Lessons from Pa

This time of year, I often think of the carefree summers I enjoyed as a child.  I spent the first 13 years of my life in Newark, Ohio, before moving to Cincinnati.  My father is from Akron and most years my sister and I would spend at least a week at my grandparent’s house visiting our aunts, uncles and cousins that lived in the area.

My grandfather (Pa) passed away in 2010 and would have turned 100 this September.    He is never far from my thoughts and I am forever grateful for the lessons he taught me.

1.     Happy endings aren’t just for the movies

My grandparents were married for 72 years.  My husband, Tom, and I will each have to live to age 99 to accomplish this feat!  They were able to live in their house until the year Pa passed away.  Remaining physically and mentally active and being blessed with good health allowed them to maintain their independence.

2.     The importance of social circles

My grandparents were always active in their church and had a wide circle of friends.  They were fortunate to live close to most of their 8 brothers and sisters and saw them frequently.  After Pa’s death, my grandmother moved to an independent living facility where she remains today.  She just turned 94 in March and continues to spend her days filled with social engagements and family visits.  

3.     Live within your means

My grandfather drove a Frito Lay truck for a living and my grandmother never worked outside the home.  They lived in the same house for 47 years and were diligent savers.  Pa stopped working at age 60 and they were able to enjoy a comfortable retirement which included spending winters in Florida and many rounds of golf.

4.     Have a purpose

Pa started caddying at the age of 13.  Golf was his passion and he played whenever possible.  One of his happiest moments was when he finally got a hole-in-one at age 89.  A retirement lasting over 35 years would not have been nearly as fun if he wasn’t able to do something he enjoyed so much.

When I envision my life after work, my grandparents often come to mind.  Having a fulfilling life, surrounded by the people I love is just as important as making sure I’ve saved enough money.  I hope it is for you too.

Christine Carleton, CFP®

ccarleton@taaginc.com
www.taaginc.com

The Power of Purpose

Over the last few weeks I have been surrounded by friends and family members dealing with the challenges of an aging relative. Their specific situations and circumstances are different, but in each case I have been amazed by how much the attitude of each individual impacts their ability to cope with the issues they’re facing.

The woman who helped care for me before I started elementary school is now in her mid-80’s and has no living relatives, so my parents have adopted her as family. They make meals for her, take her to church, clean her apartment and repair what needs fixed. They are with her nearly every day, but she does not know what to do with her time when they’re not around. She has no significant health problems, but her health is failing and she is becoming very frail because she has no enthusiasm for living.

My great aunt is 101 years old and legally blind. She has lived alone in a small, three story house since her husband died over 25 years ago. A retired English teacher, she loves listening to books on tape, Marshall University basketball games and the news. She tends her small garden in the back of her house and looks forward to trips to Captain D’s for lunch with young friends. She shows no signs of slowing down.

As a financial advisor, I am able to learn from the collective experience of the people I serve. People who are happy and healthy in their 70’s, 80’s and beyond have one thing in common – they have not lost their love of life. They all have a purpose, a reason for living.

As a society we race from one task to the next, and spend very little time in quiet reflection. We need to stop and ask ourselves:
What makes me happy?
What’s missing in my life?
What will keep me going when everything isn’t perfect?

If we take time now to understand ourselves, and know what gives our lives purpose, then we can live fuller lives today and better lives beyond 100.

By Jeannette Jones, CPA, CFP(r)
Jjones@taaginc.com

The Golden Ticket

"Happiness is a by-product. You cannot pursue it by itself"

Sam Levenson

As we approach retirement, much time is spent daydreaming about a life of leisure when we have no one to answer to but ourselves. Happiness seems inevitable when we are in charge of our own destiny. It is common to spend the years approaching retirement creating a plan so your financial house is in order, but less common to create a mission statement describing the purpose for the next stage of your life.

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In business, a mission statement is created to describe the purpose of the organization and spells out the goals and direction for a company. With a personal mission statement, you can create an intentional direction for your life.

In the twenty years I have been advising retirees, I have found that the biggest determinant of their happiness in retirement is discovering their purpose. This can be anything from spending time with family and friends, pursuing a hobby, volunteering to starting a new career. Those who are the most thoughtful about how they will be spending their golden years seem to enjoy life to the fullest.

A wonderful web site I have recently discovered is http://www.theonequestion.com/. It includes a wealth of information from a test to discover your purpose, to links to articles, books and interviews so each of us can discover our own passion and begin to live a truly fulfilling life. It's never too late to start!

By Chris Carleton, CFP®