Join us for the RCA's 10th Annual Conference, September 15-17, 2026
Celebrating a decade of "Modernizing Retirement"
This year marks a special moment in our journey—the 10th Annual Retirement Coaches Association Conference! Since it's launch, retirement coaches, thought leaders, financial professionals, wellness experts, and industry innovators have come together to shape the future of retirement coaching. What began as a vision to elevate the profession has grown into a thriving community dedicated to helping individuals navigate retirement with purpose, confidence, and fulfillment.
Meet our impressive line-up of speakers. These respected thought leaders will provide fresh perspective and insights on the Retirement Coaching industry, and beyond. Learn more...
Breaking Free: From Mob Life to a Life of Purpose Michael Franzese is a former caporegime in the Colombo crime family who became one of the most well-known figures associated with organized crime in America. After rising to prominence in the 1980s, Michael ultimately left the mob life behind following a powerful Christian conversion experience. Today, he is a motivational speaker, author, and faith-based communicator who shares his story of redemption, personal transformation, and the impact of faith on his life. Through his speaking engagements, books, and media appearances, Michael encourages audiences with a message of hope, second chances, and purpose.
More Information: https://michaelfranzese.com/
The Joyspan Effect Gerontologist, Dr. Kerry Burnight, is sparking a global revolution to make older better. Fed up with the fear-driven, anti-aging hysteria, millions of people turn to “Dr. Kerry” for her proven approach to navigating longevity. Her New York Times best-selling book, Joyspan: The Art and Science of Thriving in Life's Second Half is for anyone who is aging - and we are ALL aging. The key to aging well isn’t just the length of your life, it’s the quality of your life. Efforts to maximize lifespan and even healthspan don’t address the whole picture. Longevity doesn't mean much if you don’t like your life. Burnight introduces the critical concept, joyspan based on the science of well-being, connection, meaning, growth, choice, and purpose. Dr. Burnight teaches at the University of Chicago and her work has been featured in The New York Times, CBS Mornings, TIME, The Guardian, Oprah Daily, BBC News, and Forbes Health.
Functional Fitness: Everyday insights for Physical Well Being Mary Vance is a nutritionist, respected health coach, Licensed Massage Therapist, and founder of Mary Vance Lifestyle, LLC. She is passionate about helping people achieve healthy aging through practical lifestyle habits that support energy, vitality, and longevity. After struggling with obesity, chronic inflammation, and poor health in her late 20s, Mary transformed her life, losing more than 100 pounds and maintaining that success for over 15 years. Today, she helps others build sustainable habits through her four pillars of wellness: Hydration, Nutrition, Movement, and Rest. Mary holds a degree in Human Nutrition Sciences from Eastern Michigan University and has spent decades studying health and wellness. She also leads wellness retreats designed to help participants reset their routines, establish healthy habits, and create a strong foundation for lasting lifestyle change. Her philosophy is simple: Keep it Simple, Focus on What You Can Do, and Build Your Team.
More Information: https://www.maryvancelifestyle.com/
Trends and Tools for Solo Agers Dr. Jay Zigmont, PhD, MBA, CFP®, is a TEDx speaker, cultural economist, and the leading expert on the Childfree Economy—the multi-trillion-dollar economic and social shift driven by the 25% of Americans without children. He is the founder of Childfree Wealth® and Childfree Trust® Childfree Wealth® is an SEC RIA dedicated to serving Childfree people. Childfree Trust® enables Childfree people to appoint a trust company to serve as their medical POA, financial POA, executor and trustee, effectively acting as their next of kin. Dr. Jay is the author of the books “Portraits of Childfree Wealth” and “The Childfree Guide to Life and Money.” Dr Jay is the co-host of the Childfree Wealth podcast. His Ph.D. is in Adult Learning from the University of Connecticut
More Information: https://childfreewealth.com/
Trends and Tools for Solo Agers Dr. Sara Zeff Geber, PhD, is an author and keynote speaker. Over the past 10 years, Sara has developed a niche specialty talking about the challenges of “Solo Agers,” people who have no children or who are aging alone with no support from nearby family. Dr. Geber is the author of Essential Retirement Planning for Solo Agers: A Retirement and Aging Roadmap for Single and Childless Adults (Mango Press, 2018) which was selected that year as a “best book on aging well” by the Wall Street Journal. Also in 2018, Sara was named an “Influencer in Aging” by the editorial team at NextAvenue, a digital journalism publication produced by PBS. In 2025, Sara took on the role of senior advisor for Childfree Trust, a company devoted to robust estate planning for people without children. Though married, Sara considers herself a Solo Ager, since she has no children. She lives with her husband and pooch in Santa Rosa, California.
More Information: https://sarazeffgeber.com/
Topics: The Role of Faith and Spirituality in Retirement and Exploring the Role of Grief, Grieving, and Loss Around Retirement Dr. Don Eisenhauer, MCC, is the founder of Coaching at End of Life, LLC. He is a pastor and a Master Certified Coach (accredited by the International Coach Federation). He is the author of the books Coaching at End of Life and Coach Yourself Through Grief. Don has a passion to help people live fully until they die. He enjoys teaching and equipping coaches, hospice workers, funeral directors, clergy, friends and family members to better support and care for the dying and grieving in their midst. Experiencing loss is an inevitable part of living in this world. Whether it is the death of a loved one or a pet, the loss of a job, relationship, or other life transitions, grief is a reality. The journey of grief is not one to walk alone.
