How Can You Rebrand Yourself in Retirement

What if you left your 9 to 5 to finally start feeling alive?

For decades, our jobs tell us who we are. 

We build careers, titles, and routines that shape our sense of purpose. 

But when the work stops, many people feel like a piece of themselves disappears. 

The structure that once gave life meaning suddenly fades, and they start asking:

Who am I now?

When the Honeymoon Ends

We see this with many clients who imagine retirement as a permanent vacation. 

The first few months feel exciting and free. 

Then the novelty wears off when the calendar empties. 

The purpose that once drove every decision is harder to find.

This is the moment that can feel like hitting a brick wall. 

But it can also be the beginning of something new?

Reinvention Starts With Reflection

The same qualities that built your career can help you redefine it. 

Curiosity, discipline, and creativity don’t retire - they just need a new outlet.

If you feel stuck, start small. 

Grab a pen and write down the answers to a few key questions:

• What truly excites me?

• What have I always wanted to do but put off?

• What experiences in my life can help me move forward?

Once you start naming what matters, purpose begins to take shape again.

Rebrand Your Retirement

We’ve seen one client go from the corporate world to working part-time at Home Depot.

All because they enjoy helping people in a hands-on way. 

Your purpose doesn’t have to become another career. 

It can be:

• Volunteering

• Mentoring

• Teaching

What matters is that it gives you a reason to get up in the morning and feel connected to something meaningful.

The Power of Purpose

Without purpose, people often feel lost or restless. 

It affects your health, relationships, and overall well-being. 

The good news is that purpose is not something you have to search for in faraway places. 

Often, it’s already within you and just needs to be rediscovered.

Rebranding yourself in retirement means letting go of who you were and embracing who you are becoming. 

It’s about looking in the mirror and smiling at the person you see - someone whose value comes not from a job title but from how they choose to live each day.

A New Chapter Awaits

At More Than Money, we talk about this all the time because retirement is not the end of your story - it’s a new chapter that can be more fulfilling than the last.

Join our community of purpose-driven retirees who are redefining what life after work looks like. 

Listen to More Than Money every Saturday on QR Calgary or anytime on morethanmoneyradio.com, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify.

David Popowich and Faisal Karmali are Investment Advisors with CIBC Wood Gundy in Calgary. The views of David Popowich, Faisal Karmali, and guest author do not necessarily reflect those of CIBC World Markets Inc. This information, including any opinion, is based on various sources believed to be reliable, but its accuracy cannot be guaranteed and is subject to change. CIBC Private Wealth consists of services provided by CIBC and certain of its subsidiaries, including CIBC Wood Gundy, a division of CIBC World Markets Inc.