Let's Retire Retirement: How to Enjoy Life to the Fullest―Now and Later

by Derek Coburn, Sara Stibitz

Stop postponing the life you want. Start living more fully today.

#1 USA Today Bestseller

You weren’t put on this earth to work a job you hate for 30 years just to earn the right to stop living for the next 30.

Yet that’s the deal most of us accept: work hard, sacrifice now, save aggressively and one day (at 65)...you’ll finally live the life you want.

But what if that future never looks the way you imagined? Your health may not cooperate. The relationships you’ve neglected may not be there waiting. The life you keep deferring has a way of not showing up on schedule.

Veteran financial advisor and CADRE co-founder Derek Coburn has a provocative, data-backed case for rethinking retirement entirely and instead building a life you won’t want to escape from.

This isn’t about working forever. It’s about designing a life so fulfilling and aligned with what matters most that you never feel the need to walk away from it.
Here’s what changes everything: when you plan to do meaningful work longer—because you want to, not because you have to—the pressure to save extreme amounts today drops. You reclaim cash flow. You reclaim time. And instead of hoarding life for a future version of yourself, you start living now.

Present fulfillment and future financial security aren’t in conflict. They never were.

Inside, you’ll discover:

*Why traditional retirement planning relies on flawed assumptions
*How working longer on your terms can unlock more freedom today
*The financial strategies (and hidden tax traps) most long-term earners miss
*Alternatives to retirement: mini-retirements, sabbaticals, career pivots, and “unretirement”
*How to stop sacrificing the moments you’ll wish you could relive

Learn how to have more fun in life—without guilt, delay, or waiting for permission from the future.

"Captures what so many of us have felt but struggled to articulate." — Daniel H. Pink

"A generous, actionable, and useful book." — Seth Godin

This isn’t a book about working until you die.
It’s about living fully—now and later.

Genres: Nonfiction

232 pages, Paperback

Published June 3, 2025

About the author

Derek Coburn is a financial advisor with 27 years of experience. His passion for connecting remarkable professionals led him, along with his wife, Melanie, to start CADRE, a professional community for CEOs and entrepreneurs. He is the USA Today bestselling author of Let's Retire Retirement and the #1 Amazon bestseller, Networking Is Not Working.

Reviews

[Deborah Palmer · Rating 2 out of 5]

you'll probably like this book if you've already found your calling.

[Brooke Watton · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't realise this book was about *not* retiring until you're 75, basically. I'm not the target audience as I want to retire as early as I can, but I also struggle to see the audience for this book. If someone can't afford to retire early, they will keep working regardless and don't need to read this book for guidance. I also think that people who are interested in and research retiring will stubble across this book, not someone who is unable to retire at 65, as I'm sure they have other thoughts. I had a good laugh at him saying we should plan to live to 95, especially when in the UK average life expectancy is 81, and in the USA (where the author is from), it's even lower at 79.
There were parts I enjoyed, such as encouraging people to try to enjoy life right now and focusing on health and relationships, but overall, it was a bit of a pointless book.

[Chris Yoko · Rating 5 out of 5]

The world is clearly different than it was a generation or two ago, yet we all seem to hold on to certain mantras and beliefs from those times that no longer apply.

This book does a great job calling out the societially (and self) imposed rat race of retirement, and encourages us to take a longer, more active lens on our lives, to encourage us to live more in the now, and, by doing so, build a better foundation and habits for us to continue to enjoy our lives into the future.

[Walter S · Rating 5 out of 5]

I expected this to focus heavily on investment strategies, but it goes much deeper. Yes, finances matter, but the bigger message is about identity and fulfillment. Coburn explores what happens when people retire without a plan for meaning, and that part really stuck with me. The examples feel relatable, especially for driven professionals. It’s thoughtful without being heavy. A refreshing perspective on long-term planning.

[Cathy S · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book feels written for people who don’t hate their jobs but want more flexibility. Coburn encourages designing work and life in a way that evolves instead of abruptly ending. I appreciated the focus on relationships, community, and purpose, not just savings goals. It challenges the traditional “work hard now, live later” mindset. The writing is clear and easy to follow. I found myself nodding along more than once.

[Emily Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

There’s a lot of wisdom packed into these pages. Coburn doesn’t just critique retirement, he offers alternatives that make sense in today’s world. The idea of creating optionality rather than aiming for a hard stop really stood out to me. It feels especially relevant for entrepreneurs and business owners. The book balances mindset and strategy really well. It left me with real questions about how I want to structure my future.

[Reed K · Rating 5 out of 5]

What I enjoyed most is the idea that freedom doesn’t require a dramatic finish line. Coburn suggests building flexibility into your life now instead of waiting decades. That shift in thinking feels empowering. The book blends financial insight with personal development in a very accessible way. It’s easy to read but lingers in your mind afterward. Definitely a worthwhile read if you’re questioning the traditional retirement path.

[Gabi Y · Rating 5 out of 5]

Traditional retirement advice can feel outdated, and this book addresses that head-on. Coburn makes a compelling argument that life expectancy and career paths have changed, so our plans should too. I liked the focus on staying engaged and connected rather than withdrawing. The tone is encouraging without being overly idealistic. It’s both motivating and grounded in real-world experience. A smart read for anyone thinking long-term.

[Alexander S · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book completely flipped how I think about retirement. Instead of counting down the years until you stop working, Derek Coburn challenges the whole concept and asks what you actually want your life to look like. I appreciated how practical and grounded his advice feels, it’s not just philosophy, it’s actionable. He makes a strong case for building a life you don’t need to escape from. It felt less like a lecture and more like a thoughtful conversation. Definitely eye-opening.