From Software Engineer to Retirement Planning Consultant

Having a fact-filled bio on the back of a book is great. But as a potential reader, you may want more than that. So, this is about the person you’ll find in these books—me.

My official bio describes me as a "software engineer"—not the first profession you’d associate with an author, much less a retirement planning consultant. But here’s the thing: software engineering wasn’t just about computers. It was about understanding people—what they wanted, what they needed, and how to create solutions that truly worked. I spent my career identifying problems, designing fixes, and making things easier to use.

My ability to uncover what’s needed served me well in my transition into retirement planning. Just as I helped businesses improve their systems, I now help individuals improve their approach to retirement. Over the past five years, I’ve spent countless hours researching, interviewing, and analyzing what makes for a smooth retirement—and what causes people to struggle. I discovered three key fears that often hold retirees back:

• Infirmity – The fear of losing independence and becoming dependent on others.
• Loneliness – The fear of losing social connections and friendships.
• Meaninglessness – The fear of losing a sense of purpose and fulfillment.

None of these challenges are mentioned at the retirement party, yet many retirees face them head-on. The promise of relaxation and rewards often falls short when unexpected obstacles arise. Some retirees feel like they’ve been placed on a luxury cruise—only to realize the accommodations aren’t what they expected.

So, I took action. I gathered success stories, spoke with experts, and distilled my findings into a series of books focused on retirement planning. Just as I once built user-friendly software, I’ve crafted these books to be just as accessible. Instead of technical jargon, I use storytelling—real stories about retirees, challenges, and solutions—to guide you through the journey.

I wrote these books as if we were having a conversation in your living room. I want you to feel at ease, to trust that you’re getting advice from a neighbor who genuinely cares. My goal is to provide you with a roadmap so you can navigate retirement confidently.

What can I say? I’m still a problem-solver at heart. Only now, I help people—not just computers—work better.

Let’s talk.

- Ed Zinkiewicz, Retirement Planning Consultant