evolving. Encore careers can be a vital part of this extended phase, offering purpose, financial stability and mental stimulation.
They can prevent the boredom and stagnation that sometimes accompany a traditional retirement while helping you maintain a vibrant, connected lifestyle.
Today’s retirees are rewriting the rulebook, asking: How can we make the most of these extra years while staying happy, healthy, and financially secure?
For many, an encore career is the answer — a chance to step into a new chapter filled with purpose and passion.
Stay wealthy, healthy and happy!
Diversified is a registered investment adviser, and the registration of an investment adviser does not imply any specific level of skill or training and does not constitute an endorsement of the firm by the SEC. A copy of Diversified’s current written disclosure brochure which discusses, among other things, the firm’s business practices, services and fees, is available through the SEC’s website at: www.adviserinfo.sec.gov.
Diversified, LLC does not provide tax advice and should not be relied upon for purposes of filing taxes, estimating tax liabilities or avoiding any tax or penalty imposed by law. The information provided by Diversified, LLC should not be a substitute for consulting a qualified tax advisor, accountant, or other professional concerning the application of tax law or an individual tax situation.
Nothing provided in this article constitutes tax advice. Individuals should seek the advice of their own tax advisor for specific information regarding tax consequences of investments. Investments in securities entail risk and are not suitable for all investors. This site is not a recommendation nor an offer to sell (or solicitation of an offer to buy) securities in the United States or in any other jurisdiction.
Related Content
- Before the Next Time Markets Sink, Do Your Lifeboat Drills
- Key 2025 IRS Updates: What You Need to Know
- Winning Investment Strategy: Be the Tortoise AND the Hare
- How to Rank Your Financial Priorities
- Goals-Based Retirement Planning Is All About You
Profit and prosper with the best of Kiplinger's advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and much more. Delivered daily. Enter your email in the box and click Sign Me Up.

In March 2010, Andrew Rosen joined Diversified, bringing with him nine years of financial industry experience. As a financial planner, Andrew forges lifelong relationships with clients, coaching them through all stages of life. He has obtained his Series 6, 7 and 63, along with property/casualty and health/life insurance licenses. Andrew consistently delivers high-level, concierge service to all clients.
-
Ask the Editor — Tax Questions on "The One Big Beautiful Bill Act"
Ask the Editor In this week's Ask the Editor Q&A, we answer tax questions from readers on the new tax law.
-
The Anti-Prime Day Deals Guide to Everyday Essentials Worth Stocking up on at Walmart, Target and Sam's Club
Skip Amazon and shop these anti-Prime Day deals at Walmart, Target or Sam's Club to save on all of your household essentials.
-
The Anti-Prime Day Deals Guide to Everyday Essentials Worth Stocking Up on at Walmart, Target and Sam's Club
Skip Amazon and shop these anti-Prime Day deals at Walmart, Target or Sam's Club to save on all of your household essentials.
-
Inherited a House? Here's How to Decide What to Do With It
When you inherit a property, the decision to keep, rent, or sell can feel overwhelming, especially when emotions are involved. Here's what you need to consider.
-
I'm a Financial Planner: Here Are Some Long-Term Care Insurance Tips for Every Age
Strategies include adding riders to life insurance for younger individuals and considering hybrid or traditional long-term care policies for those in their mid-50s and 60s.
-
Engineering Reliable Retirement Income in 2025: An Expert Guide
For dependable income, consider using a bucket strategy and annuities in tandem to promote structure, flexibility and peace of mind.
-
Crazy Markets Shouldn't Derail Your Retirement if You Follow This Financial Pro's Plan
Being nervous about retiring in a volatile market is a red flag that you're relying too heavily on your investment portfolio, rather than a comprehensive plan.
-
Stock Market Today: Solid Signals Lift Stocks Despite Tariff Noise
Markets are whistling over the White House in an ongoing display of corporate America's enduring ability to survive and advance.
-
Amtrak Joins Prime Day With Deals on Fares — But You’ll Have to Act Fast
Prime members can score 20% off midweek fares — what travelers should know before booking.
-
Florida Revives Popular Home-Hardening Program With $280M in New Funding
A major infusion of state funds revives Florida's flagship home-hardening grant program to protect homeowners and potentially lower insurance costs.