Wake up inspired and end your day fulfilled

By G.C. LEWIS, CFP®

Ever have one of those days where you work nonstop for 12-15 hours?

Do you find it happening 5-7 days per week?  Has the COVID-19 situation has made things even worse?

You are not alone.

Many hard-working executives are waking up after 30 years of working for the same company only to find they are more exhausted than they have ever been and dreaming of what retirement might look like. So why don’t they? Well, while they have been working diligently for a long time and have some savings, they wonder if it is enough. More importantly – what are they going to do after they retire?  I work with people like this day in and day out, and if this sounds like you, I have good news – the next chapter in your life has tremendous possibilities, and it could be closer than you think!

Live for today, plan for tomorrow

If you are like most humans, you long to wake up inspired each day, and hope to feel fulfillment at the end of each day. Author and speaker Simon Sinek’s mission is to help people achieve just that. He is the author of 5 books, narrates podcasts, has online classes and is a TED Talk veteran. If you long to wake up each day inspired, and end each day fulfilled, I highly encourage you to enroll in his Why Discovery Course to start the process.

When I was introduced to Sinek’s work, his message about living an authentic, purposeful life resonated with me in an incredibly profound way. I have a passion for living each day to the fullest – but as a financial planner, I understand how important it is to also plan for tomorrow.  

If you’re like most successful professionals I work with, after you have discovered your “Why” and created a vision of what you want the rest of your life to look like, it’s not just as simple as just jumping in and “living it” every day.   You need CLARITY. In my experience, clarity comes from the development of a plan that inspires you to take the leap from the mentally and physically-draining current life’s work and instead embracing your “Why.”

A three-part plan to live inspired

So how do you do it? In my experience a plan needs to encompass three areas:

• Offense. What are the steps you need to take in order to make sure that you are financially independent and can afford to begin the journey doing what you are passionate about?
• Defense. How do you protect yourself and your loved ones from unforeseen life events?
• Plan B. Will you be prepared when things don’t go as planned?

Offense

Part one of your “Live for today, plan for tomorrow” strategy is offense.  To develop an offensive strategy, ask yourself:

• How much money do you need to live every month? Have you actually taken the time to calculate it? Will that amount be the same in retirement?
• How much do you have in savings?
• Do you have enough cash for emergencies? Do you have too much?
• Are you saving enough each month?
• Where are your savings going-- 401k? ROTH? Brokerage account? How do these different types of assets affect your plan?
• How much risk do you need to take to get to your goal? How much do you feel comfortable with?
• Are your financial assets invested in alignment with your goals?
• Do you have a tax strategy for today and the future?
• Do you own rental real estate? Is it profitable? Do you enjoy it?
• Should you plan on Social Security income? If so, when should you take it?
• If you have a pension, does it make more sense to take it as a traditional income stream or a lump sum?

Answering these and other important questions, plus making the right decisions in key areas is critical for an offensive strategy that gives you clarity about the “how” of living your “Why.”

Defense

Part two of your plan is a defensive strategy.   Your defense is there to protect you and your family from the unexpected. It’s what helps you sleep at night while you’re living your “Why.”  Your defensive strategy should address questions like:

• If you were to die prematurely is there sufficient money to provide for your family? Does that coverage expire at some point in the future?
• If you were to become disabled and unable to work, do you qualify for social security disability insurance to replace your income? Will it be enough?
• Do you have the option through work to apply for a disability policy? Do you have both short term and long-term disability coverage? Should you get a policy outside of work?
• If you are planning on retiring earlier than age 65, how will you pay for healthcare?
• What’s your potential liability in the event of someone being injured or killed on your property or in your car?

There are numerous potential risks that can severely affect your ability – or your family’s ability -- to live life to the fullest.  Some financial risks, like the above, are things you can plan for and protect against.  

Plan B

Now that you have put together your plan both offensively and defensively, have you considered what may happen if something does not go as planned? Enter Plan B.

• What happens if you lose your job unexpectedly?
• What happens if we experience another Great Recession of 2008 or, heaven forbid, another global pandemic --that significantly reduces your account values?
• What if a real estate crash affects your ability to sell your current home at retirement?
• What happens if a family member needs long-term care?

You need to stress test your plan for the unexpected. You also need to make sure that you have your estate planning documents in place.

• Do you have a will?
• A durable power of attorney?
• What about an advanced health care directive?
• Who is going to act as your executor? Do you have a backup?
• Who is going to care for your minor children?

If you do not have an estate plan, the state has one for you -- but I would wager that it is not the same one you would create.

From burned-out to fulfilled

Nothing brings me greater joy than watching clients who were burned out after working hard for years light up when they finally have the clarity they need to take the next step in life.  My “Why” in life is helping others life inspired, fulfilled lives with confidence that comes from having a plan!

Maybe for you the next step is retirement – or maybe it’s starting a non-profit or a passion project. Whatever your “Why,” whatever your next chapter looks like, remember, having a plan gives you clarity. Clarity gives you the ability to act. Action will ultimately lead to the results you are looking to achieve.  And speaking of action -- find someone to hold you accountable to the goals that you have set for yourself when you find yourself falling in to your old daily routine. It will increase your likelihood of success.

When you are ready to say “goodbye” to burnout, wake up inspired and go to bed fulfilled each day, “start with why,” and then create your three-part plan to live that life. 

G.C. Lewis helps successful corporate managers and executives live life for today while planning for tomorrow.  You can learn more at www.mainstreetfg.com or reach out to him at gclewis@mainstreetfg.com.

If you’re ready to take the first step towards your ideal future, we’re here to support you. But we’re also available if you just have a question. Contact us at 678-398-4528 or submit the form below. We’d love to hear from you.