Redirecting.work

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After a 35-year military career and decades in corporate consulting, Joe Almodovar chose to step into retirement with intention and clarity. At 60, bolstered by a military pension and healthcare benefits, he embraced the chance to leave the corporate grind behind. Joe designed a new life centered on teaching part-time, pursuing hobbies like golf and Porsche racing, and nurturing long-standing friendships.

 

His story reflects a move towards retirement about freedom, balance, and enjoying the rewards of careful planning.

What Did Joe Pivot From?
Joe’s career spanned both military service and corporate life, each marked by longevity and intensity. After 35 years split between active duty and reserves, he retired from the military in 2019. That same year, he wrapped up a grueling two-and-a-half-year global SAP Financials implementation as his final project at Kearney. When COVID-19 hit in 2020 and the firm offered early retirement, Joe was ready. “I jumped on it,” he recalled.

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This was not a spur-of-the-moment decision. Years earlier, he had taught part-time at Chicago-area universities and loved it. He had always planned to return to teaching as a bridge into retirement, giving him a sense of purpose beyond consulting.

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The Transition Process
Joe followed the advice he’d often heard—take six months before diving into anything new. He rested, golfed, and thought about what came next. Not long after, longtime colleague Stacey Harris reached out. Though uninterested in full-time work, Joe agreed to light consulting in vendor selection and industry analysis with Sapient Insights. It kept him engaged without tying him down.

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At the same time, he pursued his teaching plan. A former Kearney boss who had moved into higher education connected him to DePaul University, where Joe began teaching project management in 2021. “It kept me sharp,” he said. Teaching one or two classes a week fit seamlessly into his lifestyle. Still, he views it as temporary. His wife, also a teacher, will retire soon, and together they plan to travel freely, unencumbered by a classroom schedule.

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Hobbies also anchor his days. For several years, Joe has tracked his Porsche in club events, running it on courses like Road America. Golf, pickleball, and gatherings with his “Romeo” group, Retired Old Men Eating Out, round out his routine. “I guess my big pivot will be retirement,” he reflects, describing how leisure, friendships, and light work created a satisfying balance.

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Current Direction
Today, Joe embraces a life shaped around enjoyment, health, and relationships rather than another professional chapter. Teaching remains in the mix, but he plans to step away within a year to make room for extended travel. He and his wife intend to “winter” in a different location each year, including Florida, Arizona, Puerto Rico, Costa Rica, or Hawaii, rather than buying a second home.

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Chicago winters can bring boredom, with golf and biking off the table. To counter that, Joe takes short golf trips to Arizona or Florida until longer winter escapes become possible. “I certainly don’t miss the corporate grind,” he said, though he appreciates the friendships and occasional connections consulting and conferences still provide.

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Financial readiness has eased the transition. His pension and healthcare laid the foundation, while part-time teaching and consulting comfortably cover hobbies like golf trips and car racing without touching retirement savings. “It’s nice to have that extra income for the fun stuff,” he explained.

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Advice to Others
Joe frames retirement planning around four essential “work streams”:

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• Financial security – pensions, savings, healthcare coverage.
   

• Health and medical care – staying active and maintaining well-being.
   

• Home activities and hobbies – what will keep you stimulated day-to-day.
   

• Travel and lifestyle choices – where and how you want to spend your time.

 

His key reminder: no plan is fixed. “Expect to adjust,” he said. “If you go in knowing you’ll have to adapt, your expectations will be okay.”

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Equally important are relationships. Former colleagues opened doors to consulting and teaching, while friendships sustain his social life. “It all matters,” he emphasized. “The relationships you have prior to retirement may be of real benefit to you in retirement.”

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For Joe, retirement is not about reinvention. It’s about freedom, the freedom to teach for a while, to race his car, to golf with friends, and to winter someplace warm. In his words, “I honestly can’t complain.”