In this episode of Leading You, Julie Hyde sits down with financial advisor and retirement strategist Jenny Brown to challenge the way we think about retirement.

Because for most people, retirement has been framed as an end point. Work hard, build your career, save enough… then stop. But what happens after that?

Jenny brings over 30 years of experience to this conversation, along with insights from her book Retirement: The Great Escape Plan, and what becomes clear very quickly is this… retirement planning is not just about money. It’s about how you want to live.

Together, they unpack the biggest mistake people make when planning for retirement, why starting with numbers can lead you in the wrong direction, and how to shift your thinking towards purpose, identity and lifestyle.

This conversation explores:

• Why retirement is a transition, not a finish line
• The importance of designing your life before you design your finances
• The four stages of retirement and what to expect at each phase
• The identity shift that comes when work is no longer your anchor
• Why structure, connection and meaning matter more than you think
• The reality of aged care and why it requires early awareness, not reactive decisions

If you’re in your 40s, 50s or beyond, this episode will challenge how you think about retirement and give you a more intentional way to approach what comes next.

Because retirement isn’t something you drift into. It’s something you design.

Episode Timestamps

00:00 Aged Care Minefield
00:39 Meet Jenny Brown
01:46 Why She Wrote the Book
04:04 The Four Stages of Retirement
08:53 Aged Care Reality Check
12:49 Mastermind Break
14:00 Common Retirement Planning Mistakes
16:50 Identity After Work
19:29 Creating Rhythm in Retirement
21:36 Finding Your Financial Freedom Number
23:17 The Retirement Mindset Shift
24:11 Wrap Up and Next Steps

Key Takeaways

• Retirement is not a finish line. It’s a transition that requires intention, not assumption.
• Most people start with the wrong question. Instead of asking “How much do I need?”, start with “What do I want my life to look like?”
• The people who thrive in retirement are not necessarily the wealthiest. They are the ones who have built purpose, connection and structure into their lives.
• Identity plays a bigger role than most realise. When work stops, many people struggle with who they are without it.
• Aged care is one of the most complex and emotional parts of retirement planning. The best decisions come from slowing down, asking questions and understanding your options early.
• If you’re in your 40s or 50s, now is the time to start thinking about your next phase, not just financially, but personally.

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