I once sat across from a family who had just realized their 83-year-old mother had almost nothing saved for retirement. She had worked hard her whole life. She had owned a home. She had raised a family. But nobody had ever helped her put a plan in place, and over the years, the money she had quietly disappeared.
The family told me they wished she had just talked to someone sooner. And that stuck with me, because I hear some version of that story more than I want to admit.
Here is the truth about avoiding financial planning: the discomfort of having the conversation is nothing compared to the cost of not having it. People put it off because they think they don't have enough money yet, or because they assume it's too complicated, or because they don't trust that an advisor will actually put their interests first. Those concerns are valid. I've seen what happens when advisors lead with products instead of plans.
But here's what I know from years of doing this work: the families who are most prepared are not necessarily the wealthiest. They are the ones who started the conversation early, built a clear picture of where they were headed, and made adjustments along the way.
If you are within 10 to 15 years of retirement and you don't have a written plan, this is your sign. Not because I want to sell you something -- our model is flat-fee and plan-first, which means we build your roadmap and you decide how to implement it. I'm telling you because I've seen the alternative, and it is heartbreaking.
The best time to start was yesterday. The second best time is today.