Early in my career as a technologist, I felt I needed to have an understanding of business that I was operating in. My first job was working as a computer programmer for a life insurance company. The company was very supportive of employees continuing their education. At that time, I went back to college and got an undergraduate degree in business. It was a stressful time as I was married, had a child, was working full-time, and I was attending Norwich University and Vermont College of Norwich University. The program I was in at Vermont College provided classes nights and weekends.
The undergraduate in business provided a great foundation for me to build my knowledge of insurance. After graduation, I took a year to get my sanity back, and let the anxiety of life dissipate a little before I embarked on taking Chartered Life Underwriting (CLU) classes from The American College in Pennsylvania. One of education tracks that shared courses for the CLU designation was that of a Certified Financial Planner (CFP). I was very interested in the financial planning aspect many of the courses focused on. I guess it was at this time that I started my own financial plan. In addition, the courses on Life Insurance focused on the benefits of life insurance and annuities; both of which have a spotlight on doing something early in life (planning, saving, investing, tax planning), to prepare for something later in life (retirement, and providing for loved ones upon one’s death).
Like most people, I have had setbacks in life where the prospects of being able to retire at any age looked grim. I would like to say I took the setbacks in stride, but I didn’t. Eventually, I would get back up, dust myself off and plot a plan forward.
Even with a solid evolving financial plan over the years, I was taken aback when, about a year ago, our financial planner asked if I had a retirement date in mind. Wait. What? I must have looked disillusioned. I know I felt it. The future was here. I was almost in tears when we left the planner’s office. I will clarify. The tears were not of joy, but of sadness, anxiety, and worry. As part of financial planning, there is a constant emphasis on “security later in life”; a focus on saving for retirement. Did that mean I was now later in life? Yes, it now means I am later in life. When did this happen? I felt like a ton of bricks were dumped on me.
I grew up learning the importance of a strong work ethic. I also learned to be frugal. Putting money in a savings account is what you do for emergencies and the future. You don’t take money out of savings.
Over the last year, I have been coming to grips with the idea of retirement. My understanding wife, Charla, has been my counselor helping me determine where the anxiety about retirement is coming from. I have learned that I have defined myself a lot
over the years by my job and career. A google search “defining myself by my job” helped me understand. If I’m not working, then who will I be? Similar articles state your job is temporary and you should define yourself by something you love. There are other contributing factors regarding anxiety about retirement that I continue to explore. I guess a regret I have, among others, is that I have waited until this time in my life to figure out who I am.
I always loved the process of making maple syrup or “Sugaring”. The times I spent with my father and grandfather Sugaring are remembered with fondness. In future blogs, I will touch upon my continued struggle with the idea of retirement and stories of Sugaring with the family.
I have been fortunate career-wise and thank God daily for his blessings.
did not Know you went to Norwich