It’s important to point out that not all retirement-based superpowers are bad or take clients off course. One of my clients is a time traveler. Once a week, rain or shine, he travels back to a simpler time and place.
Recently, he shared that part of his normal routine is to read the local newsletter at his parent’s farm. You could tell it was a source of positive thoughts and energy.
Sitting back in his chair and gazing up for a moment he shared, “I go out to my parent’s farm a couple times a week because it takes me back to the olden days. My wife doesn’t like it there and wishes I would just sell it, but it gets me out of the house and keeps me busy by mowing the lawn and keeping things up.”
Other retirement superpowers can be object based, like Iron Man’s armor or Green Lantern’s ring. One retiree I know becomes a completely different person when he’s in harmony, and costume, with his barbershop quartet. They stroll in parades, kick-off community events and sometimes just sing on the corner during warm summer nights. When he’s around the other guys, his slight limp disappears, and he smiles a different smile with that skimmer hat and candy-stripped vest on.
Something similar holds true for a retired friend who runs the local Jaguar Car Club. Once he’s got his baby polished up, driving gloves on and is surrounded by other collectors, he’s in another universe.
Retirement superpowers can take many forms, and impact clients in both good and bad ways. However, unlike the mom in the coffee shop, advisors can’t afford to be oblivious or ignore the collateral damage that superpowers may be having on their clients.
They need to break free from the traditional bounds of retirement planning and be vigilant in not only developing ways in which to discuss the topics, but also in helping to create specific plans for them.
Whether it’s helping clients avoid feeling invisible, tearing down a force field, preserving memories or joining a special group, advisors themselves play a super role in making the world a better place.
Robert Laura is the president of SYNERGOS Financial Group, the founder of RetirementProject.org and the creator of the Retirement Wellness Report and DividendPaycheck.org. He can be reached at [email protected].