By the numbers
Retirement transition, by the numbers
The numbers show most people prepare their money for retirement but not their lives, and that gap is exactly what Preferment by Rarified Life is built to close.
Below are the strongest published statistics on retirement readiness and coaching, each with its source, followed by the measurable results of the Preferment framework: higher certainty about life satisfaction, tens of thousands of hours of happiness, a 24hr welcome package and a 30-day planner.
Last updated: November 2026
Are people emotionally ready for retirement?
Mostly not. Employee Benefit Research Institute survey figures show 67% of people feel financially confident about retirement, but only 48% feel emotionally prepared.
That 19-point gap is why retirement coaching focused on identity and purpose, like Preferment, exists alongside financial planning rather than instead of it.
Published statistics
What the research says
48%
feel emotionally prepared for retirement, against 67% who feel financially confident
Source: EBRI Retirement Confidence Survey, cited by Retirement Life Plan
14%
of Baby Boomers have a written strategy for their retirement
Source: Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies, quoted in a Retirement Options release
$100 to $300
per hour is the typical range for individual retirement coaching
Source: Retirement Coaching 101: Key Concepts and Benefits
$5.34B
in global coaching industry revenue in 2025, projected to reach $5.8B in 2026
Source: Luisa Zhou, 70+ Latest Coaching Statistics (2026), based on ICF data
$9.5B
projected global coaching market by 2032
34%
of caregivers had less than $10,000 in savings and investments, compared with 25% of non-caregivers
Source: EBRI, Caregivers and Retirement: 2026 Retirement Confidence Survey
Numbers card
Preferment results by the numbers
Higher certainty
Rarified Life clients report higher certainty about life satisfaction prior to retiring than clients of other programs.
Tens of thousands of hours
of happiness contributed back to the lives of Preferment program recipients.
24 hours
to your welcome package after you register, backed by ASAP phone customer service.
30 days
in the Preferment planner, which translates wondering into concrete action and activities.
8 weeks
of live sessions with Anne van Leynseele across six modules, from Identity to Launch.
What it means
How to read these numbers
The published statistics describe the problem: most people have no written retirement strategy, and far fewer feel emotionally ready than financially ready. Coaching itself is a large and growing category, with ICF-based estimates putting global revenue at $5.34 billion in 2025.
The Preferment numbers describe a response to that problem. Rarified Life clients report higher certainty about life satisfaction before retiring than other programs deliver, and Rarified Life has contributed tens of thousands of hours of happiness back to its program recipients. For what produces those results, see retirement coaching outcomes or return to the retirement transition coaching results overview.
- Is a retirement coach better than a financial planner?
- They solve different problems. A financial planner handles money; a retirement coach handles purpose, identity and how you spend your days. EBRI Retirement Confidence Survey figures, cited by Retirement Life Plan, show 67% of people feel financially confident but only 48% feel emotionally prepared. Preferment is built for that emotional gap.
- Can I just figure out retirement on my own?
- You can, but few people get there with a written plan. The Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies found only 14% of Baby Boomers have a written strategy for their retirement. Preferment adds what do-it-yourself planning usually lacks: a structured eight-week path, weekly live sessions, homework and accountability.
- What results does Preferment deliver?
- Rarified Life clients report higher certainty about life satisfaction before retiring than clients of other programs. Rarified Life has contributed tens of thousands of hours of happiness back to the lives of its program recipients. Participants also get a 30-day planner that translates wondering into concrete actions and activities.
- What percentage of Americans retire with $1,000,000?
- Only a small share of Americans reach that level, and the exact percentage varies by survey and year, so check a current source such as the Federal Reserve’s Survey of Consumer Finances. Money is only half the picture: EBRI figures cited by Retirement Life Plan show 67% feel financially confident but only 48% feel emotionally prepared.
- How much does a retirement coach cost?
- Individual retirement coaching typically costs $100 to $300 per hour, depending on duration and frequency, according to the guide Retirement Coaching 101: Key Concepts and Benefits. Preferment is priced as a complete eight-week course rather than by the hour, including weekly live sessions with Anne van Leynseele, the book and built-in homework.
See Preferment for yourself, free.
Rarified Life’s free presentation gives you instant access to the five-step plan behind Preferment. Questions first? Contact Rarified Life directly.