As Memorial Day weekend approaches, here is something worth reflecting on as a mental health professional: Do you have a financial plan that is as thoughtful as the care plans you create for your clients? A retirement strategy, a tax plan, a clear picture of your practice profitability — these are not luxuries. They are the foundations of a career that lasts and a life that feels as good as the work you do. You help others plan for their well-being every day. It is time to do the same for yourself.

As Memorial Day weekend approaches, here is something worth reflecting on as a mental health professional: Do you have a financial plan that is as thoughtful as the care plans you create for your clients? A retirement strategy, a tax plan, a clear picture of your practice profitability — these are not luxuries. They are the foundations of a career that lasts and a life that feels as good as the work you do. You help others plan for their well-being every day. It is time to do the same for yourself.

YOUR RETIREMENT PLAN SHOULD MATCH YOUR LIFE — NOT SOMEONE ELSE’S. Many women spent years planning around: • spouses • children • careers • caregiving • expectations Now? This chapter is about YOU. Your financial goals can include: ✨ Travel ✨ Wellness ✨ Flexible work ✨ Purpose projects ✨ Peace over pressure Retirement planning is personal. Not traditional.

YOUR RETIREMENT PLAN SHOULD MATCH YOUR LIFE — NOT SOMEONE ELSE’S. Many women spent years planning around: • spouses • children • careers • caregiving • expectations Now? This chapter is about YOU. Your financial goals can include: ✨ Travel ✨ Wellness ✨ Flexible work ✨ Purpose projects ✨ Peace over pressure Retirement planning is personal. Not traditional.

Couples talk about pensions and finances, but they don’t always have the honest and difficult conversations on what each party wants in retirement, which acts as a magnifying glass. It doesn’t create the cracks. But it makes them visible. A superb must-read article!

Retirement can be the best chapter of a marriage. Or the last one. Many gray divorces don't end with a fiery blaze — but a flicker that fades away. Decades of raising kids, building careers, and caring for aging parents paper over a lot. Those things keep you busy, keep you needed, and keep you moving. But when the kids are launched, the parents are gone, and retirement is on the horizon — what you and your partner want may look very different. This article offers more perspective.

Over the past few years, one area of planning has been coming up more and more in conversations with clients: long-term care. Not because it’s new—but because the numbers are changing. Costs for home care and assisted living have risen significantly in recent years, and more than half of adults turning 65 today are expected to need some form of care in their lifetime. At the same time, many people still assume Medicare will cover it… which, in most cases, it won’t. But what we've found is that long-term care planning isn’t really about solving for a future expense. It’s about preserving choice. Choice in where you live. Choice in how you’re cared for. And protecting the people you love from having to make difficult decisions without a clear plan in place. At the same time, these conversations sit alongside another important one—how retirement actually unfolds over time. Not just financially, but in terms of energy, independence, and how we want to spend our years. This month’s newsletter touches on both: • A perspective on how retirement evolves over time through an article from Dan Haylett • Planning considerations for women through a recent webinar from Willamette Wealth Collective with Stephanie Palmblad and Willamette Legacy Law / Melissa Lindley and Willamette Vital Health • Navigating finances after the loss of a loved one as we explore with Elaine K Sanchez and the team at CaregiverHelp • And a brief Q1 market update 🔗 https://lnkd.in/gJqr5DX3 https://lnkd.in/gQVKvRKR #FinancialPlanning #RetirementPlanning #LongTermCare #WealthPlanning #AgingWell #FinancialWellbeing #LifePlanning

I read an interesting study recently. The year you retire is one of the most dangerous years of your life. Research published in the Journal of Public Economics found a 1.5% increase in mortality around age 62, when many Americans first become eligible for Social Security. For men who retire right at 62? Mortality increases by as much as 20% (Purdue Business). A morbid quote has unfortunately stuck with me. "Once you retire, you expire." For many, work provides routine and purpose. Perhaps more importantly, it provides social connection. Removing those all at once can be quite the shock to your system. Retirement is not just about having "enough." My belief and my mentality is that taking that step into retirement should be cause for celebration and excitement. It should be a season where the weight of responsibility starts to roll off your shoulders, maybe to the sound of waves rolling up on the beach or whatever that moment looks like for you. The people who seem most excited for retirement are often not just "escaping work," but retiring toward something. Maybe it's traveling overseas to Rome, taking a cooking class, volunteering, or, if you are fortunate enough, simply spending time with grandchildren and family. Being intentional about your future can help you and your loved ones beyond numbers and start building a life you look forward to living.

I recently read an article by Dan Haylett called “Your 12 Good Years” and I just can’t get it out of my head. So I figured I would write about it in the hopes that will help 🙃 Here’s the premise: You’ve got 12 good years in retirement. Dan writes that if you retire around age 60, you’ve got about 12 to 15 good years before your health starts to hold you back. Not 25. Not 30. Twelve. “That doesn’t mean you drop dead at 75” Dan writes. It means that by your early to mid-70s, things start to shift. Energy ⬇️ Recovery time ⬆️ The big adventures ➡️ become smaller ones. The body you’ve been living in for seven decades plus starts sending clearer signals about what it will and won’t tolerate. I write about this in my most recent newsletter post: Why the First Decade of Retirement Matters Most Link in the comments

The idea that retirement must be constantly active and socially full doesn’t reflect the reality for many older adults. Research and lived experience both show that well-being in retirement is not driven by constant activity, but by meaningful engagement, autonomy, and alignment with personal values. For many older adults, slower routines and fewer demands can lead to improved emotional well-being and a stronger sense of control. Reframing what “successful retirement” looks like is essential in supporting mental health in later life. #OlderAdults #RetirementWellbeing #SeniorMentalHealth #HealthyAging