Next Chapter RC

Next Chapter RC To come along side of individuals and couples, to help them design and implement their own concrete

Depending on your health and finances, you have a third of your life to do whatever you want!

11/20/2024

- I'm a "retirement coach," which just means I help people figure out what their retirement could look like in real, practical terms. I'm also kind of a retirement junkie—I love reading up on ways to make the most of this new chapter, and I love chatting with others about all the possibilities out there.
- But I'm not a consultant; I don't have all the answers. In fact, I'm still figuring things out for myself. My approach is to work on my own life as best as I can, learning from both the successes and the challenges, and sharing what I've learned with others who might find it helpful. I think of it as building my own lighthouse: I turn on the light where I’m grounded, shining it in ways unique to me. This light might be helpful to others, or it might not—and that’s okay.
- I do think there are a few things we all have in common though, no matter where we are in our lives. We all need a sense of purpose, a solid idea of who we are, some fun pursuits and interests, a few good friends and family to share life with, a desire to stay healthy, and probably a few other areas as well. My life and light shine best when there is some balance and hope in EACH of these areas. So, may your life and light shine bright.

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11/11/2024

- The thing that haunts me most—and drives my wife Betsy crazy—is my anxiety about the closing window of my life. What if I die sooner than expected, leaving so much undone? Do I have 30 years left, or just a month? I’m healthy, but is there an unseen illness? What if I get hit by a car while riding my bike? These things happen, you know.
- I once heard (though I can’t remember where) that our lives are like an hourglass with the top portion blocked so we can’t see it. Sand flows through, but we don’t know how much remains. All we truly know is that it will run out someday, but we can’t see when. I never deeply felt this until I reached my 60s. Now, it haunts me.
- Betsy doesn’t feel this anxiety. She tells me to relax, asking, “What will you do when you’ve completed everything on your bucket list?” I reassure her that each time I check something off, another item is added. There’s still so much to do in this world! But is the answer really to keep doing, seeing, and experiencing more? Yes and no. Some experiences bring joy; others, perhaps less.
- When people ask me what I still want to do, most of my answers are travel-related—not just to see as much of the world as possible but to experience it with OTHERS: Betsy, my kids, friends, old and new. There’s something profound about connecting with others and realizing how small the world truly is. I think I need to explore and write more about that idea.
- Then there’s the reality of my responsibilities and commitments at home: my kids, my mom, my grandkids, friends, my coaching, and the nonprofit work I care about. I love these things, even when they feel overwhelming.
- So, how do I handle this "hourglass anxiety"? I guess it’s about balance—finding peace in not knowing when the sand will run out while choosing to live fully with whatever time remains. So I guess I want to keep pursuing what’s meaningful, savoring what’s joyful, and building a life that reflects gratitude for each moment. But, oh man, this is so much easier said than done.

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10/30/2024

II
The podcast (mentioned in previous post) provided me with inspiration, awareness, and even some direction. But I still needed to pull the trigger and take action, whatever that "it" might be. Why is getting started on something so hard?

A month or two later, I found myself sitting on a bridge (don't worry, I wasn't thinking about jumping) on Modersohnstraße in Berlin, Germany, during the summer of 2019 with my son, Rick. We enjoyed a couple of beers while watching the trains pass beneath us between two stations as the sun set. It was a beautiful summer evening, and the serene atmosphere prompted some deep reflection between us. I opened up about my hesitation to fully commit to a retirement coaching program. It wasn’t just the financial cost; it also involved significant time and energy. What if I failed? What would people think? Why did I care so much? Why couldn’t I make a decision? Then Rick simply said, "Come on, Dad, just do it. You won’t know until you actually start." Duh.

In baseball, there used to be a more common type of player known as the "utility player"—someone who could play most positions but none exceptionally well. I’ve always related to that concept. I can do many things, but I don’t really excel at any one of them. I might never start a game as a pitcher, but you could bring me in during the ninth inning when the bullpen was spent, or if our team was losing badly and we just wanted the game to end. I could hope to pitch to a few batters and maybe even get an out or two. I was never known as a standout insurance guy or CFO. Although I love numbers, spreadsheets, and money, my strengths lie more in the soft skills—I connect well with people, I’m organized, I'm purposeful, and I’m relationally intentional.

In addition to "inspiration," another part of finding purpose is experimentation. Thinking about it is one thing; taking action is another. We need to get out of the stands and onto the playing field. Yes, we must step onto the pitcher's mound and pitch, even if we have no idea how well we’ll do.

