After working 42 years for a major U.S. corporation, Mary was laid off. She and her husband Mitch came to see us for financial advice. During the meeting, Mitch shared concerns about losing Mary's salary. He asked if they could continue to live their current lifestyle in retirement and if they were going to run out of money in their senior years. We noticed Mary was quiet and withdrawn. After asking some probing questions, it became apparent that Mary was facing an identity crisis. She worked most of her life as an upper-level manager. She was an integral part of the company. Without her job, she felt out of place, lost and withdrawn.
During our meetings, we utilized various tools (worksheets and discussions) to help Mary find new meaning and direction in her life. We were able to bring out hidden passions from her youth, such as yoga, fitness, and gardening. Retirement would provide her the time and means to focus on these activities. Mary became attentive and engaged. She felt back in control ready to transition forward into retirement. We worked on their financial plan and determined that they could retire with ease.
Today, we work closely with Mary and Mitch. We review their financial plan annually; this provides them both with the comfort of knowing they can continue to chart their course and pursue their dreams. With regular planning, they continue to whittle down their bucket list every year!
Parting Thoughts...
"Over the next week, spend 10 minutes every evening writing about an experience that you are grateful
for, sometimes it can be as simple as seeing a beautiful bird! Writing it down rather than thinking about
it leads to a deeper level of processing, which has a more sustained effect on your mood. Remember to write about something different each day."
~ Dr. Robert Emmons
“You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.”
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