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“Contact us for your free, no obligation, financial strategy session; $250,000 minimum assets to qualify.” That last part caught my wife’s attention.On the weekends, one of the radio stations pr…

“Contact us for yo…

“Contact us for your free, no obligation, financial strategy session; $250,000 minimum assets to qualify.” That last part caught my wife’s attention.On the weekends, one of the radio stations presents a show by a local financial services firm. It is a paid program, where the host pays for their time slot. When we are out and about, we tend to listen because they offer good advice, and because of my intertest in retirement life. Adding the $250K qualifier was new. Clearly the advisors want to limit the time and effort of dispensing advice to people who have some accumulated wealth.Listen:…

I conduct a lot of e-meetings, engaging directly with retirees and financial advisors. I still worry I miss emotional signals through a computer screen versus being in-person. However, that was not th…

I conduct a lot of e…

I conduct a lot of e-meetings, engaging directly with retirees and financial advisors. I still worry I miss emotional signals through a computer screen versus being in-person. However, that was not the case when I was talking with Warren. Like many wealth managers, he has a diverse set of clients. However, he knows his customer base continues to get older, with more heading into retirement each year.As we discussed this dynamic, I asked Warren, “How are they handling the transition?”This article first appeared in Rethinking65Shifting in his seat, rolling his eyes and taking a deep breath W…

Part 2 of a 2-part article.Last week, I introduced you to the “modified one-percent rule” of email clean-up. It was a way for you to reduce the number of emails in your inbox and to establish a pr…

Part 2 of a 2-part a…

Part 2 of a 2-part article.Last week, I introduced you to the “modified one-percent rule” of email clean-up. It was a way for you to reduce the number of emails in your inbox and to establish a process to track results through the Email Clean-up Tool.I also referenced the classic story Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas by Jules Verne. Because I talk to so many people who have thousands of emails sitting idle for years on their computer or smartphone, it felt like people were trapping themselves, flooded and underwater in a sea of unnecessary communication.Listen:So, if you downloade…

Part 1 of a 2-part articleAs the meeting was wrapping up, the subject of emails creeped into the conversation. Participants became animated around the number of electronic communications they had to m…

Part 1 of a 2-part a…

Part 1 of a 2-part articleAs the meeting was wrapping up, the subject of emails creeped into the conversation. Participants became animated around the number of electronic communications they had to manage on a daily basis.Curious, I asked, “How many emails do each of you have in your inbox right now?”Listen:I was not surprised to hear that the majority had over 1,000 and that several members had an inbox with over 20,000.“Why do you have so many?” I asked.The responses ranged from sheepish to defiant.“I’ve always done it this way.”“I want to have a record of all my communica…

As with generational wealth transfer, a well-planned nonfinancial Legacy can leave clients and their families richer than they imagined.William Tripp lived well into his nineties. While generally quie…

As with generational…

As with generational wealth transfer, a well-planned nonfinancial legacy can leave clients and their families richer than they imagined.William Tripp lived well into his nineties. While generally quiet in his demeanor, Bill (to his friends) could tell stories about his life that kept those around him riveted. Born July 13, 1913, his life experiences included: surviving the great influenza epidemic of 1918, helping his father complete their unfinished house to get water and electricity functioning, being the family’s “chief gardener,” getting his family’s first telephone, suffering the …

Early in my sales career it was hammered into me that I needed to know the products I represented. Lacking knowledge of the features and benefits opens you to risk when being in front of a buyer. You …

Early in my sales ca…

Early in my sales career it was hammered into me that I needed to know the products I represented. Lacking knowledge of the features and benefits opens you to risk when being in front of a buyer. You need to be the subject matter expert about your product (or service) to demonstrate confidence to prospects and clients. Listen:Along the way, it was easy to focus on the presentation and not the customer. Many a time I was so intent on “vomiting” the information to the person across the table that I failed to pay attention to their needs, concentrating on my own. Many I time I came away fr…

Recently I attended two types of meetings on the same day, that were night and day from each other.Listen:The first was a 30-minute reoccurring meeting around tactical aspects that were very importa…

Recently I attended …

Recently I attended two types of meetings on the same day, that were night and day from each other.Listen:The first was a 30-minute reoccurring meeting around tactical aspects that were very important to be completed. The facilitator was clearly in charge, working through the agenda, answering and asking questions, gaining clarification, and ensuring the topics were covered.The second was a last-minute meeting called together on a concept (an important one) that could have a long-term positive impact in multiple areas of the organization. The organizer did not create a schedule, there was no…

Modern retirees overwhelmed by physical and digital clutter are less likely to have the time and Money to enjoy the retirement they desire.This article first appeared at Rethinking65. Listen:We accu…

Modern retirees over…

Modern retirees overwhelmed by physical and digital clutter are less likely to have the time and money to enjoy the retirement they desire.This article first appeared at Rethinking65. Listen:We accumulate a lot of material and digital stuff. Too much.On my drive to church each Sunday, I pass multiple storage facilities where people keep additional possessions they no longer have the room for in their homes. I’ve listened to friends and clients discuss the challenge of having to decide what to do with a parent’s belongings when settling their Estate. I’ve gone through this with my sibli…

I have learned heat and pressure over time can create a diamond, the same does not apply to humans who are trying to manage their time. Usually, one or all areas fail. Whether it is running out of tim…

