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What does it really mean to build a legacy that lasts beyond your practice? How can you prepare for the next chapter without losing your sense of purpose? What if retirement isn’t an ending at all, but an evolution, and a new chapter that you can start writing now?
In this podcast episode from the GPBC25 Series, Ellen J. W. Gigliotti speaks about looking ahead and positioning yourself for retirement and beyond.
Podcast Sponsor: Headway
I want to thank Headway for sponsoring this episode. If you run a group practice, you know that accepting insurance can be overwhelming. Between credentialing, billing, and payroll, the admin side can easily take over your week. Headway was built to help you handle this — and they’re the only platform designed specifically for in-network group practices.
Whether you’re growing your team or running an established practice, Headway makes the business side easier with faster credentialing, higher per-session rates, and biweekly payments your team can count on.
They work with therapy, psychiatric, and hybrid groups — and there are no subscription fees. Just the support you need to run your practice with ease.
Run your best group practice with Headway — trusted by thousands of group practice leaders to simplify insurance admin and reach more people through in-network care.
Curious how Headway can work for you?
Meet Ellen Gigliotti
Ellen J.W. Gigliotti is the guiding force behind Retire + Thrive, where she helps women professionals, entrepreneurs, therapists and business-owners craft retirements that are not an after-thought, but a bold next chapter. With 20+ years as a licensed marriage & family therapist, she has walked the transition from practice and business into a purposeful future — and now uses that lived and professional experience to support others.
Visit the Retire + Thrive website.
In This Podcast
- The benefits of thinking ahead
- Retirement is more (and less) than you imagine
- Surprising things that change
- Ellen’s questions for you
The benefits of thinking ahead
You may be nowhere near retirement yet, and that’s fine. You may just be starting your private practice, or running a full-scale group practice with a whole load of staff, clients, and loving every minute of it. Or, you may want to pack up and sell now.
Whatever your current situation is, thinking ahead will always be beneficial.
It was very hard to figure things out business-wise, but it’s also hard to figure things out personally. You also have to give some thought to that – not just how to sell your practice, but also, “What do you want your life to look like?” What is your definition of a life well lived? (Ellen Gigliotti)
It is better to make a plan and not use it than get to a place where you need a plan but didn’t prepare one. Plans can always be changed and updated as time goes on, but there can be a problem when you need one and there isn’t one.
It helps to chalk out anything you’re doing, any kind of planning … and it also helps to explore a little bit. (Ellen Gigliotti)
Retirement is more (and less) than you imagine
Ellen explains that your expectations of retirement may be skewed because it is both more and less than you imagine.
It is not a full vacation, but on the other hand, it can be much more peaceful. Simultaneously, it’s also an identity shift, since you are changing your daily habits, routines, and workflows so drastically that you have to change how you live your life.
It’s a big head-tweak, let me tell you. It’s very hard. Being a group practice boss like you guys, that is an amazing thing … But … when you step out of that role, it’s a bit of a difficulty. (Ellen Gigliotti)
Surprising things that change
As you enter into this new phase of your life, some things may shift, like:
- You need to manage your social calendar more to maintain connections. The network that you had as a practice owner was something that was constantly on your mind while working, but after retirement, you need to put in effort to maintain those connections
- Your routine will change, and you will need to be intentional about the life that you want to build with it. Make sure to incorporate the hobbies, activities, and events that will make up your ideal life.
- Pursue what inspires you, improves your life, and keeps you excited to get out of bed in the mornings.
Ellen’s questions for you
This is the most important thing: that you want something that will help you to define meaning. That’s what you’re going for there. Everybody wants to know, at the end of their life, that they made a difference. (Ellen Gigliotti)
1 – What in your practice will create a legacy?
2 – Which aspects of your life will create a personal legacy?
3 – If you feel uncomfortable talking about retirement, consider where that discomfort comes from. Then, free up that space, and fill it with creative, proactive planning for the future to give yourself the best space to enter into in the later phases of your life.
Sponsors Mentioned in this Episode:
Curious how Headway can work for you?
Useful links mentioned in this episode:
- Check out our Practice Academy!
- Visit the Retire + Thrive website
- Sign Up to the Group Practice Boss Conference!
Check out these additional resources:
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Meet Joe Sanok
Joe Sanok helps counselors to create thriving practices that are the envy of other counselors. He has helped counselors to grow their businesses by 50-500% and is proud of all the private practice owners who are growing their income, influence, and impact on the world. Click here to explore consulting with Joe.
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