More Information: https://coachingatendoflife.com/
The Role of Faith and Spirituality in Retirement Rabbi Lewis H. Kamrass is the Rabbi Emeritus of Isaac M. Wise Temple of Cincinnati, Ohio, a synagogue of 1,000 families, where he has spent his entire rabbinate of forty years. He held leadership positions in the national Reform movement including having served as President of the Central Conference of American Rabbis and served for many years on the boards of the CCAR, the Hebrew Union College, and the Union for Reform Judaism. Locally, he served on many Jewish, social service, and civic boards and in leadership positions and has been active in local social action endeavors including establishing synagogue and Jewish community involvement in soup kitchens and homeless shelters. He also taught for 25 years as an Instructor in the Theology Department of Xavier University and as adjunct faculty at Hebrew Union College. Rabbi Kamrass received his BA in Sociology and Psychology from the University of Georgia and his MHL, Rabbinic Ordination and Doctor of Divinity degrees from Hebrew Union College.
More Information: https://www.wisetemple.org/about/staff-and-leadership/our-rabbis/
Navigating Blended Families in Retirement Brian K. Peterson is a husband, dad, stepdad, financial planner, and Amazon best- selling author of Blended Family Finances: How to Talk About Money, Plan for the Future, and Build a Life You Love. He is the founder of Blended Family Financial, where he helps blended and stepfamily couples move from financial tension and uncertainty to greater clarity, alignment, and confidence. Through his Planning Built for Life® process, Brian helps couples have healthier conversations about money and make financial decisions that support the life they want to build together. As someone who grew up in and now lives in a blended family, Brian brings both personal experience and professional insight to the unique opportunities and challenges these families face.
More Information: https://www.blendedfamilyfinancial.com/
Sudden, Unexpected, and Shifting Purpose International bestselling author, coach, and keynote speaker, Richard Leider is widely viewed as a pioneer of the global purpose movement, his work is featured regularly in many media sources. His PBS Special – The Power of Purpose – was viewed by millions across the globe. He has written twelve books, including three best sellers The Power of Purpose 4th edition, Repacking Your Bags and Who Do You Want to Be When You Grow Old, which have sold over one million copies. The Power of Purpose (4th edition) is considered a classic in the personal growth field. He is the creator of the CALLING CARDS method helping millions worldwide discover their authentic purpose. Richard is the founder of Inventure – The Purpose Company, a firm created to guiding individuals to live, work, and lead on purpose. He is ranked by Forbes as one of the “Top 5” most respected coaches and by the Conference Board as a “legend in coaching.”
More Information: https://richardleider.com/
Understanding the Aging Ear and Hearing Loss Gabriel Corfas directs the Kresge Hearing Research Institute and serves as Associate Chair for Research in the Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery at the University of Michigan. Trained at the University of Buenos Aires and the Weizmann Institute of Science, he conducted postdoctoral research at Washington University and Harvard Medical School, where he helped identify and characterize the growth factor Neuregulin 1, a milestone in our understanding of neural signaling. He spent two decades on the faculty of Harvard Medical School and Boston Children's Hospital, rising to Professor of Neurology and Otolaryngology at BCH. Is the scientific co-founder of Decibel Therapeutics, a company that pioneered gene therapy approaches to treating hearing loss. Dr. Corfas' laboratory investigates how the nervous system develops, degenerates, and regenerates, with a focus on the biology of hearing loss. His work has been recognized with awards from the Klingenstein Foundation, the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, EJLB, and NARSAD, and he is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
More Information: https://corfas.lab.medicine.umich.edu/people
Finding Your Edge: How RCA Coaches Succeed in Niche Markets Session 2 Pete Finlon is known as a retirement, transition and longevity coach, specializing in helping individuals prepare for retirement life chapter challenges and events. He provides guidance on various aspects of retirement planning including potential emotional pitfalls, lifestyle changes and personal development. His approach often involves addressing the psychological and emotional transitions that come with retiring, ensuring that clients are equipped to navigate this significant life change successfully. Pete comes from a diverse background of military, (Marine Corps officer) healthcare, founder of a non-profit organization, board member of the Seattle Sports Commission as well as coaching various levels of basketball. Pete has published articles at Rethinking65 as well as Boomingencore.com. He is active in the RCA and other industry leadership groups. Pete was the recipient of the RCA’s “Retirement Catalyst Award” in 2021 and currently works with the NBA, WNBA and Harlem Globetrotters Retired Players Association as a transition coach consultant and program developer.
