FAQ
Preferment course FAQ
Last updated: November 2026. Published by Rarified Life.
Here are plain answers to 44 common questions about the Preferment life after career course, its cost, how it works, and retirement coaching in general.
What is the Preferment course, in one answer?
Preferment is Rarified Life's live 8-week life after career course, led by Anne van Leynseele, that helps high achievers redesign life after 50 around their values. Start with the free webinar, then book a 40-minute Breakthrough Session or enroll. See the course overview.
What the Preferment course is
- What is a life after career course?
- A life after career course is a structured program that helps you plan who you will be and how you will spend your days once full-time work ends. The Preferment course from Rarified Life does this in eight weekly live sessions, focusing on identity, motivation, values, and daily structure rather than money or job skills.
- What is Preferment?
- Preferment is the Rarified Life framework for redesigning life after 50 as an active, purpose-driven alternative to traditional retirement. It helps you align future plans with your personal values and build meaningful pursuits beyond your career. It is taught as a live 8-week course with Anne van Leynseele and is built on her book of the same name.
- Is Preferment a retirement coaching course?
- Yes, for people going through the transition themselves. Preferment is a live, guided course led by Anne van Leynseele for high achievers leaving their careers. It is not a certification for coaches. If your goal is to become a retirement coach, a coach certification program is the better fit, and our comparison page explains the difference.
- Is the Preferment course live or self-paced?
- The course is live. It includes eight weekly live sessions with Anne van Leynseele. Between sessions you complete the homework built into the Preferment book, so each week builds on the last. The Rarified Life course page does not describe a self-paced version.
- What does research-backed mean for Preferment?
- Rarified Life describes Preferment as a research-backed approach to redesigning life after 50. The course page does not list the specific studies behind each module. If you want the sources for a particular part of the framework, ask Rarified Life directly through its contact page before you enroll.
- Is the course about money or investments?
- No. Preferment focuses on identity, motivation, values, and the routine you will actually live. Retirement coaching in general addresses identity, purpose, and relationships, not just money, according to lifecoachingcertification.net. For investment and income questions, keep working with a licensed financial professional.
Pricing and what is included
- How much does the Preferment course cost?
- The Rarified Life course page describes the investment as $3,000 for eight weekly live sessions with Anne, the book, and the guided homework. The store listing on that same page shows $6,000.00, so confirm the current price on the enrollment page before you check out.
- What is included in the course price?
- You get eight weekly live sessions with Anne van Leynseele, the Preferment book as your companion text and workbook, and the homework exercises built into the book. Rarified Life describes it as a structured path rather than a self-help pep talk, with each week building on the one before.
- How does the course price compare with hiring a retirement coach?
- Retirement coaches typically charge $150 to $300 per session, according to lifecoachingcertification.net. At those rates, eight one-on-one sessions would cost $1,200 to $2,400. Preferment is a structured course with a book and fixed curriculum, so it is a different format rather than a like-for-like substitute.
- Is the Preferment webinar free?
- Yes. Rarified Life offers a free presentation described as being for accomplished women in their 50s and 60s who are nearing or in retirement. It walks through the 5-step plan behind the course. You can register for it at rarifiedlife.com/registration.
- Can I talk to someone before I enroll?
- Yes. Rarified Life offers a 40-minute Breakthrough Session that you book on its online calendar at rarifiedlife.com/book. It is a good place to ask whether the course fits your situation. Check the booking page for current times and details before you schedule.
- Does Rarified Life offer refunds on the course?
- Refund terms are not described on the course page. Read the Terms of Service on rarifiedlife.com, or ask through the Rarified Life contact page before you enroll, so you know the policy that applies to your purchase.
How the course works
- How long is the Preferment course?
- The course runs for eight weeks, with one live session each week. Across those weeks you work through six modules: Introduction, Identity, Motivation, Alignment, Accountability, and Launch. Homework from the book happens between sessions.
- What are the six Preferment modules?
