Retirement Isn't About Quitting. It's About Options.

Why I stopped waiting for 65 and started build a “job-free” income portfolio today.

Yep, this is my retirement plan.

Not a 401k. Not golf. Not waiting until I’m 65.

I’ve been self-employed since 2013, and while I don’t plan to stop anytime soon, I am building something that works for me—with or without me.

I want to stay sharp. Stay useful. Stay relevant.

This isn’t about quitting - it’s about building an offensive retirement portfolio. One that grows while you sleep, speaks to your purpose, and gives you freedom now, not decades from now.

Redefining Retirement is a weekly newsletter where I show fellow Gen Xers how to build the same kind of job-free, asset-based income streams I’ve built using email newsletters, freelancing, coaching, consulting, AI tools, and a bit of old-school latchkey attitude.

This is especially for peeps in their 40s or 50s who still want to make an impact—but also want more freedom, stability, and control.

I’ve tested the platforms. I’ve built the systems. I’ve made the mistakes so you don’t have to.

If you’re ready to stop depending on employers, start thinking like an entrepreneur, and build something that lasts—you’re in the right place. You In?

Our 5 Pillars of Redefining Retirement

1. Job Security Is Myth
   Fast change is the new normal. Instead of clinging to outdated career paths, we lean into self-reliance.We teach you to think like an entrepreneur even if you’ve spent decades as an employee.This isn’t about risk. It’s about building something that gives you options. Entrepreneurship is the new job security

2. AI Needs Your Grey Hair
   AI without experience is just expensive autocomplete.Your decades of real-world work give you the one thing machines can’t fake: taste, judgment, and better questions.We show you how to package what you know and use AI to accelerate, not replace, your insight.

3. Newsletters Are the Ultimate Asset in a Noisy World
   Social platforms come and go. Email stays.A personal-branded newsletter gives you control, compounding trust, and direct access to your audience without playing the algorithm game.It’s your home base. Your digital real estate. Your hedge against platform risk.

4. Build Assets, Not Resume
   One income stream is a liability.We help you build multiple paths to revenue from newsletters and affiliate marketing to digital products and consulting.This is about building income that fits your life, not someone else’s org chart.

5. This Isn’t About Quitting. It’s About Reinventing.
   We’re not “done.” We’re just getting started.This path isn’t always easy it takes courage, patience, and consistency.But we believe retirement shouldn’t mean withdrawal from work. It should mean freedom to work on what matters to you most.

Who Is Redefining Retirement For?

Redefining Retirement is for Gen Xers who are:

• Too Young To Retire: You're not ready to quit working quite yet, but you're done with the corporate rat race.

• Too Experienced For BS: You're tired of watching less qualified people become your boss or take your job just because they're younger.

• Too Smart To Wait: You know there's a better way than grinding it out for the next 15-20 years hoping your 401k holds up.

Inside Redefining Retirement, I don't just give you theory. I'll show you exactly how I went from being that cubicle guy making $40K to pulling in $10K months doing stuff I actually care about. And the best part? You can do it too, using skills you already have.

Uh, Ok?! Who the hell are you?

I'm Corey Koehler (sounds like KAY-ler), and man, have I been where you are.I'm a guy who:

• Got fed up as a mechanical draftsman watching my designs save the company thousands (while I got a measly raise and the old "pat on the back")

• Turned my frustration into a six-figure one-person business managing Googles Ads and Digital Marketing for clients in a crap ton of niches.

• Started making and marketing music in my late 30s (yeah, really - two albums and 100+ shows later)

• Built multiple income streams by just writing about stuff I actually cared about (from fantasy football to music to digital marketing)

Most importantly, I'm the guy who figured out how to turn decades of experience and stuff I love learning about into income without the typical entrepreneurship cringe (something I suffered through in my network marketing/MLM days). No fancy MBA needed, no complicated business plans - just taking what I already knew and adding some digital tools to make it work.And now, with AI making everything faster and easier, the possibilities are even bigger.

Best Issues And Stories

Still not sure if Redefining Retirement is your thing? Here are some reader favorites that'll give you a taste of what we're about:

• Gen X: The Unexpected Winners of the AI Revolution: Everyone's freaking out about AI, but here's the thing - we're the original internet adapters. I show you how the OGs of internet adaptation are perfectly positioned to profit from artificial intelligence.

• How I Built a One-Person Business at 50 with Blogs and Newsletters: Starting with a couple of blogs about fantasy football and music, I'll show you how I went from a $40K desk job to running a one-person business I love (for over ten years now).

• How to Monetize a Newsletter: The 2025 Gen X Income Guide: Stop leaving money on the table. I break down the exact 'Gen X' way to turn your email list into spendable cash—from sponsorships to digital products—without acting like a desperate influencer.

• The "Quiet" AI Side Hustle Perfect for Gen X: Trading time for money is a young man’s game. Here is why the 'Quiet Business' model (using AI + Beehiiv) is the smartest play for us 40-somethings who want to build an asset, not just another job.

• Honest Beehiiv Review 2025: Why I Ditched WordPress: I tested them all so you don't have to. Here is the no-BS breakdown of why I run my entire business on Beehiiv, plus the pros, the cons, and a 20% off code if you decide to jump in.

• AI Newsletter Fast-Track: Step-by-Step Guide: You don't need to quit your job or post every day to start a newsletter. I show you the exact 'One Post, Two Platforms' system I use to build a growing asset in just a few hours a week. No burnout allowed.

• The ChatGPT Newsletter Strategy (Audience to Income Map): Most people fail because they start writing before they have a plan. I created a custom ChatGPT prompt that maps out your entire business model—niche, growth, and income potential—before you ever hit publish.

And yeah, when you subscribe, you get access to every story, strategy, and AI shortcut in the archive. It's all there for you to dig into.

Redefining Retirement (My) Guarantee

Bottom line, I see a lot of 40 and 50-year-olds out there who are stuck in jobs they don’t like, getting passed up because of their age and looking for more out of life.I was stuck in jobs I hated too.

I am constantly trying different things to do make my work more meaningful and connect with people interested in doing the same.Here's my promise:

• Weekly Value: Every Sunday, you get something you can actually use.

• Real Talk Only: No corporate buzzwords, no "hustle culture" cringe, just practical strategies that work (and if you hear any cringe, please call me out).

• Continuous Learning: As AI and digital tools evolve, I'm constantly testing what works (and what doesn't) and sharing it all with you.

• Complete Transparency: I share everything - the wins, the face-plants, and all the shortcuts I discover along the way.

Plus, you can always hit reply and let me know what specific challenges you're facing - I read and respond to every email.I do not have all the answers, but what I do have and find, I will share with you.

Ready to join us?

P.S. Still on the fence? I reply to every email. Sign up and tell me what you're working on—I'd love to hear it.