As I reflected on this, retirement coaching seemed like a promising and natural fit for my skill set. I was hesitant to start, fearing I'd be decent at it but not great, and ultimately I'd quit. Ugh. I hated that feeling. Still, I knew I needed to invest in myself regardless. So, with Rick’s “just do it, Dad” encouragement, I decided to take the plunge.

Inspiration and good intentions are important, but they mean nothing without action. I dislike feeling inspired one day and telling myself, "Tomorrow, I’m going to start..." that thing, whatever it is. Then, when the next day arrives, the spark of inspiration from the day before has faded. Over the years, I’ve learned that I simply need to start—taking small steps and practicing discipline each day. Developing that habit is crucial; once I begin, momentum takes over and keeps me moving forward. But you still have to start.

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10/24/2024

- It's hard to believe it’s been five years since I technically “retired.” And, honestly, I’ve never liked the word "retirement." It feels like a conversation killer at social events unless I'm talking to someone else who’s also retired. I do feel a bit guilty that at 61, I have the ability to step away from work, but there’s also this inner pressure—maybe it’s my grandfather’s voice—reminding me to stay purposeful and productive. At times, that drive keeps me going; other times, it feels like a weight on my shoulders.
- Recently, I realized I have some internal work to do as I reflect on my life—where I’ve been and what lies ahead. I’ve always kept a journal, but I’ve never written much with the intention of sharing it. I’m no Marcus Aurelius, but he journaled with no plans to publish, and yet, his words have inspired generations. That’s not my goal, but I do think parts of my journey might resonate with others. So, I’ve been toying with the idea of writing more and seeing where it leads.
- I spent 35 years in the insurance industry, fortunate to have great partners, a dedicated team, and loyal clients. It was a good run, but over time, solving the same problems started to wear me down. My heart wasn’t in it anymore, and I knew there had to be something more out there for me. I had the chance to leave gracefully, giving myself the space to explore what might come next. Still, I hear my grandfather’s voice asking, “George, what did you do productive today?” It was a question I hated growing up, but I understand it now. Without a sense of higher purpose, I know I’d feel myself slipping, wasting time on trivial things. I fear the possibility of ending up in a small, narrow world, glued to the Weather Channel or CNN, just waiting for 5 p.m. so I can pour a cocktail. Thanks, Granddad.
- How do I reconcile this inner drive for purpose and meaning with my desire to enjoy this stage of life? After all, I’ve worked hard to get here, haven’t I? Don’t I deserve to embrace the traditional concept of retirement? Who wouldn’t want a perpetual vacation, to travel to exotic places, or to play golf several times a week? Yet, how can I pursue something greater while still finding time for the things I’ve always wanted to do for myself?
- Then there was the Podcast That Shifted My Perspective: I’ve always enjoyed financial topics and often found myself hooked on financial podcasts, constantly seeking reassurance that I was making sound decisions. It felt like that was my main focus at this stage of life. Then, one day while listening to a podcast (I can’t even remember which one), I heard Robert Laura as the guest. He was talking about retirement—but not the financial side. Instead, he emphasized the importance of purpose, values, identity, relationships, and health in retirement. That caught me off guard. Wait—what? I love thinking about those things! I love exploring those areas with others. It immediately struck a chord. Financially, I was secure, but I felt a void in areas like purpose, values, and identity. Retirement could span the next 30 years, and if I’m going to live it well, while maintaining both purpose and joy, I need to focus more on these non-financial aspects of life.
- That was an "aha moment" for me—one of those moments where inspiration strikes. It provided me with a starting point and a bit of a roadmap to focus on in my own life. We all need these moments to help us break free from feelings of being stuck, self-doubt, and inadequacy, all of which I was experiencing. Moments of inspiration are essential; they are a key component in discovering our purpose.

