“You can’t take it with you.”

A term often tied to the inability to take material positions with you when you die. While the origin is not totally clear, it is thought to be derived from Psalm 47: 16-17.

¹⁶ Do not be overawed when others grow rich,
    when the splendor of their houses increases;
¹⁷ for they will take nothing with them when they die,
    their splendor will not descend with them.

The idea of mortality and the inability to take material possessions into the afterlife is a universal human experience. This simple truth likely contributed to the phrase’s development and widespread adoption. The expression frequently serves as a reminder to prioritize experiences, Relationships, and personal Growth over the pursuit of wealth and material possessions.

On the surface, this may be contrary to the role of financial advisors. Yet, here are a couple of examples of financial firm mission statements.

To give our clients and their families Financial Independence. Our partnership with clients allows us to work side by side to develop and implement customized strategies to create and promote intergenerational wealth.

Raymond James

We are committed to maintaining the highest standards of integrity and professionalism in our relationship with you, our client. We endeavor to know and understand your financial situation and provide you with only the highest quality information, services and products to help you reach your goals.

Florida Financial Advisors

Redefining “Take it with You”

Whether client or advisor, it is important to know and understand how an advisor’s mission statement can help clients look deeper into their own mission or purpose. This lets you redefine what you can take with you when you die, but also what you will leave behind.

Wealth managers can set the stage and help clients navigate that Retirement isn’t just about not working; it’s about using resources, time, and values in ways that bring joy, purpose, and lasting impact.

• Gift experiences and not a straight inheritance. Foe example, include funding a grandchild’s college tuition, the next generation forever home, or the retirement funds of children.
• Defined charitable giving with intent. Encourage a donor advisor fund, create scholarships, contribute to local private and public Education.
• Record and share Wisdom. I have written about this before, but post-career can create quality time to record and preserve Family lineage, personal life stories, and impactful memories that can be accessed by future generations.

As your client base ages, your conversations need to expand beyond rates of return. By helping clients identify what truly matters to them, you move from being a financial expert to a life architect. And that’s where the real value is.

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Executing a Different Take it with You

Taking a conversation from rates of return and confidence models to a Psalm 47 discussion is not recommended. Your goal is to free their apprehensions about the end and to get them thinking about making the most of the present to feel good about the future. A great place to start is helping them define a purpose in life. That is the foundation to understanding to help them feel good about what they leave behind. Challenge clients to:

• Define any remaining dreams in life and their realistic ability to accomplish them.
• What would life be like if those dreams came true?
• If Money was no object, what would they do?
• What are their long- and short-term goals?
• What do their spouse or partner dream about? Do they align?
• What are their core values (individual and spouse)?
• What changes need to be made in life?
• What are their personal strengths?
• Where will they be in 5, 10, 15, and 20 years?

By answering these questions, your clients can then create a one to 2 sentence purpose or mission statement for their own life that redefines what they will choose to take with them into the next life.

The truth of Psalm 47 holds, wealth will not endure forever, but the memories and purpose of a well lived life can be taken.

David Buck is the author of the book The Time-Optimized Life, coauthor of The Retirement Collective, and owner of Kairos (Time) Management Solutions, LLC. Learn how to apply the concepts of proactive planning and using your time. Take the Time Management Analysis (TMA), the Retirement Time Analysis (RTA), or all the other free resources offered to help bring more quality time into your life.

The post Financial Advisors Can Help Clients Take it with Them first appeared on Infinity Lifestyle Design.

David Buck Time Strategist

In 35+ years of business development, David developed a strong awareness of what it took for people to be productive and efficient, not just busy. He also personally sought to gain a balance of having a successful career along with the ability to pursue a meaningful personal life.

That led David to start Kairos Management Solutions, focusing all his attention to guide business professionals who struggle with a lack of flexibility in their life to gain more quality personal time. David helps others craft a strategy around their current management of time, and then define a lifestyle of intention, ease, and joy.

In 2024, David released two books, the first being The Time Optimized Life. The book reframes the reactive nature of time management and replaces it with a proactive method of time optimization. In addition, he co-authored The Retirement Collective, where he highlights and provides solutions for how to maximize the use of time for people in post-career life.