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MEA 3-Day Deep Dive

Jumpstart Your Next Chapter: Finding Purpose, Passion, and a New Path

Dec 3 - 6, 2026 Santa Fe, USA
Enroll Now Book A Call
Partial Scholarship Available. Apply Here.

Is a partial scholarship for you?

We believe in making personal growth and education accessible to everyone, which is why we offer partial scholarships on a needs-aware basis for many of our programs.

These scholarships support individuals facing financial challenges, including — but not limited to — members of underrepresented communities. If financial stress might prevent you from attending a workshop, we encourage you to apply.

Partial scholarships, provided through the Association for Growth and Education, are limited to 2–3 seats per workshop and reviewed in the order received. We recommend applying as soon as possible, as scholarship decisions are typically confirmed 90–120 days before the workshop date.

Apply Now
Marci Alboher

Chief Engagement Officer at CoGenerate | Author of The Encore Career Handbook | Speaker | Nonprofit Leader

Kerry Hannon

Career Transition and Retirement Strategist | Yahoo Finance Senior Columnist | Bestselling Author of 14 Books

Early Enrollment Rate, Save 10%!
When you book before October 4, 2026

You’re ready for something new. But how do you choose what deserves your time and energy now?

With all of the skills and experience you've gained over the years, you probably have multiple options available to you. (Even if you’re not aware of them.) 

Maybe you’re looking for paid work that fulfills you and supports the life you have built. Or maybe money isn’t an issue, and you’re being presented with opportunities to join a board, contribute to a cause, or dedicate yourself to a creative pursuit. And you can’t decide which opportunities will make you happiest.  

Each possibility raises practical questions: What would an ordinary week doing this work look like? Who would you spend your time with, and what commitments would it require of you? And if you’re looking for something that comes with a paycheck, how much is enough to give you the security and freedom you want at this point in life? 

These are the questions you’ll explore during this three-day deep dive with career transitions strategist Kerry Hannon and Marci Alboher, author of The Encore Career Handbook. 

Watch Kerry Hannon & Marci Alboher in Our Live Sessions

Ready or Not: The Gen X Retirement Reality Check

Kari Cardinale, Kerry Hannon & Marci Alboher
March 4, 2026

What if the most fulfilling part of life is still ahead of you?

Marci Alboher and Kerry Hannon have spent their careers helping people make a living, make a difference, and decide what comes next.

Together, they bring practical expertise in career reinvention, financial decision-making, entrepreneurship, retirement, purpose, and intergenerational collaboration.

Marci knows reinvention firsthand. She left law for journalism, building her new career through classes, conferences, a new network, and mentors ten years younger. Kerry brings the financial lens, drawing on decades of reporting on career change, entrepreneurship, retirement, and the real numbers behind a sustainable transition.

At Rising Circle Ranch, bring the role you keep considering, the consulting or business idea you're excited about, the community or creative project you want to make real, or the question of how you want to spend your time after retirement.

This is a chance to step back, reconnect with what matters, and build practical skills for navigating the transitions still ahead – whether they involve work, retirement, contribution, creativity, or a new way of living.

See what three days with Marci and Kerry can set in motion.

Get specific about what you want your days to hold. Define the role you want work, income, creativity, contribution, and relationships to play in your life.
Look closely at the ideas calling for your attention and separate genuine interest from habit, status, and other people’s expectations.
Decide what role money needs to play. If paid work is part of your plan, determine what you need to earn, what you can comfortably invest, and how much room you have to experiment.
Use your experience in fresh ways. Identify the strengths and knowledge that can travel with you while giving yourself permission to learn, ask for help, and be a beginner again.
Give one possibility a real test. Design small experiments that can show you how the idea feels in practice before you hand it a large piece of your calendar or savings.
Learn how to work with change instead of waiting for certainty. Practice a repeatable process for sorting through possibilities, choosing a direction, and learning your way forward whenever life presents another transition.


