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Founders’ Backgrounds
Michael S. Burnham, Jr.
Co-Founder, My Next Phase
Upon the sale of a successful family business in 1998, Michael Burnham found himself wondering what to do next. “I asked colleagues, friends and family members (some of whom are licensed psychologists and therapists) what was available in the way of non-financial retirement guidance,” recalls Burnham. “The answer startled me: Nothing.”
Determined to find guidance for himself, and to potentially uncover an untapped market, Burnham and his colleagues set off to create a unique, personalized, non-financial retirement guidance tool for the tens of millions of people who will retire in the coming years.
Burnham notes that the transition into retirement can be compared to navigating a challenging river. “A handful of retirees will achieve success by chance, the great majority will experience unnecessary difficulty because they are unprepared. Some will be unsuccessful and drown in depression, anxiety or weariness. My Next Phase is a bridge across that river, helping individuals find their unique path to a smooth, successful retirement transition.”
In addition to his work with My Next Phase, Burnham is also a partner in PlumTree Ventures, a private equity group. Prior to that, Burnham served as CEO of Lewis Supply Company for 12 years. And before that, he was a partner with Premium Products Sales Corporation, specializing in launching new products and building rapidly expanding companies, like Chipwich (chocolate chip cookie ice cream sandwich), Lick Your Chops (a chain of upscale pet stores) and NAPA Naturals (all-natural soft drink). He is a CPA and earned his Master of Science degree in Accounting from Northeastern University Graduate School of Professional Accounting. Michael Burnham now resides in Memphis , Tennessee .
J. Randolph Burnham, PhD
Co-Founder, My Next Phase
A licensed clinical psychologist, J. Randolph Burnham has run a private practice since 1977. He has served as a clinician, as a trainer and as a professor at such prestigious institutions as Northern Michigan University , Connecticut Valley Hospital, Middlesex Community College and Purdue University .
Burnham believes that My Next Phase will revolutionize retirement as we know it. “There is so much anxiety that comes with retirement,” says Burnham. “This is not because of a lack of planning, but rather a lack of appropriate planning. Retirees have not been addressing the emotional or psychological aspects of retirement.”
Burnham notes that retirement is terribly stressful sometimes, because many of us define our role in the world, our social status and our time structure around our careers. Once our careers are gone, many of us find our lives hard to define, resulting in anxiety. Burnham goes on to point out that the self-help tools currently available to retirees are one-size-fits-all. “Through My Next Phase, we can communicate with people in a dynamic way, adjusted specifically for their personality type. It’s the most personalized self-help guidance available.”
Burnham is a member of the American Psychological Association, the Connecticut Psychological Association, the Association of the Advancement of Psychology, the Cleveland Gestalt Institute and the New York Institute for Gestalt Therapy. He holds a BA from Earlham College and an MA and PhD from Purdue University . Dr. Burnham resides in Westport , CT.
Eric Sundstrom, PhD
Co-Founder, My Next Phase
An applied psychologist, Sundstrom is a university professor and a private consultant, specializing in organizational development, executive and personal development and coaching. He has designed and conducted employee attitude surveys, 360-degree feedback systems and performance assessments for multi-national companies like AT&T, Exxon USA, Lockheed-Martin, M&M/Mars and PepsiCo.
Sundstrom believes that retirement is a tremendous challenge for many, because it’s a transition that can literally change every aspect of your life - including residence, family structure, daily routine and financial situation.
“There are commonalities among those who retire successfully,” notes Sundstrom. “Planning ahead is crucial to retirement success - but, even more important is being self-aware. You need to know your needs, your limits, your talents, your blind spots and your strengths. My Next Phase helps future retirees be realistic about their plans for retirement, and to construct a plan that suits their personality.”
Sundstrom is serves a professor at the University of Tennessee . He holds a BA from the University of California , and an MA and PhD from the University of Utah . Dr. Sundstrom resides in Knoxville , TN.