Several years ago, we developed a tagline for our firm that remains on the Anderman Wealth Partners website to this day: ‘Your greatest risk is missing your reward.’ It's always been important to me that we help clients not only understand when they can comfortably retire but also that they have saved sufficiently to support their lifestyle, hobbies, passions, and whatever makes them come alive. Truly, the ultimate risk is reaching your last trip around the sun without ever getting to enjoy the fruits of your labor!
Lately, I’ve been reminded that the sentiment doesn’t only apply to our clients; it’s something Sheryl and I have to remember for ourselves, too. It’s easy to get into a routine that centers on work. Making time for the things you enjoy requires intentional effort—but it’s always worth it.
For us, our favorite ‘reward’ is travel, and we recently returned from an international trip that delivered a wealth of meaningful experiences. As we strolled along the streets of Paris last month, explored the medieval town of Provin, and took the train down to Bordeaux, we rediscovered the many ways international travel enriches our lives:
Learn about (and from) history. There’s nothing like traveling overseas to see living proof of where history took place. On this trip, we explored the original palace and fort walls in the basement of the Louvre and saw an incredible French poster exhibition at the Musée d’Orsay. The exhibit discussed the history of propaganda and the posters’ role as a precursor to modern marketing.
Re-ignite your passion for hobbies. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Sheryl and I used to travel more frequently. I loved documenting our travels through photography, and our recent trip reminded me just how much I miss that hobby! For me, photography ignites my creative soul, and I’m making it a habit to pick my camera back up again and capture the artistic lens through which I see the world.
Make your health a priority. Whenever we explore a new city, we try to experience it like a local.Although we typically stay in hotels, we like to immerse ourselves in residential areas and get the feel for daily life by walking around local neighborhoods.We spend time in whatever nature is nearby, shop for fresh fruits and vegetables, and delve into the local cuisine. All our time spent walking, in the outdoors, and eating good food is a reminder of just how good we can feel (at any age) when we move and fuel our bodies well.
Spend time with the ones you love. The highlight of our recent trip was attending a family wedding at a chateau in Bordeaux. We had the privilege of witnessing the fairytale wedding of Sheryl’s cousin who has been like a niece to us for decades. In fact, our first family trip to Europe was with her and her father many years ago. Travel affords Sheryl and I important quality time together and allows us to stay connected to people we love who live far away.
Without prioritizing our time and resources to travel internationally, I don’t know that Sheryl and I would ever feel fully ourselves or fully alive. So, this is your reminder to make sure you’re not ‘missing your reward.’ The things you love deserve a line-item in your budget and more than just a footnote in your retirement plan.