This workshop is for you if…

  • You feel bored, restless, or ready for something new – a role or project that draws on your judgment, experience, and interests.
  • Retirement is approaching – or already here. You’ve prepared financially and now want to decide how to use your time and experience when a career no longer organizes your life.
  • You want – or need – to keep earning. You’re looking for a role, consulting practice, or business that pays well while leaving room for the people and commitments you care about.
  • You want to shape a longer working life around your real life: your energy, financial needs, responsibilities, and changing interests.
  • You’re drawn to a cause, community role, mentoring opportunity, or creative pursuit. You want to explore where your abilities could be useful – and test whether that direction fits.
  • You want to build on what you know while becoming a beginner again. You’re ready to learn new things and learn alongside people at different ages and career stages.
  • You know this won’t be your last transition. You want a repeatable way to find direction, explore possibilities, and make thoughtful decisions as your needs and priorities change.

Meet your faculty

Marci Alboher

Author of The Encore Career Handbook | Chief Engagement Officer at CoGenerate | Former New York Times Columnist

Marci is Chief Engagement Officer at CoGenerate, formerly Encore.org, which bridges generations to co-create a better future. Previously, she was a New York Times columnist who made the leap from law to writing.

She's been a leader in the encore movement, helping people find purpose in the second half of life. She's also the author of The Encore Career Handbook and champions intergenerational collaboration while working to change how we talk about aging.

Marci has been interviewed by numerous news organizations, including NBC’s Today and Nightly News, NPR, and USA Today.

She's a mentor-editor for The OpEd Project, teaches at MEA and Union Theological Seminary’s Encore Transition Program, and advises Able News and the NYU Stern Initiative on Purpose and Flourishing. Able News and the NYU Stern Initiative on Purpose and Flourishing.


Kerry Hannon

Career Transition and Retirement Strategist | Yahoo Finance Senior Columnist | Bestselling Author of 14 Books

Kerry has spent decades helping people make practical decisions about work and money as they live longer. Her advice covers job searches, career changes, entrepreneurship, and retirement, with close attention to the numbers behind each choice.

Her latest book is Retirement Bites: A Gen X Guide to Securing Your Financial Future. Her other books include In Control at 50+, Great Jobs for Everyone 50+, and Never Too Old to Get Rich.

Kerry’s reporting and commentary have appeared in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Money, and USA Today, as well as on ABC, CBS, CNBC, NBC, NPR, and PBS. She's testified before Congress about older workers and retirement readiness and received the Retirement Coaches Association’s 2023 Retirement Pioneer Award for her work supporting encore careers.

Our Agenda at a Glance

Monday:

Tuesday:

Wednesday:

Thursday:

4:00 PM: Check-In / Welcome

5:30 PM: Welcome Reception & Dinner

7:00 PM: Orientation Session

9:00 PM: Free Time

Friday:

7:30 AM: Mind + Body

8:30 AM: Breakfast

10:00 AM: Classroom Time

1:15 PM: Lunch

2:00 PM: Free Time

3:00 PM: Classroom Time

5:30 PM: Free Time

6:30 PM: Dinner

Saturday:

7:30 AM: Mind + Body

8:30 AM: Breakfast

10:00 AM: Classroom Time

1:15 PM: Lunch

2:00 PM: Free Time

3:00 PM: Classroom Time

5:30 PM: Free Time

6:30 PM: Dinner, Dessert & Graduation

8:00 PM: Evening Gathering

Sunday:

7:00 AM: Breakfast

9:30 AM: Checkout / Departure

*Please note all times are estimates and not all “classroom activities” take place in the actual classroom. This agenda is meant to give you an idea of the general flow of activities.

Step into transformation in the high desert

Rising Circle Ranch | Santa Fe, USA.

Our spectacular Santa Fe campus is located on an upscale regenerative ranch featuring traditional Pueblo architecture and nearly 2,600 acres of wildlife, hiking trails in the arroyo, and awe-inspiring beauty. Close to historic Santa Fe, an artisan’s mecca.