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https://www.newretirement.com/retirement/stoic-wisdom-financial-wellness/Well worth a few minutes to read and contemplat...
04/07/2024

https://www.newretirement.com/retirement/stoic-wisdom-financial-wellness/
Well worth a few minutes to read and contemplate. I love the Stoics. So much applicable wisdom for our finances, but MOSTLY for our lives. For ME, 4, 5, & 6 are my biggest challenges. How about you?
1. Practice Frugality and Moderation: Focus on what is important to you.
2. Focus on What's Within Your Control
3. Practice Deferred Gratification
4. Embrace Volatility and Adaptability
5. Keep Your Emotions in Check
6. Practice Gratitude and Perspective

There is surprising buzz around Stoicism, an ancient Greek philosophy. See how Stoic wisdom can help you achieve financial wellness.

https://retirefabulously.com/10-truths-about-retirement/I read this today. It’s a great list of 10 Truths. However, th...
08/14/2023

https://retirefabulously.com/10-truths-about-retirement/
I read this today. It’s a great list of 10 Truths. However, the one that particularly rocked me was #9 where we’re called to replace the word “someday” with “today.” It’s been so easy for me to develop a daily routine and keep busy, doing good things and even some purposeful meaningful things. That’s all good, however I still find myself thinking “someday I’d like to…” I know that I have a window of life ahead of me that is inevitably closing. I don’t know how long until it will ultimately close. I also know that my “health span” window will close even sooner than my “life span” window and my “somedays” will likely be gone.

Here’s another way of looking at it: It’s like we’re looking at sand going through an hourglass. We know that the sand will eventually run out. However, when it comes to our lives, the top part of the hourglass is blocked off and we can’t see how much sand is left for us. All we see is the bottom half. I truly DON’T want the sand to run our before I do a lot of my “someday” things.

So, it’s time to start doing those “someday” things TODAY!

Is retirement like I thought it would be? No. Has retirement turned out well anyway? Yes! Here are 10 truths I’ve learned about retirement.

Wow...not really surprised though.
06/03/2023

Wow...not really surprised though.

Search trends show people are looking for friendship and community. The US Surgeon General says loneliness is at epidemic levels in a new report.

Speaking of doing things out of my comfort zone: Last month, Maurice van Dijck, my Dutch musician friend and fellow pil...
03/30/2023

Speaking of doing things out of my comfort zone: Last month, Maurice van Dijck, my Dutch musician friend and fellow pilgrim from the Camino last year suggested we collaborate on a overseas music project about our experience on the Camino. This is the result. Maurice, thank you for motivating me to pull my guitar out and write something.

Overseas Musical Collaboration with Fellow Pilgrim Maurice van Dijck.

Here’s the 2nd of two podcasts I had the opportunity to be a guest on. In this one Ray (the Luckiest Guy in the World) ...
09/21/2022

Here’s the 2nd of two podcasts I had the opportunity to be a guest on. In this one Ray (the Luckiest Guy in the World) interviews me about my recent Camino de Santiago adventure. You can tell from the interview that I still am not tired of talking about this most unique experience of my life. If you have 20 minutes or so, check it out. I hope you enjoy it!

This week we talk with George Mowrer, a certified retirement coach who helps people figure out how to run the last third of their lives. He shares with us why he decided to hike the Camino Santiago, what it takes to do so, the kinds of people you meet along the way, and the experiences you encounter...

So, a couple of weeks ago, I had the opportunity to be the guest on a couple of podcasts with Raymond Loewe, who is the ...
09/14/2022

So, a couple of weeks ago, I had the opportunity to be the guest on a couple of podcasts with Raymond Loewe, who is the Luckiest Guy in the World (and not because I was his guest). In this first podcast, Geoff Boyer and I talked about planning for both the financial and non-financial post-vocational part of life. If you have 20 minutes or so, please check it out.

Today Ray talks with Geoff Boyer, a financial advisor, and George Mowrer, a retirement coach, about when and how to plan for your short and long-term future. Geoff points out that by planning your future around not only your bucket list but also buckets of money, we can plan for both the long-term a...

https://www.theretirementmanifesto.com/the-four-paths-of-retirement/Great read if you’re retired already, retiring soon,...
08/08/2022

https://www.theretirementmanifesto.com/the-four-paths-of-retirement/

Great read if you’re retired already, retiring soon, or just spend a lot of time thinking about retirement. Which path are you on? Which path do you want to be on?
The Four Paths:
• Purposeful Pathfinders (23%)
• Relaxed Traditionalists (26%)
• Challenged yet Hopefuls (20%)
• Regretful Strugglers (31%)

And then there is this: the five habits shared by the successful retirees surveyed:
1. They actively maintain their health through diet and exercise.
2. They’re more socially engaged with family and friends.
3. They have a sense of purpose by continually trying new things and finding ways to give back.
4. They’re involved with their finances.
5. They’re willing to make course corrections to achieve their dreams.

If you're retired, chances are good that you're following one of the four paths of retirement. Which path are you on?

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