Age Gracefully by Planning Ahead

When my husband turned 50 (a few years before I did), we received our first copy of the AARP magazine. He was thrilled and immediately signed us up for a membership. Meanwhile, I was still celebrating the whatever anniversary of my 29th birthday and wasn’t quite ready to admit I was getting closer to the half-century mark. But what I was ready for was the fact that I had already started planning for retirement while still in my 20s. I took full advantage of my company’s matching 401(k) program and invested my annual bonus for future benefits.

As I get closer to my next milestone birthday, I’ve come to appreciate even more the importance of planning—not just for retirement, but for all aspects of life. After all, none of us really likes to think about what could go wrong. A house fire, a car wreck, a debilitating disease, or, let’s face it, death. But the reality is, having a plan in place helps make those tough situations a little easier to face—at least financially.

I’m always sad to see GoFundMe requests for those facing unexpected challenges. While these donations are incredibly generous, imagine if there had been life or health insurance in place to help ease the financial burden during such a difficult time.

On last week’s podcast—Succession Planning: For the Love of Your Employees—we talked about another type of planning: the "what-if" scenarios in business. When employees retire, transition, or get promoted, the organization needs to be ready. When was the last time you thought about your future and who’s ready to take on your responsibilities? If you own a business, do your children want to take over? Don’t assume they do.

We had a great discussion and shared some useful tips, like creating a Successor Readiness Grid to map out who’s ready to step into new roles and identify any gaps. Cross-training employees through job shadowing or rotational programs helps get them ready to step into key roles when needed. And don’t forget to review your plans regularly. Don’t assume that you’re ready for every scenario. Annual reviews are a great time to assess employees’ readiness for more responsibility, but those conversations can also happen quarterly or after employees complete training or certifications.

Planning for the unexpected isn’t just about protecting yourself—it’s about ensuring that the people, business, and things you care about are taken care of when life throws those inevitable curveballs. If you haven’t already, now’s the time to start planning for your future. Whether it’s updating your insurance, creating a succession plan, or preparing for your next big transition, take that first step today. I’m here to help guide you through the process.

Good things come to those who plan ahead. Let’s make sure you’re ready for whatever life may bring.