PLUS: Gourmet from-scratch meals, snacks, and drinks featuring locally sourced ingredients, made by our in-house chefs

  • Big-sky desert country
  • Breathtaking nature
  • Interaction with horses and donkeys
  • Evenings around the campfire
  • Star-gazing

Meet the horses of Rising Circle Ranch.

Rising Circle Ranch spans 2,600 acres of New Mexico high desert – wide skies, rugged trails, and plenty of room to roam. During your stay, you’ll see that our horses are part of the daily rhythm of life on the ranch.

For our three-day workshops, optional guided rides are available to book on-site for an additional fee, depending on weather and ranch conditions. Open to first-timers and seasoned riders alike, these guided rides offer a chance to experience the ranch from a different perspective, with highlights that may include:

  • Wildlife habitats and arroyo trails
  • Ancient petroglyphs
  • Breathtaking high desert vistas
  • The tranquil setting of our regenerative ranch


Your workshop also includes:

  • 3 nights of lodging at our world-class retreat center at Rising Circle Ranch, Santa Fe with all of your meals, snacks, drinks and other amenities included
  • Daily sessions and experiential activities to help you connect with your inner self, envision your desired experience, and release what no longer serves you
  • Mindfulness practices to soothe your nervous system and help you cultivate greater mindfulness and presence in the moment
  • Movement to get the energy flowing and build your strength and agility as you chart your course forward to the life you want to live
  • Incredible bonding experiences with the most amazing humans you’ll ever meet
  • Intimate gatherings to cultivate connection and celebrate the joy and beauty of life

Give your possibilities the attention they deserve.

Come with the consulting plan in your Notes app, the job posting you keep reopening, the creative ambition you haven't made time for, the retirement question you keep setting aside – or the mix of options you haven't had space to sort through.

Over three days, Marci and Kerry will help you look at each possibility more closely. You’ll consider how it could fit your life, what it would ask of you, and which direction deserves a real-world test. When paid work is part of the picture, you’ll put the numbers on the table too.

Reserve your place at Rising Circle Ranch and leave knowing what you’ll explore first.

Early Enrollment Rate, Save 10%!
When you book before October 4, 2026

Book your spot today

Jumpstart Your Next Chapter: Finding Purpose, Passion, and a New Path

Dec 3 - 6, 2026 Santa Fe, USA
Early Enrollment Rate
$3,000 $2,700 per person
Enroll Now Book A Call
Partial Scholarship Available. Apply Here.

Is a partial scholarship for you?

We believe in making personal growth and education accessible to everyone, which is why we offer partial scholarships on a needs-aware basis for many of our programs.

These scholarships support individuals facing financial challenges, including — but not limited to — members of underrepresented communities. If financial stress might prevent you from attending a workshop, we encourage you to apply.

Partial scholarships, provided through the Association for Growth and Education, are limited to 2–3 seats per workshop and reviewed in the order received. We recommend applying as soon as possible, as scholarship decisions are typically confirmed 90–120 days before the workshop date.