- The modules are Introduction, Identity, Motivation, Alignment, Accountability, and Launch. They move from understanding where you are now, to separating who you are from your job, to finding what moves you, matching values to daily life, building structure, and finally naming your mission for the next chapter.
- How much homework is there?
- Homework is built into the Preferment book and done between sessions. Rarified Life calls it real exercises, not busywork. The course page does not state a number of hours, so plan regular time each week and ask about expected effort in a Breakthrough Session if your schedule is tight.
- Do I need to read the book before the first session?
- No. The book is included with the course, and the live sessions work through Preferment chapter by chapter. You read and complete the exercises as you go, so the reading and the conversation stay in step.
- What happens at the end of the course?
- The final module is Launch. In it you name your mission for this next chapter and step into it. The goal is a lived routine and a clear answer to "So, what do you do?" that does not start with "I used to."
- What is the Breakthrough Session?
- The Breakthrough Session is a 40-minute call with Rarified Life that you schedule on its online calendar. Use it to talk through where you are in your transition and whether the 8-week Preferment course is the right next step for you.
- Who teaches the Preferment course?
- Anne van Leynseele, the founder of Rarified Life and author of the Preferment book, leads all eight live sessions. She built and sold a Los Angeles production company, advised Fortune 100 companies on digital strategy, and served as an Attorney Advisor in the Obama Administration.
Who it is for
- Who is the Preferment course for?
- Preferment is for high achievers and driven people who are leaving or have left a demanding career and do not want retirement to feel like an ending. It suits people who built a reputation and identity through work and now want an active, purpose-driven next chapter.
- Do I have to be retired to join?
- No. Rarified Life says you can start this work even if your last day at work is still years away and even if you are still working full time. Starting before you leave gives you time to test new routines while your work structure is still in place.
- Is Preferment only for women?
- The free webinar is specifically described as being for accomplished women in their 50s and 60s who are nearing or in retirement. The course page itself speaks to driven people in general. If you are unsure whether a cohort fits you, ask through the Rarified Life contact page.
- What if my whole identity was my work?
- That is the situation Preferment is designed for. The Identity module focuses on separating who you are from what you did for a living. Rarified Life describes the program as working even if your entire identity has been wrapped up in your work.
- I have no direction in life at 50. Can this course help?
- It can give you a structure for finding one. Preferment moves through Motivation, to find what actually moves you now, and Alignment, to match your values and strengths to how you spend your days. It ends with a named mission rather than a vague hope.
- Is it too late to start life over after 50?
- Preferment is built on the view that it is not. Anne van Leynseele has lived four career reinventions, across film and television, digital strategy, law, and farming. The course treats the years after 50 as an ascension rather than a wind-down.
- What if I was pushed into retirement earlier than planned?
- You are not alone. As many as 50% of people are pushed to retire sooner than planned, according to retirementlifeplan.com. An unplanned exit can make the identity gap feel sharper, which is why Preferment starts with where you are right now before moving to what comes next.
Compared to alternatives
- What is the difference between a retirement coach and a financial planner?
- A financial planner focuses on money: savings, income, and investments. A retirement coach focuses on identity, purpose, and relationships, according to lifecoachingcertification.net. Many people need both. Preferment covers the coaching side and does not give financial advice.
- Is a course better than one-on-one retirement coaching?
- It depends on what you need. A course like Preferment gives you a fixed eight-week structure, a book, and a defined end point. One-on-one coaching is open-ended and tailored session by session. Rarified Life lists one-on-one coaching as coming soon, so the course is its current coaching offer.
- How is Preferment different from a retirement coach certification?
- Preferment is for your own transition. A certification trains coaches to serve retirees. For example, the Retirement Life Coach Certification lists a total investment of $1,250 and is approved by the International Coaching Federation for 15 hours of Continuing Coach Education, according to retirementlifeplan.com.
- How is this different from a career-change course?
