What is the Preferment course?

Preferment is the live, 8-week course from Rarified Life for life after career, led by founder Anne van Leynseele. Participants work through her book Preferment chapter by chapter in eight weekly live sessions and complete homework built into the book between sessions. It treats retirement as the start of a new chapter rather than an ending.

What does the word Preferment mean here?

Preferment is the name Anne van Leynseele gives to an active, purpose-driven next chapter after a career, used in place of a conventional retirement. The Rarified Life tagline puts it simply: ditch retirement and try Preferment instead. The book describes the core idea as learning the difference between filling hours and fulfilling hours.

Is Preferment a retirement life course or a coaching program?

Preferment is a structured live course rather than individual coaching. Eight weekly sessions with Anne follow her book and six modules, with homework between sessions. Rarified Life lists 1:1 coaching separately as coming soon, so the course is the main way to work through the Preferment framework with Anne today.

Who created the Preferment framework?

Anne van Leynseele, founder of Rarified Life, created the framework and wrote the book the course is built on. Her background includes building and selling a Los Angeles film and television production company, advising Fortune 100 companies on digital strategy across three continents, and serving as an Attorney Advisor in the Obama Administration.

What are the six modules in the course?

The six modules are Introduction, Identity, Motivation, Alignment, Accountability, and Launch. They move from where you are now, to separating who you are from your former job, to finding what moves you, matching values and strengths to your days, building supportive structure, and finally naming your mission for the next chapter.

Is the Preferment framework research-informed?

Rarified Life describes Preferment as a research-informed framework. The back cover of the book describes it as stories, research, and practical lessons defining a modern post-career life platform. The specific studies behind it are not listed on the course listing, so review the book itself if you want to see its sources.

Is Preferment about money or financial planning?

No. Preferment focuses on identity, motivation, values, routine, and purpose after a career, not on investments or retirement income. For financial questions, a licensed financial professional is the right resource. Many people use both: a financial plan for their money, and a course like Preferment for deciding how to spend their time.

What is a life course perspective on retirement?

A life course perspective on retirement treats retirement as one stage in a whole life rather than a finish line. Preferment takes that view. Its book notes that the United States adopted the Social Security Act in 1935, setting 65 as the standard retirement age, and that people can now stay active and healthy for longer.

How much does the Preferment course cost?

The Rarified Life course listing shows a price of $6,000.00, while the Investment section on the same listing states $3,000 for the eight weekly live sessions, the book, and the guided homework. Because the two figures differ, check the current price on the course listing at rarifiedlife.com before you enroll.

What is included in the course price?

The course listing names four things: eight weekly live sessions with Anne van Leynseele, the Preferment book as your companion text and workbook, the homework built into the book, and a structured path in which each week builds on the last. No other inclusions are described on the listing.

Is the book included or sold separately?

The book is included with the course, and the course listing calls it your companion text and workbook. The Rarified Life site currently lists books as coming soon in its shop, so enrolling in the course is the confirmed way to work with the Preferment book today.

Is there a free way to get started?

Yes. Rarified Life offers a free presentation aimed at accomplished women in their 50s and 60s who are nearing or in retirement. It introduces a 5-step plan for replacing the "What now?" feeling many people have about retirement, and it is a low-commitment next step after exploring this site.

How does the cost compare with other retirement coaching?

Prices for retirement coaching vary widely by coach, format, and length, and no single market rate applies. A fair comparison looks at what you get: Preferment includes eight live sessions, a book, and guided homework. When comparing a coach, ask how many sessions are included, how long each runs, and what materials come with it.

Are refunds or payment plans available?

Refund terms and payment plans are not described on the Preferment course listing. Read the Rarified Life terms of service on rarifiedlife.com and review the checkout page for any payment options before you enroll, so you know the conditions that apply to your purchase.

How long is the Preferment course?

The course runs for eight weeks. There is one live session with Anne van Leynseele each week, and each week builds on the one before it. Homework from the book is completed between sessions, so plan for some time outside the live sessions as well as the sessions themselves.

What happens in a weekly live session?

Each live session works through the Preferment book chapter by chapter with Anne. The session is where the material is discussed and the exercises you completed are put to work. The homework between sessions is where you apply the ideas to your own life, so the two halves depend on each other.

What is the homework like?

The homework is built into the book. Rarified Life describes it as real exercises, not busywork, done between sessions. Its purpose is to turn reading into a plan, so by the end of eight weeks you have worked material about your identity, motivation, values, routines, and mission for the next chapter.

How many hours a week does the course take?

Rarified Life does not publish a weekly time estimate for the course. Plan for one live session each week plus time to read that week’s chapter and complete its exercises. Check the course listing on rarifiedlife.com for session details before you enroll so you can fit it around your week.