Apply Now
I attended Marci and Kerry’s workshop in 2024, at a critical time for me to reflect on my next role and what I wanted and needed for the long term—something different from what I had pursued during the first 30 years of my career. The workshop helped me delve into the bigger questions. I also benefited from the facilitators’ business knowledge and from Marci’s own career pivot. It was very worthwhile at the beginning of an important journey.
Laura Breslaw
Working with Marci and Kerry at MEA was like listening to a great new song. I typically have preconceived notions about what I may hear, but the more I listen, the more nuances I hear that I didn’t expect. Put another way, Marci and Kerry will challenge you to re-examine the way you think.
Cary Cicurel
This MEA workshop reignited my life. Marci, Kerry, and Lee will gently and authentically help you discover a version of yourself that has always wanted a voice. If you are ready to explore from the core, dream to the extreme, and gain a ton of new friends who will help you weave it all together with solid business and networking tools, this workshop is for you.
Lisa Wolfe
Marci Alboher and Kerry Hannon are the dream team for this Modern Elder Academy workshop for anyone considering something new in life and work. It is definitely worth the investment in yourself to set a new, purposeful direction at this stage of life.
Julia Randell-Khan
Highly recommended! I attended this workshop a few months ago, and it was an incredible experience. I left with clear direction, actionable next steps, an amazing group of supportive friends, and a newfound sense of peace about the process.
Atalaya Sergi
Marci and Kerry were outstanding – not only in delivering a meaningful learning experience for our group, but perhaps even more importantly, in creating an environment where we felt safe enough to be vulnerable, open up, and discover possibilities within ourselves we never imagined. Personally, I went from living with the story that “my best years are behind me” to embracing the powerful possibility that “I’m just getting started.” That shift continues to shape how I live every day. Thank you to Marci, Kerry, and the entire MEA team for creating an experience that continues to make a lasting difference.
Angelo Mancino
The timing of Marci and Kerry's workshop aligned to help me more aptly navigate a new road to the next chapter of "me" that was about to get really windy. The workshop was led with connection, wisdom, and heart. Marci held sound group space with a warm, open leadership style coupled with a body of professional and personal lived experience, and Kerry was flush with knowledge with years of prowess in the finance field. Together, the two taught an impactful, informative, and palatable framework to thoughtfully take actionable steps to begin the next chapter. Their workshop was held on the mystical and magical lands of MEA, Santa Fe, which lent its beauty for a memorable backdrop to a meaningful retreat. If you find yourself in the midst of impending change, whether by choice or a result of chaos, this workshop, with these dynamic women, offers invaluable information coupled with guided connection and warmth.
Brooke Narragon

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is this workshop for?

Jumpstart Your Next Chapter is for people in midlife and beyond who are deciding how they want to use their time, experience, and energy in the years ahead.

Some participants are considering a new role, consulting, or entrepreneurship. Others are financially secure and thinking about board service, mentoring, community involvement, a creative pursuit, or a combination of paid and unpaid work. All want a practical way to choose a direction and give it a fair test.

Do I need to know exactly what I want to do next?

No. You may arrive with one idea, several competing possibilities, or only the sense that the way you’re spending your days no longer fits.

Marci and Kerry will help you sort through your options, identify one direction worth exploring, and design a small experiment that can teach you more before you make a larger commitment.

Is this also for people planning to retire?

Yes. Retirement can open questions that financial planning alone cannot answer: How do you want to spend your time? Where could your experience be useful? What will give structure and connection to your week?

Some paid work may remain part of the picture. You may also be considering mentoring, board service, volunteering, creative work, or a portfolio that combines several pursuits. The workshop will help you decide what fits the life you want now.

What if I need my next move to pay well?

If you want or need your next direction to provide income, the workshop will give that part of the decision serious attention.

You’ll consider what you need to earn, how much you can comfortably invest, and how to test a possibility without putting your long-term plans at unnecessary risk. Money will be considered alongside your time, energy, relationships, and sense of purpose.

What is included in tuition?

Your tuition includes the full three-day workshop, three nights of lodging at Rising Circle Ranch in Santa Fe, chef-prepared meals, snacks, drinks, and access to the ranch’s amenities and grounds. Transportation to Santa Fe, optional guided horseback rides, and personal incidentals are not included.

Is financial aid available?

MEA offers partial scholarships on a needs-aware basis. If financial circumstances would otherwise prevent you from attending, we encourage you to apply for assistance.

What if I’m unsure whether this workshop is right for me?

Book a free call with the MEA team. We can talk through the questions you’re facing, what you hope to get from the experience, and whether this workshop is the right fit for this moment.

Still deciding or have questions?
Connect with our helpful team of Advisors

Our Advisors are all MEA alumni who can offer genuine insights into our programs. They’re passionate about helping you finding the right fit to make your next chapter the best one.

BOOK a cAlL

Daniel Booz

Lucas Erie

Leslie Bartlett