Making the Midlife Leap

After getting laid off in her early 50s, Keri Gardner decided she wanted to control her own fate-so she bought a franchise with her 401(k).

- KIM KAVIN

Sometimes, building the life you want requires a big risk. That's what Keri Gardner realized when she cashed in $100,000 of her retirement savings to buy a franchise. It was November 2020, and she had just been laid off from her executive role at a health company. A franchise recruiter called her and asked, "Do you want to work for anybody else?"

Gardner replied, "Absolutely not. I work really hard. I want to do it for me."