Are the sessions online or in person?

The course listing describes the sessions as live sessions with Anne but does not state the format or location. Check the Preferment course listing on rarifiedlife.com for format details before enrolling, especially if you travel often or live in a different time zone from the sessions.

Do I need a five-year plan before I start?

No. The course listing says you do not need a five-year plan, you just need a room to start figuring it out in. The first module, Introduction, begins with where you are right now and why the old model of retirement was never built for someone like you.

What do I have at the end of the 8 weeks?

The final module, Launch, focuses on naming your mission for the next chapter and stepping into it. Together with the Accountability module, which builds structure that turns intention into a lived routine, the aim is a daily life shaped by your own values and strengths rather than a list of good intentions.

Can I take the course while I am still working?

Yes. Nothing in the course requires you to be retired. The Rarified Life free presentation speaks directly to people whose last day at work is still years away and encourages starting without waiting for retirement day. Starting early gives you time to test new pursuits while work still provides structure.

Who is the Preferment course for?

According to the course listing, Preferment is for driven people who are done treating retirement like an ending and ready to treat it like an ascension. It suits people who spent decades building a career and a reputation and now have more time than ever, but no clear sense of what that time is for.

Is the course only for women?

The course listing speaks to driven people in general and does not limit enrollment by gender. The Rarified Life free presentation, however, is aimed specifically at accomplished women in their 50s and 60s who are nearing or in retirement, so that is the audience its examples are written for.

I am in my 50s. Is it too early for a retirement life course?

Not according to Rarified Life. Its free presentation speaks to women in their 50s and 60s and says you can start even if your last day at work is still years away. Starting earlier gives you room to explore new roles and interests before your working routine ends.

What if my whole identity is wrapped up in my work?

That is exactly what the Identity module addresses: separating who you are from what you did for a living. One participant quote shared on rarifiedlife.com describes it this way: "I thought work defined me, but I discovered I am so much more." The course gives that shift a structured place to happen.

How do I find purpose in life after 50?

Start by separating who you are from your job title, then name what genuinely motivates you now that a paycheck is not the reason, and match your values and strengths to how you actually spend your days. That is the sequence of the Identity, Motivation, and Alignment modules in Preferment.

Is the course useful if I am already retired?

Yes. The course listing describes people standing in a room nobody prepared them for, with more time than they have ever had and no idea what it is for. That describes people who are already retired as much as those about to retire, and the first module starts wherever you are now.

Who might be better served by something else?

People who mainly need help with savings, income, or investments should see a licensed financial professional. People who want only one-on-one sessions may prefer an individual coach, since Rarified Life lists its own 1:1 coaching as coming soon. People who prefer studying alone at their own pace may prefer a book or self-paced class.

What is a retirement coach?

A retirement coach helps people plan the non-financial side of retirement: identity, purpose, routine, relationships, and how to spend their time. Formats range from one-on-one sessions to group courses. Preferment is a structured live course led by Anne van Leynseele rather than individual coaching, with a book and set modules.

Is a course or a retirement life coach better for me?

It depends on what you need. A structured course like Preferment suits people who want a set path, a book, and weekly accountability. One-on-one coaching suits people who want every session shaped around their own situation. Rarified Life lists 1:1 coaching as coming soon, so its course is the current option.

What does retirement transition coaching usually cover?

Retirement transition coaching usually covers the shift from a working identity to post-work life: what to keep, what to let go, and what to build next. Preferment covers that ground through its Identity, Motivation, Alignment, and Accountability modules over eight weeks, finishing with a Launch module that names your next mission.

How is Preferment different from a lifelong learning course?

Lifelong learning courses teach an outside subject, such as history, art, or a language. Preferment teaches no outside subject; its subject is you, including your identity, values, and next-chapter mission. Many people do both, and Preferment can help you decide which learning pursuits are actually worth your time.

How is it different from a retirement planning training course?

Retirement planning training courses typically focus on finances, benefits, and the logistics of leaving work. Preferment focuses on purpose, identity, and daily life after a career. They answer different questions, so they can complement each other rather than compete: one covers what you can afford, the other what you want your days to hold.

Does Rarified Life offer 1:1 retirement coaching?

The Rarified Life site lists 1:1 coaching as coming soon. For now, its offerings are the free presentation and the 8-week Preferment live course, which includes eight weekly sessions with Anne van Leynseele, the book, and the guided homework. Check rarifiedlife.com for updates on individual coaching.

Why learn from Anne van Leynseele?

