The World After...

It is astonishing how much the world has changed over the last few months. Our global society is waging war on both the health and economic front. It continues to reveal the vulnerabilities of each as well as their intertwined nature in each of our lives.

It seems finally we are beginning to see the ray of light at the end of the tunnel even if it is only an optimistic longing for the times past that seem like an eternity ago but in reality a very short time. We grasp on to each morsel of hope and begin to shift our attention, albeit slowly to moving towards the normalcy we crave. As we do the question becomes what does that "normalcy" look like. Will it be the normalcy of old or will it be a new paradigm?

The World In Context...

It is not an understatement that everyone has been shaken during this time. Even if you haven't been affected directly by the virus, you have certainly been shifted in the way you live your life. I pour over much data and commentary trying to put these circumstances into some box... context... seeking a pattern so that I can confidently lead myself... my family... and my clients through to the other side. Unfortunately there is not a playbook. No circumstance similar that anyone can with any degree of certainty point to a way forward. It is all, as happens in life, being made up as we go.

From a health perspective, this is an event that whether you agree that it is one big over reaction or one of Armageddon type proportions with not enough being done, it is certainly something for which we were not prepared. We have collectively been shaken from our proverbial sleep and have in many cases had to reflect on our personal and societal vulnerabilities. This virus is only partially understood and the long term ramifications of those sickened by it will only be know in hindsight.

From an economic perspective, this is something that is unparalleled. We human beings like our patterns. We love to point to a time and draw similarities because it makes us feel better. This time frame, regardless of how long it lasts, has no comparison. Many very smart people are looking at these times with a cautious lens. Unemployment happened fast, economic destruction of peoples lives destroyed. It has pointed to the economic fragility that we all face in one degree or another. It is pushing us to have context for what we value in our money and more importantly our lives.

Regardless of where you stand in the debate of this virus and its aftermath, it stands to reason that we should consider our vulnerabilities because when (not if) this happens again, it could be much more destructive. It would be a waste to have gone through this time and to forget it in a few months. To lose the context of this time on our lives and what it means to be properly prepared both from a health and economic perspective would be the ultimate example of arrogance and hubris. It would also be very human.

The World Restarted...

What will the world look like after we move further down the path of whatever normal looks like?

How fast will we get back to where we were and will we even want to go back?

Where are the vulnerabilities?

How will businesses adjust?

How will peoples behavior change?

These are among some of the questions that I ask myself as I move through this. There are many questions that have yet to be asked because quite frankly, we do not yet know what to ask. I speak to many people and there is genuine concern and a general feeling of unpreparedness. It causes us human beings to go into a sort of self preservation mode. Will people run right back out to the gyms and movie theaters. Will they sign right up for that cruise or jump on a plane for a vacation jaunt. Will our jobs be there when things get going again, beyond the measures taken to last a few months? The answers to these things matter and it is really complicated.

We now have a guideline for the re-opening process of life as we knew it. It is a plan that will take time. It is not in my opinion a plan that will work like the flip of a switch. The plan is slow on purpose and that is good. My thoughts are that the human beings that are the focus of this plan will be a bit slower to move back into the mind frame of January 2020. My base case is that this is a longer drawn out process that could take up the better of 12-18 months to feel "normal". The big question is: what does "normal" look like after that time has passed?

Progress will be made, but much like a car that comes to a sudden stop, it takes time to re-accelerate back to seventy. Some will move faster than others and some may never reach that speed again. This is the part that no one can answer. It has way to many variables to determine the most probable and inclusive path forward. There are just too many questions that need to be answered.

The World After...

It is paramount that we each prepare for what is next. If the health component does not affect you and it looks like most of us will not be affected, the economic aspects will certainly leave scars. It is important that we each look at where we were vulnerable. As I prepare to move past this time, I will be relentless in understanding my own vulnerabilities and make plans to get stronger as we come out of this. I will try and determine how the changes as they are discovered in real time will affect our personal sovereignty. I believe fervently that to be responsible we must first ensure that we are strong on an individual level, then on a familial level and then finally for our communities at large. We cannot do the good that needs to be done if we ourselves are not stable and strong.

Review your finances, look for the areas that need to be strengthened. Review where your behaviors and habits are not in your best interest. Make the changes as you can that move towards a life of independence rather than dependence. Seek out the areas of belief that led you to a false security of position in your employment, finances, health, relationships. The biggest variable in our success is ourselves. The work we do for and about our self is how we get to a point that allows us to be strong enough to lift up those around us as they deserve.

Pay attention to your environment and circumstances. Everything is in flux right now whether you know it or not. Technology has the potential to increase transformations of society in the way we live and work. Government decisions have the potential to change our liberties and freedoms. Work could have profound transformation as business rethinks supply chains, work environments and survival. We must now more that ever lift our heads from our small corners of the world and pay attention to what is going on around us.

Decide what is next for you. What does the next chapter look like for you? Do not take what is handed out as the only way to move forward. Remember take care of you, take care of family and then seek to take care of the community around you. That is not a selfish approach it is a pragmatic approach. You cannot do your good in the world if you find yourself down and out. Now more than ever we must question our beliefs, the choices we make, the processes of the world around us and they way we live. That is the only way we can figure a way forward that will benefit the most in our society. If we become stronger individually, we can become stronger collectively.

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Lewis B. Walker Jr., is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER ?, professional dedicated to the education encouragement and empowerment of individuals.

He uses the perspective from his journey of going from financial insecurity and five figures in debt to financial stability using hard work and an attitude of one hundred percent responsibility for his circumstances. He believes that money and all that goes with it begins first with the internal game and through commonly used tactics anyone can work towards becoming less financially insecure and find success on their terms. With his twenty plus years of counseling success he knows that money alone does not create true wealth, but with better money comes better lives. He writes about his perspectives on what he believes are the five realms of a truly wealthy life: Physical, Intellectual, Social, Spiritual and Economic.

He is a Financial Consultant with LPL Financial. For more information about Bob or hiring him to speak or assist with finances, send a message through LinkedIn.

The opinions are that of the author and are not indicative of LPL Financial or any other affiliations. Markets are extremely unpredictable and nothing in my post should be construed as advice or a prediction in any form. Securities are offered through LPL Financial, member FINRA/SIPC. The investment products sold through LPL Financial are NOT FDIC insured. These obligations are not obligations, nor endorsed, recommended or guaranteed by any government agency. Insurance products offered through LPL Financial or its licensed affiliates. The value of the investment may fluctuate. The return on the investment is not guaranteed. Loss of principal is possible.                   

Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. owns the certification marks CFP?, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER?, CFP? (with plaque design) and CFP? (with flame design) in the U.S., which it awards to individuals who successfully complete CFP Board's initial and ongoing certification requirements.

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