Karen Grosz publishes retirement guide focused on purpose beyond work

Karen Grosz has released What's Next? Retirement!: The Art of Living Forward, a New York-based guide that shifts the retirement conversation from finances to identity, purpose, and emotional adjustment. The book is aimed at retirees, soon-to-retire workers, and the people who support them as they navigate life after a career.

Why it matters: - Retirement planning often centers on money, but this book argues the harder transition is personal: identity, routine, relationships, and purpose. - The guide is aimed at helping readers avoid treating retirement as an ending and instead see it as a new phase for growth and contribution. - The book targets retirees, people approaching retirement, family members, coaches, and organizations that prepare employees for life after work.

What happened: - Karen Grosz released What's Next? Retirement!: The Art of Living Forward in New York City. - The book is presented as a practical guide for people preparing for retirement or already in it. - Grosz is a seven-time author, leadership catalyst, and founder of the Nexters Community.

The details: - The book addresses identity, relationships, purpose, legacy, and personal fulfillment after a career ends. - Grosz uses personal stories, guided journal prompts, scientific insights, and reflections to help readers navigate the transition. - The book argues for continued growth, learning, and forward momentum after retirement. - Grosz says the book grew out of conversations with people in the Nexters Community who had strong financial plans but little preparation for the emotional side of retirement. - The book is written in a mixed style, with Karen telling the story and Claude adding research in sections labeled “Claude Says.” - Grosz says AI helped build the content architecture. - That disclosure appears in the community’s onboarding materials, course footers, and founding documents. - The book is available at the book link.

Between the lines: - The release reflects a broader shift in retirement content from asset management to life design. - The use of AI in the book’s structure is presented as part of the product’s transparency and method, not just a production tool. - The emphasis on “living intentionally” suggests the book is meant to challenge the idea that staying busy is the same as living well.

What's next: - Grosz is positioning the book as a resource for readers making retirement decisions now and for organizations preparing workers for that transition. - The release invites review-copy requests and interview inquiries, signaling a push for broader media and reader reach. - The book’s core message is that retirement can be a purposeful next chapter rather than a slow exit from relevance.