Anne describes having lived four reinventions: building and selling a Los Angeles production company, advising Fortune 100 companies on digital strategy across three continents, serving as an Attorney Advisor in the Obama Administration, and helping write the legal framework for recreational cannabis in Washington State. She now co-owns an award-winning chocolate farm in Hawaii.

What questions should I ask a retirement coach before signing up?

Ask what the program focuses on, how many sessions it includes and how long they run, what materials come with it, whether it is individual or group, what you should have at the end, and the total price. This site answers each of those questions for Preferment on its cost page.

How do I enroll in the Preferment course?

Enrollment happens on the Preferment course listing at rarifiedlife.com, the main Rarified Life website. This site explains the course in detail so you can decide whether it fits, but it does not take enrollments itself. Review the price and terms on the listing before you complete a purchase.

What should I do first if I am not sure the course is right for me?

Watch the Rarified Life free presentation. It introduces the thinking behind Preferment at no cost and helps you judge whether the full 8-week course fits your situation. You can also compare a structured course with one-on-one coaching on this site before deciding which route suits you.

Where is Rarified Life based?

Rarified Life lists Edmonds, Washington, and a mailing address in Captain Cook, Hawaii, on its website. Founder Anne van Leynseele co-owns an award-winning chocolate farm on the Big Island of Hawaii, which is part of the reinvention story she draws on in the course and the book.

Who publishes this website?

Rarified Life publishes this site to explain its 8-week Preferment course in detail. It is one of a small number of websites Rarified Life publishes, and its main business website is rarifiedlife.com. Comparisons on this site are written by Rarified Life and are not independent reviews.

Where can I follow Anne van Leynseele and Rarified Life?

Rarified Life links to a Facebook page, Anne’s Instagram and LinkedIn profiles, and a YouTube video from rarifiedlife.com. The About page on this site lists those same links, so you can get a feel for Anne’s voice and ideas before deciding on the course.

What if I start the course and fall behind?

The course listing does not describe a policy for missed sessions. Because each week builds on the last, keeping up with the homework in the book matters. Check the course listing on rarifiedlife.com for any details on missed sessions before enrolling, and plan your eight weeks around known travel.

FAQ

Preferment course and retirement coaching FAQ

Last updated: November 2026

Preferment is Rarified Life's 8-week live retirement life course with Anne van Leynseele; below are plain answers to 43 common questions about it and about retirement coaching.

What the Preferment course is

What is the Preferment course?: Preferment is the live, 8-week course from Rarified Life for life after career, led by founder Anne van Leynseele. Participants work through her book Preferment chapter by chapter in eight weekly live sessions and complete homework built into the book between sessions. It treats retirement as the start of a new chapter rather than an ending.
What does the word Preferment mean here?: Preferment is the name Anne van Leynseele gives to an active, purpose-driven next chapter after a career, used in place of a conventional retirement. The Rarified Life tagline puts it simply: ditch retirement and try Preferment instead. The book describes the core idea as learning the difference between filling hours and fulfilling hours.
Is Preferment a retirement life course or a coaching program?: Preferment is a structured live course rather than individual coaching. Eight weekly sessions with Anne follow her book and six modules, with homework between sessions. Rarified Life lists 1:1 coaching separately as coming soon, so the course is the main way to work through the Preferment framework with Anne today.
Who created the Preferment framework?: Anne van Leynseele, founder of Rarified Life, created the framework and wrote the book the course is built on. Her background includes building and selling a Los Angeles film and television production company, advising Fortune 100 companies on digital strategy across three continents, and serving as an Attorney Advisor in the Obama Administration.
What are the six modules in the course?: The six modules are Introduction, Identity, Motivation, Alignment, Accountability, and Launch. They move from where you are now, to separating who you are from your former job, to finding what moves you, matching values and strengths to your days, building supportive structure, and finally naming your mission for the next chapter.
Is the Preferment framework research-informed?: Rarified Life describes Preferment as a research-informed framework. The back cover of the book describes it as stories, research, and practical lessons defining a modern post-career life platform. The specific studies behind it are not listed on the course listing, so review the book itself if you want to see its sources.
Is Preferment about money or financial planning?: No. Preferment focuses on identity, motivation, values, routine, and purpose after a career, not on investments or retirement income. For financial questions, a licensed financial professional is the right resource. Many people use both: a financial plan for their money, and a course like Preferment for deciding how to spend their time.
What is a life course perspective on retirement?: A life course perspective on retirement treats retirement as one stage in a whole life rather than a finish line. Preferment takes that view. Its book notes that the United States adopted the Social Security Act in 1935, setting 65 as the standard retirement age, and that people can now stay active and healthy for longer.

