Cervello Financial Planning

10/06/2026

Episode 79 – 6 Questions To Ask Before Retirement | Planning A Better Next Chapter

Most people spend years planning how to retire financially, but far less time thinking about what they are actually retiring to. In this episode of What Happens Next, host Chris Daems shares six powerful questions to ask before retirement that go beyond pensions, spreadsheets, and retirement age.

Chris explores why identity, purpose, relationships, wellbeing, and daily structure matter just as much as financial independence. From asking “Who am I when I’m not working?” to understanding what a good week really looks like, this video helps you think more deeply about retirement planning and the next chapter of life. You’ll also learn why knowing your number is not just about having enough money, but understanding what the life you want to live will actually cost.

Most people spend years planning how to retire financially, but far less time thinking about what they are actually retiring to. In this episode of What Happens Next, host Chris Daems shares six powerful questions to ask before retirement that go beyond pensions, spreadsheets, and retirement age. Ch...

09/06/2026

What happens when the life, career, or identity you built no longer feels like the right fit? In this episode of What Happens Next, host Chris Daems speaks with leadership mentor Nicola Vortes about self-leadership, personal change, and how to navigate the next chapter of life with greater clarity and courage.

Together, they explore why change often starts from the inside, how old beliefs can keep us stuck, and why letting go of a previous identity can feel so difficult especially in our 50s, 60s, and beyond.

Chris and Nicola discuss the emotional side of retirement, business exits, career transitions, financial independence, and finding a new sense of purpose. They also explore the importance of inner circles, coaching, relationships, resilience, emotional intelligence, and learning to stop abandoning yourself for external success.

What happens when the life, career, or identity you built no longer...

08/06/2026

In this video Pete and Jo explain how they first sought advice to consolidate pensions and build financial confidence, why their connection with Chris and the Cervello team went far beyond money, and how their continued support and clarity have helped them grow their business and feel part of a family they would happily recommend to others.

08/06/2026

In this personal and powerful episode of What Happens Next, Chris Daems shares the story behind the work he does, the values that shaped him, and why his late mum remains the inspiration for everything that comes next.

Chris reflects on a childhood moment involving a blue willow pattern plate, a proud mum, and an early lesson about the importance of being helpful and useful to others. He also explains how years of financial planning conversations revealed a bigger question many people face in their 50s, 60s and beyond:

once the money is sorted, what happens next?

This episode explores why retirement planning is about far more than pensions, savings and financial independence. Chris shares two practical ideas from the What Happens Next book, including the NEXT framework and the power of rapid, low-cost experimentation when designing your next chapter.

Get the What Happens Next book here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1918097720

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4KEOu-a_eE

05/06/2026

There is a blue willow pattern Chinese plate sitting in my memory that, in a roundabout way, explains exactly why What Happens Next exists.

Let me take you back. Primary school, East London, mid-1980s. I was the sort of kid who noticed if someone was sitting on their own at break time. Not because anyone told me to, just because it seemed like the obvious thing to do. One day, the school mentioned it in assembly. Stood there in front of what felt like hundreds of other children, my first thought was straightforward: what am I getting?

This was the era of He-Man and Transformers. The gift I actually received was a blue willow pattern Chinese plate. Probably grabbed from the back of a teacher’s cupboard in a hurry. I thought it was a bit rubbish, honestly.

https://www.cervellofp.co.uk/2026/06/04/the-blue-willow-pattern-plate-and-the-question-that-started-everything/

04/06/2026

Retirement isn’t the end of the story.

It’s where the next one begins, if you know how to write it.

My new book, What Happens Next, is designed to help you think clearly about life after work, find fresh purpose, and start shaping the next chapter with confidence.

Whether you’re approaching retirement, already there, or supporting someone who is, this book is about more than money. It’s about meaning, direction, identity, and building a life that still feels full of possibility.

Clarify what matters most.
Design a life that fits you.
Discover new purpose and direction.
Live well and leave impact.

Get your copy here:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1918097720

03/06/2026

What does it really mean to live a wealthy life especially in your 50s, 60s, and beyond?

In this episode of What Happens Next, host Chris Daems sits down with author, coach, and minister David Scarlet for a powerful, deeply human conversation about true wealth, relationships, and meaningful living.

Together, Chris and David explore why money alone doesn't create happiness and why the quality of your relationships, your sense of purpose, and your connection to community matter far more as we move into the next chapter of life.

Drawing on decades of lived experience, coaching, and insight from studies like the Harvard Study of Wellbeing, David shares why relationships are directly linked to longevity, fulfillment, and emotional health.

https://whathappensnext.life/podcast/episode-78-what-true-wealth-really-means-in-your-50s-beyond/

02/06/2026

In this video Jake talks about how important it was to create a clear plan for his and his wife’s future, how Cervello’s cashflow forecasting gave them peace of mind about never running out of money, and why he believes their trustworthy, thoughtful approach and willingness to challenge assumptions makes working with them such a positive experience.

02/06/2026

What really happens when your career ends, and how do you prepare for the emotional, social, and health changes that come next?

In this episode of What Happens Next, host Chris Daems speaks with Claire Lyons Collins, occupational therapist and founder of WePivot, about navigating retirement transition, redundancy, identity change, and the next chapter of life with more confidence and intention.

Claire explains why retirement planning is about far more than money. While financial security matters, the conversation explores the often-overlooked areas that shape wellbeing after work: daily routine, social connection, physical and mental health, meaningful activity, agency, and purpose.

Chris and Claire discuss why people can “fall off a cliff edge” after leaving a long career, how work becomes part of our identity, why making friends later in life can feel surprisingly difficult, and how simple reflective exercises can help you reconnect with what truly matters. You’ll also hear practical ideas around occupational balance, building healthier habits, preparing emotionally for retirement, and creating a fulfilling life beyond your job title.

What really happens when your career ends, and how do you prepare for the emotional, social, and health changes that come next?In this episode of What Happen...

01/06/2026

Retirement should bring freedom, energy and a better quality of life, but stopping work can also remove the routines that quietly support your physical health.

In this episode of What Happens Next, Chris explores why retirement can affect movement, strength, sleep, social connection and long-term wellbeing.

He shares five simple experiments to help you protect your body in retirement, including walking daily, strength training, exercising with others, improving sleep and designing a healthier morning routine.

Retirement should bring freedom, energy and a better quality of life, but stopping work can also remove the routines that quietly support your physical healt...