Our approach
How this site is written
Last updated: November 2026
How does Rarified Life decide what to say on this site?
Rarified Life writes this site from its own published program details and from cited public sources, and it does not state anything it cannot support.
Every page is written by Rarified Life, the business that offers the Preferment course. We say that openly because it matters when you read a comparison or a price. The rules below explain how facts, numbers and recommendations are handled across the site.
New here? Start with the Rarified Life retirement coach overview, then come back to this page.
The rules we follow
Program facts come from Rarified Life
Course length, modules, inclusions and pricing are taken from the Rarified Life course page and dated, because they can change.
Market numbers are cited
Every outside figure names its source and keeps its original range and conditions. We never present an outside figure as our own.
Discrepancies are shown, not hidden
Where our own pages disagree, as with the two Preferment price figures, we show both and point you to the source.
Comparisons use the same criteria
Every option is judged on the same points. Rarified Life may appear first because it publishes the page, but that does not change the evidence.
No invented proof
We quote only feedback Rarified Life has published, and we do not claim results, credentials or reviews that are not supplied.
How recommendations are formed
When this site suggests a next step, it is matched to the situation described: a financial planner for money questions, a licensed clinician for persistent low mood, and retirement coaching for questions of identity, purpose and structure. We would rather point you elsewhere than suggest the Preferment course where it does not fit. See this applied in our comparison.
Sources we rely on
Outside sources include AARP for published coaching rates, EBRI for retirement confidence and caregiving data, and the Financial Planning Association journal for research on planning. The full list is on retirement coaching by the numbers.
How pages are kept current
Each page shows a “Last updated” date near the top. We change that date only when the content of the page actually changes, and prices are always stated with an “as of” date.
Common questions
- What does research-informed mean for Preferment?
- Rarified Life describes Preferment as research-informed. The site does not list the specific studies behind each module, so if sources matter to you, ask Rarified Life through its website. Published studies on retirement do show why the non-financial side matters, and several are collected with their sources on our by-the-numbers page.
- How much does the Preferment course cost?
- As of November 2026, the Preferment course page on rarifiedlife.com lists a price of $6,000.00, while the investment section on the same page describes $3,000 for eight weekly live sessions with Anne, the book and guided homework. Because the page shows both figures, confirm the current price on the course page before enrolling.
- What questions should I ask a retirement coach?
- Ask about format, length, price and focus. Is it one-on-one or group? How many sessions, over how long? What exactly is included? What framework do you use? Does it cover identity and purpose, or mainly logistics? What happens between sessions? Ask Rarified Life the same questions you would ask anyone else.
- What about retirement coaching associations and directories?
- Associations such as the Retirement Coaches Association maintain directories where you can search for a retirement coach near you. They are useful for comparing many coaches at once. Rarified Life is a single program; compare it with directory listings using the same criteria: format, length, price and focus.
- How is Preferment different from other retirement coaching programs?
- Preferment reframes retirement as an ascension rather than an ending, and teaches it through a book-based, eight-week live course with set homework. It is led by Anne van Leynseele, whose own path includes four career reinventions. Other programs use different frameworks and formats, so compare structure, length and price on the same terms.
A good next step
The free Rarified Life presentation walks through a 5-step plan for replacing the “what now?” feeling about retirement. It is made for accomplished women in their 50s and 60s who are nearing or in retirement, and you can watch it after a short registration.