Will Your Retirement Make You a Victim of Newton’s First Law of Motion?
What are the chances that your Certified Financial Planner would have learned about Newton’s First Law of Motion in insurance sales school? You know, the Law that says ” -an object at rest remains at rest and an object in motion remains in motion with the same velocity unless acted upon by an unbalancing force.”
Do you suppose that any financial advisor has thought of himself or herself as an “unbalancing force?”
One could argue the case, I suppose, considering that so much of what a good financial planner does is help people put the brakes on.
“Here, let’s work on this plan so we can get you from doing 110 mph down to near zero. It’s the ‘natural’ thing to do because that’s what they taught me in life insurance school. Plus, you’ve earned it. You’ve worked hard and are entitled to fade away.”
OK – a bit melodramatic, I know – and I just pissed off the entirety of one of the largest components of the massive financial services industry.
But, isn’t there a modicum of truth in there somewhere?
Don’t we innocently buy into an unnatural concept that says it’s a logical and pre-destined thing to put the brakes on the body and mind at a certain (and equally illogical) age?
“OK, look, you’re almost 65. You know, it’s time to accept the fact that you’re starting to crumble and for you to start building safeguards against that, like a safe and comfortable retirement community where you can crumble together with other similarly brainwashed ‘seniors’.”
I’ve been sleeping with my “financial adviser” for 50 years and 2 months now. She avoids dropping the “R-word” into a conversation because (1) she knows where my short fuses are and (2) she doesn’t buy the concept either. Too much kid and grandkid work to do; too much connecting-with-siblings to do; too many Jack Reacher and C.J. Box novels to read; too big a fight for traditional values left to do; too many friendships that need massaging and deepening.
No kicking her to the curb! Or the park bench! (She’s zumba-ing in the kitchen as I write this).
I like to think it’s been my tremendous influence on her but, truth be known, submissive is not in her vocabulary.
I do believe, though, that enduring the sudden death of her 67-year-old father only ten months into his retirement after 46 years with one company left an indelible impression. Here one day, gone the next with no hint of physical problems. After 46 years of motion, an “unbalancing force” called retirement, wrapped nicely in a send-off dinner and a gold watch (seriously!), sent him home to become something he’d never been and wasn’t prepared to become – unchallenged, unstructured, unplanned.
Mo’ doesn’t need to leave the house!
Are we starting to rewrite some chapters in the life manual? Like the ones about how nirvana exists on the other side of 65 with the opportunity to wind down, come in for a landing, turn off the mind, and luxuriate in self-indulgence.
We can only hope we’re doing some serious editing.
I believe we are.
Momentum in life doesn’t have to – and shouldn’t – stop because a politician, big business, and union officials carved out an artificial finish line 86 years ago for purely political purposes with no humanitarian intent. Unfortunately, that act spawned an industry that has been incredibly successful for over five decades convincing us to do something that is unnatural and, ultimately, unhealthy.
It’s not realistic to expect a financial planner to fully understand or be inspired to explain that moving toward zero momentum is a violation of our very biology with its bilateral option of growth or decay. Folks, they are salespeople! Can we really expect them to have an understanding of our cellular composition and the impact of their guidance on the same?
However, I do sense that there are financial planners becoming more sensitive to the “soft skill” sides of retirement and including more dialog about planning beyond just the numbers. In fact, Mitch Anthony, financial planning consultant and author of the excellent book entitled “The New Retirementality” has launched a program entitled “Life Centered Financial Planning” with the goal of equipping financial planning firms with tools to better address nonfinancial retirement challenges – or, as he calls them “the realistic, existential risks of retirement that humans must wrestle with.”
Part of his message to planners is to raise their sensitivity to the fact that “more and more people are coming to the same conclusion – it works to work. Working doesn’t have to mean all-in, but instead as needed to meet emotional, social, and intellectual stimulation needs.”
That’s a message I hope you may be hearing from your planner if you are working with one. If you aren’t working with one but plan to (P.S. you definitely should), watch for an attitude that goes beyond the charts and graphs and shows respect for the physical, social, mental, psychological, spiritual side of retirement.
Respect the law
Newton’s first law is often called the Law of Inertia. That’s pretty close to the true definition of retirement which is derived from the French verb “retirer” meaning to “retreat, withdraw, seek a place of safety and security.”
We weren’t meant to be “objects at rest.” In fact, we are designed for the opposite, regardless of age.
Don’t let anybody convince you otherwise.
Thanks for reading. If you have some thoughts on this topic, share them below with a comment. And tell your friends about our weekly articles at www.makeagingwork.com– there’s still lots of room on the mailing list.
A great article Gary and I share your thoughts. My mission is to convince financial advisors to change the “stories” they have been telling their clients about retirement for years. That it’s a time to take it easy, play safe and watch the world go by. How boring and the truth is living like that will increase the odds of you leaving this earth sooner than you should.
For the record I did marry my financial advisor. Best decision I ever made and she keep reminding of that!
You have brought up a very superb points, thankyou for the post.
Dear makeagingwork.com admin, Your posts are always well-supported by facts and figures.
To the makeagingwork.com owner, Your posts are always well-received by the community.
Hello makeagingwork.com administrator, Your posts are always thought-provoking and inspiring.
Hi makeagingwork.com owner, Your posts are always well-written and easy to understand.
Hello makeagingwork.com administrator, Your posts are always well-balanced and objective.
Hello makeagingwork.com owner, Your posts are always a great source of information.
To the makeagingwork.com administrator, You always provide great examples and real-world applications, thank you for your valuable contributions.
Hello makeagingwork.com webmaster, Your posts are always well-balanced and objective.
To the makeagingwork.com owner, Your posts are always well structured and easy to follow.
To the makeagingwork.com administrator, Thanks for the well-presented post!
Dear makeagingwork.com webmaster, Your posts are always well-received and appreciated.
Dear makeagingwork.com owner, You always provide great resources and references.
Hello makeagingwork.com webmaster, You always provide in-depth analysis and understanding.
Hi makeagingwork.com administrator, Well done!
To the makeagingwork.com admin, Thanks for the well-researched and well-written post!