Ida Abbott is the President of Ida Abbott Consulting, a consulting firm that has served employers, individuals, partners, and law firms since 1995. Most of her current work focuses on three areas: supporting retirement transitions by helping firms create dignified retirement processes and helping individuals design happy, fulfilling futures; promoting mentoring and sponsorship; and advancing women into leadership.
Due to 40-plus years of valuable contributions as a lawyer and consultant, Ida was elected as a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation and a Fellow of the College of Law Practice Management, among so many other leadership positions she holds.
Ida’s best-selling book, Retirement by Design, was named one of the six best books on retirement and aging by the Wall Street Journal in 2020. Ida Abbot has been recognized nationally and internationally as a thought leader and innovator in developing, retaining, and managing legal talent.
Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:
- Ida Abbott identifies some of the current trends in the legal industry — and how they impact lawyers and firms
- The lack of equity and inclusion for people of color in the legal profession
- Why Ida pivoted from her legal career into a retirement-focused profession
- Is retirement different now than it used to be?
- One of the most significant factors that hinders open discussions about retirement: fear of the unknown
- At what age should you plan to retire? (hint: it isn’t a one-size-fits-all situation!)
- The things you should process before retiring: friendships, partners, and more
In this episode…
Are you thinking about the prospect of retirement — whether it’s in the near or distant future? Do you want to know how to process and plan for retired life effectively?
According to retirement expert Ida Abbott, contrary to popular belief, the transition into retirement typically isn’t like riding into a sunset. Instead, the process of retiring is long, difficult, and emotionally-taxing. However, there are many ways to prepare for a new way of life in retirement and help soften the transition financially, emotionally, and mentally. In fact, that’s exactly where Ida comes in: to help people plan for retirement, regardless of age, socio-economic class, or career path. So, how can you start to prepare for retirement today to create an easier transition down the road?
In this episode of The Lawyer’s Edge Podcast, Elise Holtzman sits down with Ida Abbott, the President of Ida Abbott Consulting, to discuss the importance of planning for retirement. Listen in as Ida talks about her background in the legal profession, why people often avoid thinking about — and planning for — retirement, and some key factors to consider now before retiring later. Stay tuned!
Resources Mentioned in this episode
- Elise Holtzman on LinkedIn
- The Lawyer’s Edge
- Ida Abbott on LinkedIn
- Ida Abbott Consulting
- Retirement by Design: A Guided Workbook for Creating a Happy and Purposeful Future by Ida O. Abbott, JD
Sponsor for this episode…
This episode is brought to you by The Lawyer’s Edge, a firm based in the New York metropolitan area founded by Elise Holtzman in 2008 to help lawyers become skilled business developers and leaders so that they can grow their practices, retain top talent, and step confidently into leadership roles.
The firm offers customized coaching, consulting, and training programs such as their signature business development program, Lawyers Making Rain.
Now more than ever, it’s not enough to just do good work and hope your law firm will thrive. And no matter how smart and hard-working you are, it can be time-consuming and overwhelming to figure it all out by yourself.
To learn more about how we help lawyers become rainmakers and leaders, visit thelawyersedge.com or email us at podcast@thelawyersedge.com.
