7 Shocking Retirement Statements That Will Jolt Your Clients

The author has a unique experience due to previously being a social worker and spending a decade employed as a trust officer. Because of that experience, he has developed an interesting list of things to say to or ask of clients that jolt them into truly recognizing their retirement.

• Stop advising clients they need to “retire to something.”
  • This statement is far too cliche, and instead one should entice their clients to retire with something.
• The difference between todays haves and have-nots isn’t money.
  • True wealth is not defined just by money, so make sure to tell your clients to invest in family, relationships, and possibly their health.
• Twenty of the 43 most stressful life events take place at or near retirement.
  • Changes in lifestyle and habits, children moving away, friends and family passing away… many things unfortunately occur at this stage of life.
• Why worry about a market crash when the dark side of retirement carries much greater risks?
  • Depression, anxiety, and suicide are more tragic possibilities of retirement.
• The issue isn’t that people are living longer, it’s simply taking longer for people to feel “old.”
  • Retirees no longer feel old at 60, 65, or 70.
• Without your memory, your life loses meaning.
  • Alzheimer’s and dementia are other realities of retirement, so when planning for long-term care, a client must also contemplate brain health.
• Traditional estate planning is backwards and may be more damaging than no planning at all.
  • There is no point in helping clients pass on their wealth, if you don’t help them pass on their wisdom

See Robert Laura, 7 Shocking Retirement Statements That Will Jolt Your Clients, Financial Advisor, July 30, 2018.

Special thanks to Jim Hillhouse (Professional Legal Marketing (PLM, Inc.) for bringing this article to my attention.