Why Retirement Feels Empty (And What to Do Instead) with Eric Brotman | Ep 38

If you're wondering why retirement feels empty—or worried it might—this episode of the Real Money, Real Life podcast with Linda Grizely will help you rethink what comes next. Retirement isn't about stopping work. It's about having the freedom to choose what your life looks like. 👉 Retirement feels empty when you've been working toward an ending instead of building toward something meaningful. Why do so many people feel lost after retiring? What are you supposed to do with your time, identity, and purpose? 👉 Retirement isn't the absence of work—it's the absence of needing to work. In this episode of the Real Money, Real Life podcast, Linda Grizely sits down with Eric Brotman to unpack why retirement feels empty for so many people—and what to do instead. If you've spent decades working toward retirement, only to realize you're not sure what comes next, you're not alone. This conversation challenges the idea that retirement is the goal and instead reframes it as a transition into something new. Linda Grizely and Eric Brotman explore how financial planning is about more than just numbers—it's about building a life that still feels meaningful when work becomes optional. Through real-life examples and experience, they explain why purpose, identity, and engagement matter just as much as financial security. If you've ever thought, "I don't want to retire… but I don't know what else to do," this episode will help you think about retirement differently. WE TALK ABOUT: Why retirement feels empty for so many people What makes retirees happy and fulfilled How to shift from "retiring" to building your next chapter Why having something to move toward matters more than stopping work How identity and purpose are tied to your career What financial independence really means in real life How to start thinking about what comes next before you retire TIMESTAMPS (00:00) Why retirement feels empty (02:28) What happens when people stop working completely (05:47) Why purpose matters more than retirement itself (06:01) What financial independence means (08:00) How to figure out what to do after retirement (20:06) Identity and life after your career (27:36) Biggest fears about retirement (34:27) What to do this week to prepare About Eric Brotman Eric D. Brotman is Chairman of the Board and Chief Growth Officer of BFG Financial Advisors and Managing Principal of Brotman Consulting Group, LLC. He started in the financial planning industry in 1994 and launched a start-up in 2003 which has grown to over 25 employees and over $1 billion in assets under management. He's the author of three books including the award-winning "Don't Retire...Graduate!" and hosts a podcast by that same name. Connect with Eric Brotman www.bfgfa.com www.bfguniversity.com www.dontretiregraduatebook.com https://www.facebook.com/BFGFinancialAdvisors/ https://www.facebook.com/DontRetireGraduate https://www.linkedin.com/in/ebrotman/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/bfgfa/ https://www.instagram.com/dontretiregraduate/ https://www.instagram.com/bfgfinancialadvisors/ https://www.youtube.com/@BFGUniversity About Linda Grizely Linda Grizely, CFP®, is a financial wellness speaker and personal finance expert and educator. She is the creator of the MeMoney® Method, and host of the Real Money, Real Life™ podcast. Bridging financial strategy with behavioral insight, she helps people build confidence and clarity with their money and teaches individuals and organizations how to replace financial overwhelm with empowerment and real-world results. Connect with Linda Website: https://www.LindaGriz.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lindagrizely Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thelindagrizely LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/linda-grizely YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LindaGrizely TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lindagrizely X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/LindaGrizely  Resources / Freebies What's Your Money Personality Quiz: https://bit.ly/MonPersQuiz What's Holding You Back from Financial Confidence Quiz: https://bit.ly/FinConfidQuiz Join Linda's Free Community: https://bit.ly/RealMoneyRealLifeCommunity Useful Personal Finance Checklists and Flowcharts: www.lindagriz.com/resources IMPORTANT DISCLOSURES Real Money, Real Life™ is hosted and produced by Linda Grizely Ventures, LLC. Linda Grizely, CFP®, is an Investment Adviser Representative of Nectarine, an SEC-registered investment adviser. Linda Grizely Ventures, LLC is separate from and unaffiliated with Nectarine. The views expressed on this podcast are those of the individuals expressing them and do not necessarily reflect the views of Linda Grizely, Linda Grizely Ventures, LLC, or Nectarine. Guests on the podcast may express opinions or discuss financial strategies that are their own and should not be considered recommendations or personalized financial advice. This podcast is provided for informational, educational, and entertainment purposes only and should not be construed as personalized investment advice or a solicitation to buy or sell any securities or financial products. Listeners should consult their own financial, legal, or tax professionals regarding their specific situation. For additional disclosures, please visit: https://hellonectarine.com https://www.lindagriz.com/disclaimers