The Happiest States

Novel research shows that sunshine, open space—and fewer people—are what appeal to people in the happiest states.

Laid Off? That May Be Better Than the Alternative

Research at Boeing finds the corporate survivors in more miserable shape than those who were laid off.

Average Unemployment at 29 Weeks and Rising

Although the rate of new job losses has slowed nationally, prolonged unemployment is becoming a deep-seated problem, as millions are struggling to find re-entry jobs.

Best Careers for Women Over 40

These jobs combine above-average pay, prospects, control and flexibility—the attributes women over 40 say they want most in a career.

First Step: Finding Your Passion

Three career coaches from the What’s Next Advisor Directory offer advice on finding one’s passion when considering new career directions.

Best Part-Time Jobs for Baby Boomers

25 best overall part-time jobs for baby boomers, ranked by a combination of percentage of part-time workers, annual earnings, percent job growth and annual openings.

Best Jobs for Baby Boomers

Rankings of the best jobs for baby boomers, ranked by criteria including job growth, annual earnings and number of annual openings.

Fastest Growing Jobs for Baby Boomers

50 of the fastest growing jobs for baby boomers.

Best Overall Jobs for Baby Boomers

Fifty of the best overall jobs for baby boomers, ranked by a combination of earnings potential, job growth and number of openings.

How Can I Overcome My Fears?

How can I overcome my fears when it comes to a career change? Career coach Brian Kurth advises on how to use the economic downturn as an opportunity to prepare yourself for a second career.

Am I Too Old to Reinvent Myself?

Am I too old to reinvent myself? Career coach Brian Kurth says no, and offers tips for taking it one step at a time.

Where Do I Start?

Career coach Brian Kurth answers a career changer’s question: where do I start?

What Can I Do to Test My Aptitude for a New Career?

What can I do to test my aptitude for a new career? Career coach Brian Kurth provides three simple tips.

Identifying Alternative Careers

Career advisor Sheryl Spanier offers advice on identifying alternative careers that share aspects of your previous job that you valued and enjoyed.

How Many Times Will I Change Careers?

Expect to change careers—more than once—says career strategist Mary Lindley Burton.

When Is it Time to Go?

All career changers seem to identify a specific moment when they knew it was time to move on.

Manage Your Life Portfolio

A career advisor suggests that boomers will retire happier if they put as much effort into managing their “life portfolios” as they do into their investment planning.

Hiring a Life Coach

9 key questions to ask when hiring a professional life coach.

Life Planning

Life planning focuses on the human side of financial planning. It rests on the idea that advisors must discover a client’s most essential goals before formulating a plan to make sure a client’s finances fully support those goals.

Finding Your Passion

Doing a collage of all of your interests is one way of finding your passions and starting you on the path to thinking about how they can translate into a career.

Most Popular Dream Jobs

Brian Kurth, founder of VocationVacations.com and author of Test Drive Your Dream Job, tells What’s Next about the most popular dream jobs for baby boomers.

Advisor Definitions

Use these definitions to understand the jargon and acronyms often used by financial advisors, career coaches and life coaches.

From the Investment Business to Culinary School

John Stephano gave up a nice salary, enrolled in culinary school at 40 and let loose his lifelong passion for food. The hardest part was convincing himself not to stay on the safe path.

Bridgestar: Find Executive Jobs in the Nonprofit Sector

Current listings of available management jobs in the nonprofit sector.

Financial Planning Calculators

Financial planning calculators and other financial tools to help plan for career change and retirement transition.

Career Values

Career Values card sort self-assessment tool by Richard Knowdell

Market Facts

Baby boomers expect work to be an important part of their lives as they look to the future. Fewer than 20 percent expect to stop working altogether.

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Ask the Advisor

From Art Director to Art Teacher

Volunteering for the PTA led Gina Plaitakis down the path to a new career.

A Second Chance to Become a Pro Golfer

For the best amateur players, turning 50 means an opportunity to become a pro golfer.