Better make sure you tick off all your dreams before you “kick the bucket!” The bucket list has become a cultural phenomenon.
It was first popularized in the movie the Bucket List. A hard driving health care executive gets a wakeup call after a terminal diagnosis. He elicits a fellow terminal patient to travel the world with him. They proceed to jump out of airplanes, climb Mount Everest and have lots of fun with pretty women. Doing as much as possible before they die. Their urgency driven by reality they would be dying soon. The characters of the movie decide to change the rules. They face their fear of dying and give themselves permission to finally live. They give themselves permission to think of what might be possible.
Biggest Obstacle to Retirement? Giving Yourself Permission
You will need to do the same thing. After a lifetime of diligent saving and doing all the right things it’s time to stop just dreaming the dream. It’s time to begin to actually live the dream. Sometimes our dreams are so big and intimidating it is easier to keep it in the dream box.
To actually live your dream you will have to move them from the dream box and to the "I'm going to do this!" box. Which can feel like an incredibility risky maneuver, and often the reason people don't invest in a financial plan. They are afraid they will learn their dream is not possible.
The American Dream is rooted in the Declaration of Independence. It proclaims that "all men are created equal" with the right to "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness." This romantic notion is everywhere in popular culture. Immigrants extol the virtue of the American Dream. It is a source of national pride. Yet, how many people actually feel like they are living their dream?
It is quite a different thing actually living your dream. After all, to live your dream you have to stop just dreaming and start living the dream. We will still need to run the numbers. We will do a thorough analysis before making the decision to actually retire. In our experience, a provides a sense of independence and clarity.
A Financial Plan Can Be Your Very Own Declaration of Independence
A professional financial plan will not only analyze the numbers. The best advisors also help you get in touch with what is important to you now. Today, you have the opportunity to not only live the life of your dreams, you most likely have the means to do it. From where we sit, you just need to make a simple decision. Decide to explore your options through the process of financial planning.
A financial plan is like a strategic plan, for your life. A process that walks you through your life in retirement. Identifies the risks and potential pitfalls. Then knits your intentions and resources together into a cohesive financial mosaic. Together, we discover the patterns and pieces that make up your financial picture. Think of it as a roadmap. A roadmap that allows for a certain amount of flexibility. Yet also strives to strike a balance, creating more certainty for the future.
An Often Overlooked Aspect of Planning
A financial plan is not a static document. It is not something you create once and then put it in your desk drawer and forget about it. It should be a living document that evolves as your needs change and life unfolds.
It is a tool used by your financial advisory team to not only manage your investments. It becomes the backstop to long term financial security. It becomes a tool you can use in the future to get a sense of where you were and why you made the decisions you did. It becomes a mirror of your intentions. Reflecting what might be possible for your retirement.
Declare Your Independence. Explore Your Options.
How would it feel to know that you’ve thoroughly explored your options? Have clarity about how to live the life you’ve imagined? To know that you have the resources to fund it? That would be pretty great right?! We agree.
Give is a call today, we are ready to help you write your very own financial Declaration of Independence.
If you have questions or comments about this article, please call us at 1-317-875-0202 or message us with our contact us form.