Cost and what is included

How much does the Preferment course cost?: The Rarified Life course listing shows a price of $6,000.00, while the Investment section on the same listing states $3,000 for the eight weekly live sessions, the book, and the guided homework. Because the two figures differ, check the current price on the course listing at rarifiedlife.com before you enroll.
What is included in the course price?: The course listing names four things: eight weekly live sessions with Anne van Leynseele, the Preferment book as your companion text and workbook, the homework built into the book, and a structured path in which each week builds on the last. No other inclusions are described on the listing.
Is the book included or sold separately?: The book is included with the course, and the course listing calls it your companion text and workbook. The Rarified Life site currently lists books as coming soon in its shop, so enrolling in the course is the confirmed way to work with the Preferment book today.
Is there a free way to get started?: Yes. Rarified Life offers a free presentation aimed at accomplished women in their 50s and 60s who are nearing or in retirement. It introduces a 5-step plan for replacing the "What now?" feeling many people have about retirement, and it is a low-commitment next step after exploring this site.
How does the cost compare with other retirement coaching?: Prices for retirement coaching vary widely by coach, format, and length, and no single market rate applies. A fair comparison looks at what you get: Preferment includes eight live sessions, a book, and guided homework. When comparing a coach, ask how many sessions are included, how long each runs, and what materials come with it.
Are refunds or payment plans available?: Refund terms and payment plans are not described on the Preferment course listing. Read the Rarified Life terms of service on rarifiedlife.com and review the checkout page for any payment options before you enroll, so you know the conditions that apply to your purchase.

How the weekly sessions and homework work

How long is the Preferment course?: The course runs for eight weeks. There is one live session with Anne van Leynseele each week, and each week builds on the one before it. Homework from the book is completed between sessions, so plan for some time outside the live sessions as well as the sessions themselves.
What happens in a weekly live session?: Each live session works through the Preferment book chapter by chapter with Anne. The session is where the material is discussed and the exercises you completed are put to work. The homework between sessions is where you apply the ideas to your own life, so the two halves depend on each other.
What is the homework like?: The homework is built into the book. Rarified Life describes it as real exercises, not busywork, done between sessions. Its purpose is to turn reading into a plan, so by the end of eight weeks you have worked material about your identity, motivation, values, routines, and mission for the next chapter.
How many hours a week does the course take?: Rarified Life does not publish a weekly time estimate for the course. Plan for one live session each week plus time to read that week’s chapter and complete its exercises. Check the course listing on rarifiedlife.com for session details before you enroll so you can fit it around your week.
Are the sessions online or in person?: The course listing describes the sessions as live sessions with Anne but does not state the format or location. Check the Preferment course listing on rarifiedlife.com for format details before enrolling, especially if you travel often or live in a different time zone from the sessions.
Do I need a five-year plan before I start?: No. The course listing says you do not need a five-year plan, you just need a room to start figuring it out in. The first module, Introduction, begins with where you are right now and why the old model of retirement was never built for someone like you.
What do I have at the end of the 8 weeks?: The final module, Launch, focuses on naming your mission for the next chapter and stepping into it. Together with the Accountability module, which builds structure that turns intention into a lived routine, the aim is a daily life shaped by your own values and strengths rather than a list of good intentions.
Can I take the course while I am still working?: Yes. Nothing in the course requires you to be retired. The Rarified Life free presentation speaks directly to people whose last day at work is still years away and encourages starting without waiting for retirement day. Starting early gives you time to test new pursuits while work still provides structure.

Who the course is for

Who is the Preferment course for?: According to the course listing, Preferment is for driven people who are done treating retirement like an ending and ready to treat it like an ascension. It suits people who spent decades building a career and a reputation and now have more time than ever, but no clear sense of what that time is for.
Is the course only for women?: The course listing speaks to driven people in general and does not limit enrollment by gender. The Rarified Life free presentation, however, is aimed specifically at accomplished women in their 50s and 60s who are nearing or in retirement, so that is the audience its examples are written for.
I am in my 50s. Is it too early for a retirement life course?: Not according to Rarified Life. Its free presentation speaks to women in their 50s and 60s and says you can start even if your last day at work is still years away. Starting earlier gives you room to explore new roles and interests before your working routine ends.
What if my whole identity is wrapped up in my work?: That is exactly what the Identity module addresses: separating who you are from what you did for a living. One participant quote shared on rarifiedlife.com describes it this way: "I thought work defined me, but I discovered I am so much more." The course gives that shift a structured place to happen.
How do I find purpose in life after 50?: Start by separating who you are from your job title, then name what genuinely motivates you now that a paycheck is not the reason, and match your values and strengths to how you actually spend your days. That is the sequence of the Identity, Motivation, and Alignment modules in Preferment.
Is the course useful if I am already retired?: Yes. The course listing describes people standing in a room nobody prepared them for, with more time than they have ever had and no idea what it is for. That describes people who are already retired as much as those about to retire, and the first module starts wherever you are now.
Who might be better served by something else?: People who mainly need help with savings, income, or investments should see a licensed financial professional. People who want only one-on-one sessions may prefer an individual coach, since Rarified Life lists its own 1:1 coaching as coming soon. People who prefer studying alone at their own pace may prefer a book or self-paced class.

