Sunday Email - Thanksgiving Post / Points of change

Read time: ~6.35 minutes

Happy Sunday!

Every Sunday I offer strategies for the week ahead and a thought to fuel your action.

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. It's a blend of great food, engaging conversations, gratitude, and most importantly, family.

On this day, everyone in the U.S. pauses, regardless of religion or race, to cherish moments with friends and loved ones. It's a universal break, a collective breath.

The essence of Thanksgiving is gratitude. It's about appreciating what we have and where we are in life.

I notice I'm happier during and after Thanksgiving. My mind feels freer, empathy comes easier, and my bonds with friends and family strengthen.

There's a connection here. Happiness enriches our lives. Gratitude fuels happiness.

Thinking about happiness, I reflect on our role as wealth managers. Beyond managing money, we aim to foster happiness.

Fidelity's paper on the value pyramid for financial advisors illuminates this. Often, we focus on the base, but real growth lies in ascending the pyramid.

Managing money is tangible. Yet, deeper value and impact come from guiding clients towards peace of mind and fulfillment.

Bain's extensive research on value across industries echoes this in their study. The value pyramid they present is a roadmap.

The pyramid shows each level's value elements. The objective is to embody as many elements as possible. The most esteemed companies excel in this, distinguishing their brand.

As advisors, our value extends beyond managing money. It delves deeper. We grapple between our perceived value of doing more than managing money and the tangible results we are judged on via performance.

By embracing more elements of the value pyramid, we redefine the perception of what we do, while significantly impacting the families we serve.

Ascending the pyramid, we create happier families. But reaching higher levels requires conversations beyond money and planning. It's about purpose, meaning, and fostering connections and healthy lifestyles.

Some may find this therapist-like, diverging from analytical norms. But what brought us here won't necessarily lead us forward.

This Thanksgiving, I find myself grateful and contemplative about our role as advisors and our future innovations.

This Thanksgiving week, as gratitude fills your celebrations, let your mind wander to future possibilities.

What brings me happiness and fulfillment? Family, relationships, and continuous learning from others.

Sharing these learnings in this newsletter brings me joy. I'm deeply grateful to you, the readers, for engaging with my thoughts and ideas, whether regularly or occasionally.

Thank you for this opportunity.

Here's wishing you, your loved ones, and friends a very happy and fulfilling Thanksgiving!

A Thought To Ponder This Week

Do you remember the moment you bought your first iPhone? 

At that time did you realize the impact of the moment? The change that was occurring? 

Did you sit in that moment and think on how life will forever be changed from that point forward. 

That was an inflection point in our lives. A point in time when the world and belief systems we had would forever be altered. Now, the thought of a world without instant access to news, videos, and more, right from our palms, seems unfathomable.

Back then, we were living through a profound transition. Some embraced it early, others resisted, but eventually, we all adapted.

Retirement presents a similar inflection point for our clients. It's a transition from a familiar life of work and wealth accumulation to an unknown phase of leisure and spending.

Every inflection point brings its challenges and resistance. Recognizing this moment in our clients' lives calls for empathy.

This week, consider your own experiences with life's pivotal changes. Reflect on how you can use these insights to enhance how you guide your clients through their retirement transition with understanding and support.

The best is ahead!

-Matt