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I still own the gold Tag Heuer my grandfather was given by his employer upon his retirement, along with a two-week, all-expenses-paid vacation to Hawaii. In his generation, that watch was a universal symbol of a job well done—the final period at the end of a long career. But today, retirement isn’t just about winding down; it’s about a “third act” that requires a new kind of preparation.
A powerful recent Wall Street Journal article, “The Retirement Crisis No One Warns You About: Mattering,” explores how many professionals are stunned by the loss of identity that follows a 40-year career. While standard financial planning focuses on your “wealthspan” (the assets you accumulate) and your “healthspan” (staying physically well), we often neglect our sense of mattering—the deep-seated human need to feel seen, useful, and essential in this next chapter of life.
A Barrier to Meaning
At Intelligent Investing, we believe all successful long-term investing is goal-oriented and therefore planning-driven. However, it is incredibly difficult to focus on your “Why” when you are drowning in “financial noise”. We frequently see clients arrive with what we call a “financial junk drawer“: a scattered collection of assets, accounts, and old decisions that add unnecessary stress to their lives.
We recently helped a couple in this exact position. They were approaching retirement with:
- Two current 401(k)s at their current employers.
- Two neglected Roth IRAs managed by an advisor they no longer trusted.
- Complex debentures that clouded their “big-picture” lens.
They weren’t just stressed about the math; they were experiencing decision fatigue. Instead of dreaming about how to use their time, talents, and money to help those in need, they were worried about whether they were taking on the wrong amount of risk.
Integrating the Math to Focus on the Mission
Our mission is to minimize your financial stress so you can maximize your life. Using our proprietary Intelligrations® process, we intelligently integrate your goals, risk, and portfolio to provide a clear, real-time snapshot of where you stand.
One of the most powerful aspects of Intelligrations® is that it allows us to proactively monitor, manage, and even trade “held-away” assets—like those current 401(k) accounts—while you are still working. For this couple, that meant:
- Unifying the Portfolio: We organized their “junk drawer” into a single view, allowing them to see their active 401(k)s alongside their other investments in real-time.
- Maximizing Contributions: We provided specific tax advice to help them maximize their Roth and 401(k) contributions, ensuring their “hurdle rate” was lowered so returns could compound faster.
Finding Hidden Value: We identified a homestead exemption they were unaware of, putting money back into their pockets that could be redirected toward their family legacy.
Your Behavioral Coach and Accountability Partner
Technical organization is just the first step. We believe the dominant determinant of long-term, real-life returns is the behavior of the client and the advisor. At Intelligent Investing, we act as prudent behavioral coaches, helping you ignore the “noise and siren songs” that are always blaring so you can stay focused on what truly matters.
By serving as your financial accountability partner, we take the emotional weight of “managing the money” off your shoulders. This liberates you to focus on the things a computer can never do: sharing in the joy of an achievement, building deeper relationships, and fulfilling your life’s purpose.
If the math is in order, the meaning can follow. When your finances are nimble and integrated, you finally have the mental energy to be “useful” again.
Is Your Portfolio on Track?
If you are an executive, professional, or pre-retiree saving for the future, ensuring your “junk drawer” is organized is the first step toward a successful retirement. To see if your current strategy aligns with your long-term goals, consider downloading our complimentary e-book, “Is Your Portfolio on Track,” by clicking here.
We’d love to help minimize your financial stress in your life by organizing your “financial junk drawers.” Click here to schedule a complimentary call or coffee to get started.
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