A High Achiever’s Guide to Thriving in Retirement

If the prospect of retirement sparks anxiety, fear not—this comprehensive guide, crafted for high-achieving professionals, redefines retirement as a gateway to new opportunities, meaning, and accomplishment.

— GET 2 FREE CHAPTERS! Complete the form below.

encore-book-2

About the Author

Elizabeth Zelinka Parsons

Former Milbank Lawyer | J.D. from Georgetown | Published Author | Board Certified Coach

Elizabeth Zelinka Parsons is a highly experienced lawyer and expert in professional development and career transitions who has worked with law firms and individual lawyers for over 20 years. After a successful legal career at Milbank, she co-founded Zelinka Parsons, a firm that specializes in succession planning and partner retirement solutions for AmLaw 50 firms and other professional services organizations.

In addition to her work at Zelinka Parsons, Elizabeth maintains an active law practice as the founder of Elizabeth Parsons PLLC, where she advises clients on corporate and transactional matters. As a corporate and transactional lawyer, she has a reputation for her commercial approach to solving problems and leveraging legal structures to drive growth and enable opportunity.

Elizabeth is a published author, an active member of her community, and a Board Certified Coach. She received her J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center, magna cum laude, and her B.A. in Economics and Political Science, summa cum laude, from James Madison University. Her upcoming book, Encore: A High Achiever’s Guide to Thriving in Retirement, will be released in February 2025.

Beyond her professional endeavors, Elizabeth is an active member of her community, offering board service and pro bono representation to a number of local nonprofits. She also leverages her platform to give back to society and contribute to the advancement of the legal profession through mentorship, advocacy, and thought leadership.

elizabeth-zelinka-2
quote-2

As Les Brown says, “you can't see the picture when you're in the frame.” We help people get out of their own frames. Then they see themselves and what they want so much more clearly.

Embark on a Journey to a New, Energizing Chapter of Life.

At the crossroads of professional and personal life, Elizabeth Zelinka Parsons struggled to find purpose after a high-powered career. Searching for answers, she embarked on a transformative journey to discover new approaches to purpose, balance, and resilience.

encore-book-2

In “Encore: A High Achiever’s Guide to Thriving in Retirement,” Elizabeth:

  • Shatters stereotypes, offering strategies for embracing change and strategically navigating transitions.
  • Emphasizes carrying your existential motivators into retirement.
  • Advocates ditching quantitative success measures for qualitative ones.
  • Encourages leveraging strategic instability for continuous growth.
  • Guides you to develop the mindset of a creator instead of a reactor.

The book presents actionable exercises to help you:

  • Expand your relationship portfolio.
  • Adopt a strategy of confident control.
  • Design a satisfying new life with meaningful engagement.

Unlike conventional retirement guides, “Encore” reframes retirement as a dynamic transition, akin to a graduation or promotion, positioning it as an opportunity for personal growth. For professionals seeking a productive, engaged, and purposeful next chapter, this guide is your go-to resource, offering a wealth of possibilities for resilience, reinvention, and a fulfilling encore.

A High Achiever’s Guide to Thriving in Retirement

Throughout this book, Elizabeth draws heavily from the stories of clients who have attended the Encore Program, created to help high-achieving professionals design a purposeful and energizing plan for their next chapters. She is deeply grateful to them all for placing their trust in her and for the lessons that come out of their experiences. Her hope is that the lessons shared in this book help many others as they approach and navigate the monumental inflection point known as “retirement.”

— GET 2 FREE CHAPTERS! Complete the form below.

encore-book-2

Praise for Encore

quote

If you’re like many, you might realize that you’ve underestimated the impact of retirement and the significant emotional shift it entails. In her book “Encore,” Elizabeth Parsons outlines essential steps for creating a fulfilling retirement life. From the first chapter that grabbed my attention, “Retirement Anxiety: When Liberation Feels Like Loss,” to the very end, “Making it Real: Getting Started, Charting Progress, and Enjoying the Ride,” I gained a much better understanding of the need to reconnect with my broader identity beyond my professional self. The book prompts you to ask, “Who am I if not defined by my career?” and emphasizes finding a new purpose for your next life chapter.

These are just a few of the insights I gained from the book. I’ve made notes throughout it, used a stack of Post-it notes to highlight key areas, and shared many of Parsons’ thoughts and suggestions with my friends. From my personal retirement planning, Elizabeth’s book could not be more helpful. If you are facing retirement (or even if you are already in it), this book provides the guidance, support, and encouragement you need.

— Bob Gerst, Vice President, John I. Haas, Inc.

quote

Accessible, practical, and important, “Encore” guides the reader toward their own unique, personalized plan for a fulfilling transition to the next chapter of their life: retirement. This book empowers its readers to control every aspect of their departure from corporate life, including assuring their legacy at their former company, planning retirement projects that sing to them, deciding where to live, and coordinating their retirement with other family members. “Encore” explores the anxiety and even anger many people feel toward the idea of retirement and the identity crisis that can hit high achievers separated from their most important descriptor: job title. Readers interested in creatively strategizing their next stage of life will find this book most helpful. “Encore’s” optimistic attitude and career counseling information will be useful to just about everyone.

— Kathy L. Brown, Independent Book Review

Connect With Us

Encoraco is committed to helping successful lawyers and business professionals transition into retirement with a fresh purpose and a structured plan for both leisure and meaningful engagement.

If you’re finding it difficult to let go of your career and plan for the next chapter, our Retirement Coaches can help.

Book a consultation