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Retirement Planning for Executives to Avoid the Hard Stop and Build a Legacy with Sandi Goddard

Sep 4, 2025

In this episode of A Wealthy Life Podcast, Vicki Wusche welcomes corporate consultant and executive coach Sandi Goddard to talk about what it really means to retire in today’s world. The conversation explores the emotional and practical challenges of stepping out of corporate life, why a traditional hard stop isn’t always the best move, and how to plan a purpose-filled transition into your next phase of life. Whether you're in your 40s and starting to think ahead or already nearing retirement, this episode is packed with insights that can reshape your view of "retirement."

Sandi Goddard is a seasoned executive coach and consultant with decades of experience helping senior leaders navigate transitions in work and life. She contributed a chapter to Retire Inspire 2, a collaborative book that explores retirement in its modern form. Known for her candid insights and people-first approach, Sandi brings wisdom, humor, and authenticity to the conversation around purpose, identity, and legacy.

 

Expect to Learn

  • Why retirement is more about transition than termination

  • The emotional shifts executives face when leaving corporate life

  • How to start planning early, even in your 30s or 40s

  • Why legacy is more than just money or inheritance

  • How your values, community, and flexibility shape a meaningful post-career life

 

Episode Breakdown with Timestamps

  • [00:00] - Introduction

  • [02:48] - Life after leadership: losing the "team support" structure

  • [05:38] - The evolving nature of retirement across generations

  • [08:57] - Gradual transition vs. abrupt retirement

  • [11:13] - Thinking about retirement in your 50s and 60s

  • [13:11] - Budgeting, state pensions, and realistic financial planning

  • [21:48] - Observational learning and life planning through habits

  • [27:11] - Legacy: how we impact more than just our family

  • [34:35] - Sandi’s top advice: The “balcony test” for your future vision

  • [39:21] - Gap years in your 60s, lifelong learning, and reinvention

 

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