For Kevin Rauckman, retiring from Garmin International in 2014 after 16 years as CFO?and treasurer wasn?t about giving up the financial and leadership skills accumulated?in his career. The change was a transition to a new season of using that experience?to be productive in different areas of influence – leading a nonprofit, serving on?corporate and nonprofit boards, teaching and touching people?s lives in different?ways than he did as a public-company CFO. Rauckman laid out his process of finding a?”next chapter? for FEI Kansas City members at our Professional Development Day on?Nov. 13.

Among the principles Rauckman recommends to financial execs looking to the future:

Continue pursuing your strengths. Don?t view retirement as a time to do something?unfamiliar, but as a time to apply your strengths to new endeavors.
Maintain connections made during your career. Don?t drop those ?work friends? and?professional peers – continue the relationships as you move forward.
Recognize that productivity is critical to influence. Pursuing your next chapter is?simply about finding new ventures in which to be productive.
Work on time management. Just as juggling multiple demands was a challenge in your?career, managing time will continue to be a key need.
Explore boards as a way to offer your skills. Be sure you understand what a?nonprofit or company really wants, so you can contribute your expertise rather than?serving passively.
Evaluate activities according to your contribution, not your compensation. Money?isn?t the yardstick for success, especially in a ?new season? after retirement.
Consider investing your energy in developing next-generation leaders, as Rauckman is?doing with the nonprofit he founded, Kansas City Fellows.

Rauckman encouraged FEI members to begin planning today for the future, networking?with friends and professional colleagues in a similar stage of life – and?considering that next season of influence.