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:
From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance
Be a smarter, better informed investor.

Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free 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.
-
S&P 500 Tops 6,500 Even as Nvidia Slips: Stock Market Today
The world's most valuable company closed lower after earnings, but the S&P 500 managed to notch a new record high.
-
Is Trump's Tax Plan Speeding Up the Looming Social Security Funding Crisis?
Social Security Social Security's combined retirement funds are running out of cash, and its insolvency date is expected to occur in less than a decade.
-
S&P 500 Tops 6,500 Even as Nvidia Slips: Stock Market Today
The world's most valuable company closed lower after earnings, but the S&P 500 managed to notch a new record high.
-
How to Keep Your Work Friends After You Retire
Work friendships can boost teamwork, lift your spirits, and make the job more fun. But when you retire, these friendships can fade. Here's a look at why that happens and what you can do about it.
-
DexCom, GE, SLB: Why Experts Rate These Stocks at Strong Buy
Wall Street gives these three diverse names Strong Buy recommendations with high potential upside.
-
These 5 Rules Separate the Rich From Everyone Else
From ownership to mindset, these core principles help explain why some people build lasting wealth and others stay stuck.
-
Retirees, Make These Financial Moves Before the Fed Cuts Rates
The Fed will likely reduce interest rates in mid-September. Financial experts explain where retirees should invest now to boost retirement funds.
-
How to Handle Costly Medical Bills — Smartly
If you’re looking for a way to pay for looming health care expenses, or if you’ve already fallen into debt, you have avenues to ease the burden.
-
I'm an Annuities Expert: Here Are Two Ways to Use Annuities to Benefit From the OBBB
To qualify for a new tax break included in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, some older adults need to lower their taxable income. Annuities can make that happen.
-
Here's Why Munis Aren't Just for Wealthy Investors Now
Buyers of all levels should be intrigued by municipal bonds' steep yield curve, strong credit fundamentals and yield levels offering an income buffer.