Is that all there is?
by Jill Hilderman
Maybe in today’s uncertain economic climate this is good news? While a financial plan (solid or perhaps currently shaky) is an essential component of successful retirement planning, Kelowna-based life coach and facilitator Nigel Brown (www.lifeplanningmatters.com), draws a broader picture for his clients.
Helping Baby Boomers and corporate groups consider the transition from primary work roles to what comes next, Brown helps individuals explore: Means, Medicine & Meaning. “Certainly we need the financial resources to fund the second half of our life,” says Brown, a former financial planner. “Health and vitality are crucial too, however—individuals frequently need coaching support to explore meaning and purpose in their life… post their full-time career.”
As Baby Boomers live longer, healthier lives and demand more from their retirement years, Brown helps clients examine whether they want to create part-time entrepreneurial ventures, explore creative outlets (write the next great novel?), seek to ‘give back’ through community work, or leave a legacy in some manner. His role as coach is to guide and support the exploration that brings clarity to retirement planning. “Imagine too, the potential challenges for a couple if they have different views about what these expanded and healthy years will look like,” says Brown.
Candace, 57 agrees. Her husband Bob, 62, took early retirement five years ago from a telecommunications career in Calgary. His astute financial planning made it possible, and he was fairly clear about what he wanted next: no early mornings and long commutes, no business trips to Mexico and India, an opportunity to volunteer as reading buddy for elementary school children and as ESL mentor for new immigrants. What was missing was the consideration of what stay-at-home mom and artist Candace envisioned for this time in their lives. While they had talked generally in anticipation of these years, they had neglected to fully explore what meaning and purpose meant to each of them. “We’d talked about an RV adventure across Canada and into the States for fun and adventure,” says Candace. “But more than this… I thought we both felt our desire to ‘contribute’ would lead to an overseas mission of some kind. It’s important to me after years of raising children that this next stage is truly meaningful; I feel that my life has been on hold somewhat.” Through coaching, the couple have clearly defined what each is passionate about and committed to for the second half of life, how they will align their hopes and dreams, and what their future will look like. “We are certainly more energized and focused now,” says Candace. “It has renewed our closeness too, to really know how we intend to spend the next 20+ years."
Leading Canadian businesses and organizations are also recognizing and embracing second half of life planning for their employees. Brown notes that companies realize that demonstrating commitment to their work force extends to helping them successfully transition out of full-time employment, when the time is right. “Many are building workshops and coaching into their benefit programs and making this information and exploration available to their employees; it’s exciting to see that organizations know too: retirement is not just about the money,” says Brown.
Jill Hilderman is a Calgary-based communications consultant who writes frequently for business and lifestyle publications. In her newly-entered second half of life she intends: love, world travels… and to complete a screen play. .