Starting a new chapter after decades in one profession can feel daunting. Yet, it can also bring fresh purpose and joy. After more than 40 years as an actuary, I found myself drawn to an encore career in financial planning. Alongside this, I revived a long-held passion for playing the trumpet in my church orchestra. These experiences taught me how encore careers and avocations can enrich life beyond traditional retirement. Trumpet resting on sheet music in church orchestra Wh

For nearly 40 years, my professional life has been defined by the rigorous math of life insurance. As an Associate of the Society of Actuaries (ASA), I have spent a career in the corporate world, often working behind the scenes to help large companies manage pension terminations or helping the wealthy use sophisticated life insurance structures to shield their assets. While I have appreciated the technical challenges of the field, there was always a disconnect. I saw that the