I have learned heat …

I have learned heat and pressure over time can create a diamond, the same does not apply to humans who are trying to manage their time. Usually, one or all areas fail. Whether it is running out of time, or the pressures of deadlines cause a collapse of planning, they do not mix well together over the long haul.Listen here:Consider the excerpt from my book, The Time-Optimized Life.I had a running joke with my mom up to my college years. In school, I was a pretty good student. I got As and Bs, showed up to class, did my homework, and turned in my assignments on time. I even graduated in the to…

As the meeting wrapped up, the facilitator began to go through the various items that needed to be followed-up from what was discussed. When this occurs, I find that people tend to fall into three dif…

As the meeting wrapp…

As the meeting wrapped up, the facilitator began to go through the various items that needed to be followed-up from what was discussed. When this occurs, I find that people tend to fall into three different buckets.Listen here:The Hider: this person tries to become invisible to not be assigned anything and get away from the meeting, free of any obligations.The Sigher: resigned, these individuals don’t want any additional work but commit because they know their assistance is necessary.The Committer: wanting to be seen as a team player and needed, they jump at opportunities to contribute…

Time flies when you are having fun.I have said this many times in my life. In many cases, it has been true. As I have noted in my book, The Time-Optimized Life, our consumption of time is objective, a…

Time flies when you …

Time flies when you are having fun.I have said this many times in my life. In many cases, it has been true. As I have noted in my book, The Time-Optimized Life, our consumption of time is objective, and our feelings of time are subjective.“We measure time in so many ways. There are objective methods tied to specific segments like seconds, minutes, hours, days, months, years, and decades. We also provide arbitrary measures to our time. When some event or experience is enjoyable, we can proclaim the time went by quickly. Conversely, time can move slowly when it is an activity we do not like. O…

As I get older, I find myself dispensing more advice to those younger than me. Obviously, some of it is intentional through my writing, but a certain amount is organic. It is honoring and humble to ha…

As I get older, I fi…

As I get older, I find myself dispensing more advice to those younger than me. Obviously, some of it is intentional through my writing, but a certain amount is organic. It is honoring and humble to have someone else seek your council. Transferring knowledge and experience to improve the lives of others can be a way to leave an essence of yourself to carry on in the future.I’ve been blessed to have wonderful mentors throughout my career and have benefited from the assistance and instruction these tutors generously gave me as I navigated corporate life. The advice I received was based on their…

William was a highly successful business professional, having a long and satisfying career. He worked with his last employer for over twenty years and therefore built up a lot of close Relationships w…

William was a highly…

William was a highly successful business professional, having a long and satisfying career. He worked with his last employer for over twenty years and therefore built up a lot of close relationships with coworkers and clients. Or so he thought. He is six months into his retirement and struggles with persistent feelings of anger and frustration.This article first appeared at Rethinking65. On his way into post-career life, he was celebrated and thanked. Many people told him they looked forward to hearing about retirement life and catching up over lunch or dinner. William was eager to hear about …

There is no shortage on the concept of employee onboarding. While there are many perspectives, a successful onboarding process is one that makes someone feel welcomed, valued, and prepared for their n…

There is no shortage…

There is no shortage on the concept of employee onboarding. While there are many perspectives, a successful onboarding process is one that makes someone feel welcomed, valued, and prepared for their new role. It’s more than just paperwork and training. It’s about fostering a sense of belonging and providing the tools and support needed to succeed. In a recent search on LinkedIn, I found there are almost 700 groups devoted to the concept.However, as the workforce ages – companies, financial advisors, trust lawyers, and employees themselves need to create a more formal “Offboarding” pr…

Advisors and their clients must plan for the very real possibility that Social Security benefits will be reduced if the system runs out of money in 2033.This article first appeared at Rethinking65. Li…

Advisors and their c…

Advisors and their clients must plan for the very real possibility that Social Security benefits will be reduced if the system runs out of money in 2033.This article first appeared at Rethinking65. Listen here:I have had my emotional ups and downs with Social Security, and I have not even drawn a penny out of the program. I am 60 and have had my wages garnished and paid into the system since my first job at 16. As an economics major in college, I wrote a paper in my senior year on the viability of the entitlement program and concluded it might not be around when I retire.That has stuck with …

Frequently, I hear some version of the following, “I am always putting out fires.” Events in life cause people to have to stop, focus on some “emergency”, and solve an unexpected problem or ch…

Frequently, I hear s…

Frequently, I hear some version of the following, “I am always putting out fires.” Events in life cause people to have to stop, focus on some “emergency”, and solve an unexpected problem or challenge. These individuals become self-appointed firefighters, dousing problems with a flood of their time, only to move onto the next 5-alarm crisis.In professional settings, the tendency to always be putting out fires is often a sign of poor planning and an emotionally reactive workplace. For example, 15-20% of revenues for manufacturing companies and 30-35% for service businesses go towards rew…

I recently presented in front of a group of retired business professionals, who meet regularly with a purpose. They use their collective experiences to aid each other in their financial decisions. Som…

I recently presented…

I recently presented in front of a group of retired business professionals, who meet regularly with a purpose. They use their collective experiences to aid each other in their financial decisions. Some of them took the Retirement Time Analysis (RTA). When sending out each assessment, I ask for feedback on the report.Here is what one of the participants provided, “All other activities, interests, reading lists and of course, house and yard chores, tend to be on a best efforts basis. My ‘would like’ or ‘of current interest’ list is very long … to the point of distraction and related …