Four Ideas For Mature RIAs To Discover A Bridge To What’s Next In Life
Many mature RIAs that I’ve been privileged to coach struggle with the changes that take place later in their careers. These changes can be very stressful. I’d like to describe what some of these changes look like and then offer some ideas for how to successfully navigate them with far less stress.
I often think of our lives developing in phases. In phase one, we go from birth through college. In phase two, we build our careers and family life, usually from our mid-20s through our mid-50s. In phase three, our careers reach their apex and then we transition toward retirement.
But the third phase often includes some unsettling changes. Many mature RIAs become empty nesters. The frenetic pace of raising children is replaced by a quieter, less harried schedule. Work stress often dissipates too. While work is still very important, many advisors are often not particularly challenged by it. It doesn’t require the burning focus it did earlier in our careers.
Most mature advisors also experience a slowdown in their physical stamina. Decreasing energy, paired with more free time than they may have had in decades, can lead to a more contemplative lifestyle. This often gives rise to one overarching question that can be very difficult to answer—what’s next?
This difficult question, I have come to believe, is actually a gift. Why do I say this? After working with and coaching dozens of RIAs navigating these waters, I’ve come to one simple conclusion. You need a bridge from phase two to phase three.
This transition can be rather hazardous. The biggest risk is often “gray divorce” where mature couples split at a time in their lives when they should be experiencing the greatest joys (grandchildren, memory sharing, greater freedom, far fewer money worries, etc.). But if you take the time to carefully address the question—of what’s next—you just might discover greater joy and satisfaction than you’ve ever realized.?“What’s next” can actually be a bridge over troubled waters.
To help you address this question, I’d like to offer four guiding principles that have benefitted the mature RIA’s I’ve coached:
Get Clarity About Phase Three
I think it’s really important to recognize that phase three is your new reality. One of the reasons advisors struggle in this phase is that they operate on the assumption that nothing’s changed. They’re certainly the same great professionals they’ve always been. But with so many other areas of their lives going through massive changes, it’s simply not realistic to expect that those changes would not impact their work-life.
A much better approach is to acknowledge this new phase and to get clarity about what you want out of it, both for you and your loved ones. Spend some time really thinking about this and get loved ones involved, especially your spouse and children. It’s a good idea to ask your spouse and children to articulate what they need from you during this time.
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Don’t assume you know what they need because they may not know. It’s also not wise to assume that what you want for them or want to do for them is actually what they want or need. I also think it’s advisable to make a list of the top five things you want to accomplish in phase three. This clarity can guide your decisions and give you purpose.
Develop A New Mission
Many people struggle in phase three because, without even realizing it sometimes, they’ve already achieved an important mission. Most parents these days pour themselves into their children’s lives, between school, sports, the arts, family vacations and just spending time with them. But once children no longer need parents on a day-to-day basis, this can leave a huge vacuum in an adult’s life. This is why I believe you need to find a new mission—one that really matters to you and your spouse.
The pursuit of meaningful activity still matters. Aimlessness will leave you feeling like you have no purpose and therefore no worth. This may be something you’ll need to work through with a therapist or some other trusted advisor to help you identify. Most importantly, make sure you and your spouse or significant other are aligned about the mission. Lack of alignment at this stage can result in divorce or serious friction in the relationship.
Plan For Client Transfer
I’ve written about this?elsewhere, so I won’t belabor the point here. The most important thing is that day-to-day responsibilities for client contact and account management are gradually transferred to another advisor. Don’t make the mistake of believing that you can simply walk away all at once without it wreaking havoc on your day-to-day life. Those who wake up one day to find themselves with no need to get out of bed and do something important are likely to feel completely lost.
Commit To Making Your Fourth Quarter Your Best Quarter
While work may not be challenging, it can still be really fun. In fact, I’ve coached numerous advisors who tell me that the last five to 10 years of their careers were the best. This is not about going out quietly with a whimper. This is about going out on top and delivering the best client experience of your career. How can you achieve this?
Over the last decade, this industry has adopted more great technology and new ideas for client service than I’ve ever seen. Some mature advisors wonder if they can leverage all of this newness. I’ve seen, over and over again, that they can and that it will leave their clients in the best shape possible. The ideas are out there and they work.
These four guiding principles have really helped mature RIAs I’ve worked with. I’m confident that they may help you too.