132: The Search For Purpose and Meaning In Retirement with Tom Pendergast

We all have an idea of what retirement will be like.

But what happens when reality doesn’t match your expectations?

For many, the transition from a structured career to unstructured free time isn’t as easy as it seems.

That’s exactly what happened to Tom Pendergast.

Tom is a retired professional who found himself facing an unexpected challenge: boredom

In this episode, Tom reveals his personal journey through the human side of retirement—the identity shifts, the search for purpose, and the unexpected struggles that come with it.

You’ll Learn: 

• Why Tom’s initial idea of retirement didn’t match the reality
• The challenges of shedding a career identity and finding a new purpose
• Experiments Tom tried to create a more meaningful retirement
• The role a financial advisor can play in easing the transition

*To sign up for Brendan’s newsletter packed with resources to master the human side of advice → Click Here

Resources:

• 45: Designing A Discovery Process To Maximize Return On Life with Mitch Anthony
• 120: The Three Cornerstones of a Happy And Fulfilling Retirement with Michael Finke

Connect with Brendan Frazier: 

• RFG Advisory
• LinkedIn: Brendan Frazier

Connect with Tom Pendergast: 

• Substack: Tom Pendergast
• LinkedIn: Tom Pendergast

About Our Guest: 

Tom Pendergast is a writer and editor with eclectic interests, including cars, birds, outdoor exploration, baking, cybersecurity, and privacy. He often jokes that he’s no longer fit for corporate work, but his career has included serving as the Chief Learning Officer at MediaPRO, a cybersecurity and privacy education company. Before that, he founded and ran Full Circle Editorial, a book packaging company, with his wife, Sara. During that time, he authored and edited two dozen books and countless articles. He also served on the local school board and remains interested in local politics.

He lives in Snohomish, Washington, with his wife, artist Sara Pendergast. They have two grown children and a close-knit circle of friends. Together, they enjoy hiking, racing cars, drinking beer, gardening, watching birds, and making the most of life.

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