🟣🟢 Sunny days, stormy headlines

Happy Sunday…👋

It’s been a beautiful spring weekend in Bristol (hopefully where you are too!). Blue skies, warm sun, that first real hint of summer.

And yet, if you’ve glanced at the headlines, you’d be forgiven for feeling a bit gloomy.

Last week brought market jitters after Trump’s tariff announcement and share prices dropped. Cue the usual noise, speculation, forecasts, dramatic headlines. It’s easy to get caught up in it all.

But when you’ve got a clear plan in place, for your business, especially for retirement, you can step back a bit.

You’re not reliant on the daily news cycle.

You can focus on what matters most, like spending time with your family, soaking up a bit of sunshine, knowing your future isn’t hanging on one week of market movements.

And that made me think. When it comes to planning for retirement, the real issue often isn’t the markets, or even the money…

Most of us know we should be planning ahead for life after work.

We’ve heard the messages: save early, use your pension and ISAs wisely, figure out how much is “enough.”

You may even have the spreadsheets in a folder somewhere.

And yet… many people don’t act on it.

Not fully. Not with confidence.

Why is that?

It’s something I’ve been thinking about a lot lately, especially after a few recent conversations with people who, on paper, could retire tomorrow.

They’re financially secure. But when the idea of stopping work comes up, they hesitate.

They say things like: “I don’t know what I’d do with myself.” “I’m not ready to stop.” “I’m not that old yet.” Or sometimes, they just change the subject and talk about their money.

And it’s made me realise: the real issue often isn’t about having enough money.

It’s about what comes next, and the fact that many people haven’t taken the time to imagine it.

When You Can’t Picture the Future, It’s Hard to Plan for It

If you can’t clearly see what your life might look like in your 60s, 70s or beyond, how can you plan for it? What are you aiming for?

Without a positive vision, one that’s specific, personal, and appealing, financial planning can feel vague, or even pointless. It becomes a chore, not a strategy.

Something to put off.

And for business owners especially, it’s even more complicated. Your work isn’t just what you do, it’s who you are.

It’s your structure, your purpose, your place in the world.

Letting go of that, even partially, can feel unsettling. Sometimes it’s easier not to think about it at all.

Retirement Isn’t the End of the Story

One idea I’ve always liked is that retirement isn’t a full stop, it’s a new chapter.

Jane Fonda calls it The Third Act, the part of life where you have more freedom to choose what matters most to you.

But this chapter doesn’t just unfold on its own. It needs direction.

If you’ve so been busy running your family, business or career that you’ve never had space to think about what comes after, that’s completely understandable.

But it’s also a good reason to start exploring now. Because once you begin to shape a clear, meaningful picture of life beyond work, something shifts.

The financial decisions become easier. The planning has a point. You’re not preparing to stop (work might still play a part) but you are preparing to start something new.

Not Sure Where to Start?

If you’ve never really let yourself imagine life beyond work, try asking yourself a few questions. No right answers, no pressure, just curiosity:

• What would you love to do more of, if time and money weren’t an issue? (Not “retirement activities” just the stuff that makes you feel alive.)

• What does a good day look like when work isn’t the centre of it? (Who are you with? Where are you? What are you doing?)

• Is there something you’ve always wanted to try, learn, or create but never had time for? (A language, restoring an old car, writing a book?)

• What kind of freedom are you really aiming for: time, money, flexibility, creativity, space? (Your version of ‘freedom’ may look very different from someone else’s.)

• What do you not want in your next chapter? (This one’s underrated. It’s just as useful to define what you’re ready to let go of.)

These sorts of questions aren’t just daydreaming, they’re the foundation for planning a future you’ll actually want to move toward.

Next time: I’ll be sharing some practical ways to create that vision and turn it into a financial plan you’ll actually want to follow. Nothing complicated, just small steps that can make a big difference.

😎 THAT’S IT FOR THIS WEEK!

If you need any help with your financial stuff, would like to know more about our services, or have any questions at all, do ping me a reply.

Hilary 😎

P.S Whenever you’re ready maybe I can help: Book a Discovery call and find out if we can help you

If you know someone who would appreciate this newsletter, send them this link» https://financial-stuff-by-hilary.beehiiv.com/subscribe

Check out my Youtube channel for short videos that you might enjoy and find useful! Subscribe for regular updates! Or send me a question you’d like me to answer for you!