Cervello Financial Planning

What happens when the career, relationships or responsibilities that once defined you begin to change?

In this thoughtful conversation, host Chris Daems speaks with counsellor Julie Leeper about navigating identity, burnout, grief, retirement and major life transitions in your 50s and 60s. Drawing on her experience as a former HR director, counsellor and widow, Julie explains why moving into the next chapter of life can feel more difficult than many people admit.

Chris and Julie explore how to recognise burnout, challenge the stories you tell yourself and separate your identity from your job title. They also discuss the emotional impact of retirement, changing family roles, financial uncertainty, bereavement and caring for ageing parents.

You’ll discover why small experiments can help you move forward, how setting boundaries creates space for personal growth and why acceptance may be more realistic—and more powerful—than forgiveness. Julie also explains the difference between counselling and coaching, and when speaking with a counsellor may be the right next step.

This episode is for anyone redefining life after 50, considering retirement, recovering from burnout or wondering: “Who am I now?”

Like the video, share your experiences in the comments and subscribe to What Happens Next for more honest conversations about creating a meaningful and fulfilling next chapter.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFWonoKAgFw

What is the smartest thing to spend your money on in your 50s, 60s and beyond? According to research, the answer may not be another possession. It could be buying back your time.

In our latest video, financial planner and What Happens Next? host Chris Daems explores one of the most powerful ideas from the book Happy Money: spending money on time-saving services can improve happiness and reduce everyday stress.

Chris explains why hiring a cleaner, paying a gardener, getting groceries delivered or outsourcing another task you dislike could be a better use of your wealth than simply accumulating more money or buying more things.

You will also discover Chris's Buy One Hour Back Challenge and a simple three-tier approach to retirement spending:

• Essentials: the costs of keeping life running
• A Good Life: family, holidays, hobbies and experiences
• Give & Grow: supporting others, causes and personal development

The bigger question is this: once you have enough money, are you using it deliberately to create the life you actually want?

If you had one extra hour every week, how would you spend it? Share your answer in the comments.

📘 Buy the What Happens Next book and discover practical strategies to create a purposeful, fulfilling next chapter of life:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1918097720

🧭 Take the What Happens Next Quiz to discover how prepared you are for life beyond full time work and receive personalised insights:
https://whathappensnext.life/quiz/

🌐 Visit the What Happens Next website for articles, videos, resources, events and expert guidance on creating a meaningful next chapter:
https://whathappensnext.life/

👍 Like the video if you found it useful.
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We spend decades planning our careers and finances for retirement, but what happens when you finally arrive? The financial plan gets you there, but life planning helps you design what comes next. In my latest blog, I explore the NEXT Framework a simple, practical way to navigate, evaluate, execute and track your next chapter without needing all the answers upfront. Read the full post here: https://www.cervellofp.co.uk/2026/08/06/what-happens-next-a-simple-framework-for-designing-the-next-chapter-of-your-life/ and discover how to build a life filled with purpose and fulfilment.

Cervello Financial Planning | Independent Chartered Financial Planners Essex Chartered Financial Planners serving high-earners across South Essex: Thorpe Bay, Billericay, Stock, Chalkwell, Danbury, Shenfield & beyond. Expert wealth planning & retirement advice.

Are you feeling stuck in your 50s or 60s? Wondering what comes next but unsure where to start? In this episode of What Happens Next, Chris Daems shares a powerful idea that can help you move forward without making risky, life changing decisions.

Many people spend months or even years thinking about the next chapter of their lives. Whether it is retirement planning, a career change, relocating, volunteering, or finding a new purpose, the pressure to make the right decision can leave you frozen. Chris explains why the answer is not a massive leap, but a small experiment.

Listen to Episode 88: Feeling Stuck After 50 - How to Reinvent Yourself and Find Purpose Again.

Episode 88 – Feeling Stuck After 50 How to Reinvent Yourself and Find Purpose Again – What Happens Next – Powered by Cervello Are you feeling stuck in your 50s or 60s? Wondering what comes next but unsure where to start? In this episode of What Happens Next, Chris Daems shares a powerful idea that can help you move forward without making risky, life-changing decisions.

Does ambition fade after 50, or does it simply need a new direction?

In the latest episode of What Happens Next, host Chris Daems sits down with author and business founder Hugo Brooks to talk about ambition, success and how our goals change through our 50s, 60s and beyond.

After more than 30 years building businesses and advising major global brands, Hugo hit a turning point. His wife asked him a simple question: did he really want to go round the same cycle again? That question sparked a much deeper exploration of what had been driving him for decades, and it eventually became his book, Ambition.

In this conversation, Chris and Hugo explore:

• Why ambition is not a destination, but a very human drive to make tomorrow better than yesterday
• The difference between "hero", "move up" and "be better" ambitions
• Moving towards success versus running away from fear
• Why so many people climb the ladder, only to find it leaning against the wrong building
• How retirement, AI and the changing nature of work are reshaping what ambition means
• How to set goals that reflect your values, your life stage and the world as it is now

So here is the question worth sitting with: what are you ambitious for today, and is that ambition truly yours?

Share your thoughts in the comments. And if this resonates, do like the video and subscribe to What Happens Next for more honest conversations about life after 50, purpose, retirement, personal growth and meaningful change.

Watch the full episode here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-wRX5jT_8s

Retirement changes more than just your work schedule; it changes where you go, who you see, and the everyday social connections that give your life structure.

In our latest episode of What Happens Next, host Chris Daems explores the concept of the “third place” – somewhere that is not home or work, but provides community, connection, routine, and a sense of belonging. Finding a third place can help prevent loneliness and social isolation as you transition into retirement.

Watch the full episode to discover practical exercises, including the simple three visit rule, to help you find your community.

📘 Buy the What Happens Next book for practical strategies:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1918097720

🧭 Take the What Happens Next Quiz:
https://whathappensnext.life/quiz/

🌐 Visit our website for more resources:
https://whathappensnext.life/

Why the Traditional Retirement Model Is Broken and What Should Replace It

Think back to one of the classic board games from childhood.
For many people, it was

The Game of Life.

It had everything. A colourful spinning wheel, tiny plastic cars and a winding road that took you through all the major
milestones society expected you to follow.

You started with education.

You found a career.

You got married.

You bought a house.

Perhaps you had children.

You accumulated wealth.

Then eventually you reached retirement.

The game stopped.

You counted your money. Whoever had accumulated the most was declared the winner.

https://www.cervellofp.co.uk/2026/07/09/why-the-traditional-retirement-model-is-broken-and-what-should-replace-it/

One of the first questions people ask when they’re approaching retirement is perfectly sensible.

“How much money do I need?”

As a Chartered Financial Planner, I’ve spent years helping people answer exactly that question.

https://www.cervellofp.co.uk/2026/07/23/the-three-questions-that-could-change-the-way-you-think-about-retirement-forever/

What if the key to a happier retirement isn’t found by looking ahead but by looking back?

In this episode of What Happens Next, Chartered Financial Planner Chris Daems shares a simple but powerful 30-minute exercise that helps you uncover what truly matters for your next chapter of life. Instead of chasing endless retirement advice, Chris explains why your happiest memories already contain the clues to building a meaningful and fulfilling future.

You’ll learn how to identify the moments when you felt most alive, most proud, and most fulfilled, discover the common themes that connect those experiences, and use those insights to make better decisions about how you spend your time in retirement.

https://whathappensnext.life/podcast/episode-86-your-past-holds-the-key-to-a-better-retirement-try-this-30-minute-exercise/