Compared to retirement coaching and other options

What is a retirement coach?: A retirement coach helps people plan the non-financial side of retirement: identity, purpose, routine, relationships, and how to spend their time. Formats range from one-on-one sessions to group courses. Preferment is a structured live course led by Anne van Leynseele rather than individual coaching, with a book and set modules.
Is a course or a retirement life coach better for me?: It depends on what you need. A structured course like Preferment suits people who want a set path, a book, and weekly accountability. One-on-one coaching suits people who want every session shaped around their own situation. Rarified Life lists 1:1 coaching as coming soon, so its course is the current option.
What does retirement transition coaching usually cover?: Retirement transition coaching usually covers the shift from a working identity to post-work life: what to keep, what to let go, and what to build next. Preferment covers that ground through its Identity, Motivation, Alignment, and Accountability modules over eight weeks, finishing with a Launch module that names your next mission.
How is Preferment different from a lifelong learning course?: Lifelong learning courses teach an outside subject, such as history, art, or a language. Preferment teaches no outside subject; its subject is you, including your identity, values, and next-chapter mission. Many people do both, and Preferment can help you decide which learning pursuits are actually worth your time.
How is it different from a retirement planning training course?: Retirement planning training courses typically focus on finances, benefits, and the logistics of leaving work. Preferment focuses on purpose, identity, and daily life after a career. They answer different questions, so they can complement each other rather than compete: one covers what you can afford, the other what you want your days to hold.
Does Rarified Life offer 1:1 retirement coaching?: The Rarified Life site lists 1:1 coaching as coming soon. For now, its offerings are the free presentation and the 8-week Preferment live course, which includes eight weekly sessions with Anne van Leynseele, the book, and the guided homework. Check rarifiedlife.com for updates on individual coaching.
Why learn from Anne van Leynseele?: Anne describes having lived four reinventions: building and selling a Los Angeles production company, advising Fortune 100 companies on digital strategy across three continents, serving as an Attorney Advisor in the Obama Administration, and helping write the legal framework for recreational cannabis in Washington State. She now co-owns an award-winning chocolate farm in Hawaii.
What questions should I ask a retirement coach before signing up?: Ask what the program focuses on, how many sessions it includes and how long they run, what materials come with it, whether it is individual or group, what you should have at the end, and the total price. This site answers each of those questions for Preferment on its cost page.

Getting started and practical details

How do I enroll in the Preferment course?: Enrollment happens on the Preferment course listing at rarifiedlife.com, the main Rarified Life website. This site explains the course in detail so you can decide whether it fits, but it does not take enrollments itself. Review the price and terms on the listing before you complete a purchase.
What should I do first if I am not sure the course is right for me?: Watch the Rarified Life free presentation. It introduces the thinking behind Preferment at no cost and helps you judge whether the full 8-week course fits your situation. You can also compare a structured course with one-on-one coaching on this site before deciding which route suits you.
Where is Rarified Life based?: Rarified Life lists Edmonds, Washington, and a mailing address in Captain Cook, Hawaii, on its website. Founder Anne van Leynseele co-owns an award-winning chocolate farm on the Big Island of Hawaii, which is part of the reinvention story she draws on in the course and the book.
Who publishes this website?: Rarified Life publishes this site to explain its 8-week Preferment course in detail. It is one of a small number of websites Rarified Life publishes, and its main business website is rarifiedlife.com. Comparisons on this site are written by Rarified Life and are not independent reviews.
Where can I follow Anne van Leynseele and Rarified Life?: Rarified Life links to a Facebook page, Anne’s Instagram and LinkedIn profiles, and a YouTube video from rarifiedlife.com. The About page on this site lists those same links, so you can get a feel for Anne’s voice and ideas before deciding on the course.
What if I start the course and fall behind?: The course listing does not describe a policy for missed sessions. Because each week builds on the last, keeping up with the homework in the book matters. Check the course listing on rarifiedlife.com for any details on missed sessions before enrolling, and plan your eight weeks around known travel.

Back to the full guide to the Preferment retirement life course