Finding Your Edge: How RCA Coaches Succeed in Niche Markets Session 1 David Conti, CBDA, CPRC, is a retirement columnist and Certified Professional Retirement Coach who writes about life after work, personal growth in retirement, longevity, and purposeful money decisions. He formerly served Fidelity Investments as Retirement & Personal Finance Editor, reaching millions of customers every week. He currently writes for Barrons, MarketWatch, Kiplinger, and Advisorpedia and for several wealth management firms. David blends research-driven guidance with human-centered storytelling, helping readers and clients navigate money, mindset, identity, and the new retirement reality. He is the creator of the Retirement Fear Index and founder of RetireMentors a retirement coaching and consulting firm in Hampton Falls, NH. He is a graduate of Boston College School of Management.
More Information: https://retirementors.net/
Finding Your Edge: How RCA Coaches Succeed in Niche Markets Session 1 Caroline Francis, Ed.S., Director of Alumni Career Services at the University of Kentucky, is a Certified Professional Retirement Coach (CPRC) and career development professional with more than 25 years of experience helping adults navigate career and life transitions. In her role at UK, she works with individual clients, develops career-related programming, writes for UK Alumni publications, and speaks at local, regional, and national conferences. Caroline holds Ed.S., M.S., and B.B.A. degrees from the University of Kentucky and is a proud Life Member of the UK Alumni Association. She was the first person in Kentucky to earn the CPRC credential and helps clients prepare for successful transitions into retirement, including exploring the role work may continue to play in this next chapter. She is also certified to administer the Retirement Intelligence (RQ) Assessment and was recently honored with the Retirement Coaches Association’s Catalyst Award. Caroline remains active in her community through several professional, civic, and faith-based organizations.
More Information: https://philanthropy.uky.edu/node/235
Finding Your Edge: How RCA Coaches Succeed in Niche Markets Session 2 Susan Latremoille helps financial professionals, business owners, and their clients navigate the personal side of major life and career transitions. Her work focuses on the human dynamics often overlooked in traditional planning, including identity, purpose, lifestyle, and readiness for change. After a successful 38-year career as a financial advisor with firms including Merrill Lynch, RBC, and Richardson Wealth, Susan sold her practice in 2019 and turned her attention to helping others prepare for life beyond a business or career. Susan is Co-Founder and Partner at Next Chapter Lifestyle Advisors and serves on the faculty of the Exit Planning Institute’s Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA®) Program, where she champions the importance of integrating personal planning with financial and business strategies. She is a Family Enterprise Advisor (FEA), Certified Professional Retirement Coach (CPRC), CEPA®, and ICD.D, and holds an Executive MBA. Susan is also an accomplished author whose books explore business transition, retirement, legacy, and living well.
More Information: https://nextchapterlifestyleadvisors.com/
Finding Your Edge: How RCA Coaches Succeed in Niche Markets Session 2 Marianne Oehser partners with exit planners and financial advisors to help clients prepare for what comes next beyond a business or career. Her work focuses on the personal side of transition, including the emotional, relational, and identity shifts often overlooked in traditional planning. She also works directly with individuals and couples to strengthen communication, clarify goals, and create fulfilling next chapters. Marianne is Co-Founder and Partner at Next Chapter Lifestyle Advisors and serves on the faculty of the Exit Planning Institute’s Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA®) Program, where she teaches the importance of integrating personal planning into the exit process. She is a Certified Professional Retirement Coach (CPRC) and is also certified in relationship coaching. Before entering coaching, Marianne held senior marketing roles, built a niche company into a market leader, and ran a successful consulting practice. She holds a Master’s in Management from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management and is the author of Your Happiness Portfolio® for Retirement: It’s Not About the Money.
More Information: https://nextchapterlifestyleadvisors.com/
Finding Your Edge: How RCA Coaches Succeed in Niche Markets Session 1 Reid Stone is the founder of My Life’s Encore and creator of the MLE Longevity Network, a curated platform connecting individuals with resources for the journey through the second half of life. With more than 20 years of experience in financial services, his work explores how financial advisors, retirement coaches, and other professionals can incorporate longevity planning into their work and build networks of resources that help clients prepare not only financially for longer lives, but also for the personal decisions, transitions, and opportunities those additional years can bring.
More Information: https://www.mlelongevitynetwork.solutions/home
State of the Industry: Modernizing Retirement for The Next Decade and The Insider's Edge Robert Laura is a pioneer in the psychology and social science of retirement and legacy planning. He is a seven-time best-selling author and is the founder of the Retirement Coaches Association, Certified Professional Retirement Coach Designation and Retirement Intelligence Assessment. His work has reached millions of readers through eight books, twelve guides, and over 900 articles. In addition to his own writings, he frequently appears in major business media outlets such as the Wall Street Journal, USA Today, CNBC, MarketWatch, the New York Times, and more. He is considered a leading authority and thought-leader on retirement wellness, psychology of retirement, legacy planning, and motivational longevity. Robert has been speaking and teaching financial and non-financial retirement and legacy based programs for over 25 years.
More Information: https://robertlaura.com
Celebrate 10 Years of Impact with our VIP Conference Ticket!
Experience every moment of the Retirement Coaches Association's 10th Annual Conference while enjoying exclusive VIP benefits. Including: