Turn Your Skills into a Second Act of Service

Kristen Kennedy

August 25, 2026

Retirement doesn't mean your professional skills have to sit on the shelf. Helping out in your community is a great way to use them! Here are a few ways to put your skills and experience to work:

Mentor someone starting out in your field. Whether through a formal program or a quick coffee chat, the advice of a master is priceless.
Teach a skill you know well. From a language, a craft or something technical, you can share your knowledge at a local library, community/senior center, or elsewhere.
Advise small business owners or nonprofits that could use the kind of expertise you possess.
Organize a fundraiser, food drive, or community event using the planning skills you've honed over the years.
Serve on a local board or committee where your professional judgment can engender positive change.
Coach a youth sports team, debate club, or academic program that could use your steady, patient guidance.
Write a how-to guide, blog, or resource for others navigating a career path you know well.

Whatever your background, there's likely a cause or a person out there who could use exactly what you've spent years learning. Share your wisdom, and maybe make a few friends in the process.

Cetera Financial Group (Cetera) is a network of independent retail firms, including those that are members of FINRA/SIPC: Cetera Advisors LLC; Cetera Wealth Services, LLC (formerly known as Cetera Advisor Networks); Cetera Investment Services LLC (marketed as Cetera Financial Institutions or Cetera Investors); and Cetera Financial Specialists LLC. Entities registered as investment advisers with the Securities and Exchange Commission include Cetera Investment Management LLC and Cetera Investment Advisers LLC. Cetera’s principal office is located at 655 W. Broadway, 11th Floor, San Diego, CA 92101.

Individuals affiliated with Cetera firms are either Registered Representatives who offer only brokerage services and receive transaction-based compensation (commissions), Investment Adviser Representatives who offer only investment advisory services and receive fees based on assets, or both Registered Representatives and Investment Adviser Representatives, who can offer both types of services.

This communication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information on the subjects covered. It is not, however, intended to provide specific legal, tax, or other professional advice. For specific professional assistance, the services of an appropriate professional should be sought. For a comprehensive review of your personal situation, always consult with a tax or legal advisor. Neither Cetera firms nor any of its representatives may give legal or tax advice.