Mainebiz

V O L . X X X I N O. I I JA N UA R Y 2 7 , 2 0 2 5 12 W E A LT H M A N A G E M E N T / R E T I R E M E N T F O C U S J oan Fortin is thousands of miles — and mul- tiple time zones — removed from her home in Portland and the law firm she was associated with for 30 years and led for the last five. Retired from Bernstein Shur but not yet sure of her next professional move, the 58-year-old is taking an extended break with her husband, Chet Randall, 59, the former deputy director at Pine Tree Legal Assistance. On Jan. 5, a week after they left their jobs, they flew to New Zealand. "Sometimes I say we're taking a career hia- tus, other times I say retired or we're in tran- sition," Fortin says days before departure. Backpacking trips, car camping and "living in a van for a month" are all on the itinerary, but beyond that is wide open. "We've promised ourselves not to make any commitments for the immediately foreseeable future," says Fortin, who has updated her LinkedIn profile to "enthusiastic traveler." Joan Fortin, newly retired from the CEO role at Bernstein Shur, and her husband Chet Randall prepare for an extended trip to New Zealand. Joan Fortin and other women may be at the forefront of new social movement. P H O T O / J I M N E U G E R 'ME-tirement' takes off — These Maine women business leaders in their 40s and 50s are taking a career break B y R e n e e C o r d e s

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