- Career-change and career-break courses teach job skills so you can return to paid work. Preferment is about life beyond a career: who you are without the title, what motivates you now, and how you will spend your days. Some graduates may choose new work, but job training is not the course content.
- What career should I go after once my main career ends?
- Preferment does not hand you a job title, but it helps you work out the answer. The Motivation module looks at what moves you once a paycheck is not the reason, and Alignment matches your values and strengths to your days. Whatever you choose, paid or unpaid, should come out of that work.
- Which course is best to get a job easily?
- If your goal is a quick return to employment, a short job-oriented training program is the better fit, and the right one depends on employer demand where you live. Preferment is not job training. It is for people who want to design a purposeful life after their career, with or without a new job.
Getting started
- What is the first step toward joining Preferment?
- Start with the free webinar at rarifiedlife.com/registration. It explains the 5-step plan behind the course. If it resonates, book a 40-minute Breakthrough Session, then enroll in the 8-week live course on the Rarified Life course page.
- How do I enroll in the Preferment course?
- Enroll on the Preferment course page at rarifiedlife.com, where you can add the course to your cart and check out. Confirm the listed price there, since the page shows both a $3,000 investment description and a $6,000.00 store price.
- How do I contact Rarified Life?
- Use the contact page at rarifiedlife.com/contact-7521. Rarified Life also lists Hello@rarifiedlife.com as an email address. For questions about whether the course fits you, the 40-minute Breakthrough Session is another direct route.
- Where is Rarified Life based?
- Rarified Life lists Edmonds, Washington, and a mailing address at PO Box 1174, Captain Cook, Hawaii 96704. The course page does not say whether live sessions are held online or in person, so confirm the format when you enroll.
- When does the next Preferment course start?
- Start dates are not published on the course page. Ask through the Rarified Life contact page or during a Breakthrough Session to find out when the next group of eight weekly sessions begins.
- Can I start Preferment while still working full time?
- Yes. Rarified Life says you can do this work without slowing down, without waiting for retirement day, and even while still working full time. The weekly rhythm of one live session plus homework is designed to fit around an existing schedule.
Retirement transition questions
- Why do some people struggle after retiring?
- Losing work can mean losing identity, structure, and social contact at once. A meta-analysis found 28% of retirees experience depression, with a 40% spike in self-reported depression during the first years after retiring, as cited by lifecoachingcertification.net from PMC (2020/2022). If you are struggling, talk to a medical professional as well.
- What questions should I ask a retirement coach before hiring one?
- Ask what they focus on, what format and length they use, what it costs, what homework is involved, and what you will have at the end. For Preferment the answers are: identity and purpose, eight weekly live sessions, a $3,000 published investment, homework from the book, and a named mission.
- What is the best retirement advice from retirees?
- Rarified Life has not published a survey of retirees. One Preferment participant quoted on rarifiedlife.com said they spent a few years wandering "like a goldfish in a bowl" and learned to "be" rather than just "do" on autopilot. That shift from doing to being runs through the course.
- Is retirement coaching becoming more common?
- Yes. Retirement coaching demand has seen a 30% uptick as baby boomers retire, according to lifecoachingcertification.net, with coaches addressing identity, purpose, and relationships rather than just money. Group workshops and encore career programs are part of that growth.
- What happens if I miss a live session?
- The course page does not describe a policy for missed sessions or recordings. Because the course follows the book chapter by chapter, you can keep up with the reading and exercises. Ask Rarified Life about recordings before you enroll if you expect to miss a week.
- What does a retirement transition coach actually do?
- A retirement transition coach helps you rebuild identity, purpose, relationships, and routine as you leave full-time work. In Preferment, Anne van Leynseele does this through structured weekly sessions, moving from Identity and Motivation to Alignment, Accountability, and a final Launch.
Start with the free webinar
See the 5-step plan behind Preferment first. Then book a 40-minute Breakthrough Session or enroll in the 8-week course when you are ready.