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The Clock Is Ticking

By Jim Miller, CFP, Senior Trust Officer

There is a time in our lives when most of us come to terms with our mortality. For some of us it comes sooner than for others. Frequently it is something we acknowledge but don’t fully accept. Our responses can include fear, uncertainty, reflection and action. For some it results in making plans to protect loved ones. For others it results in a more vital appreciation of life or a determination to make the most of what we have.

I try to keep my mortality close enough to motivate me to make the most of each day, but far enough away to avoid worrying about tomorrow. Yet, more often than not, it tends to fade into the background during the bustle of an active life. I’m blessed to have a number of close relationships with clients who have taught me by their example how we should live our lives.

I have observed remarkably consistent behavior when it comes to my clients dealing with their mortality. As they arrive at the stage in life where it is likely they have 20 years left, but possibly much less, the sense of urgency to enhance the quality of life is strengthened. While in the past there always seemed to be time to do it all, now there is a need to focus.

That focus is as varied as my clients, but in broad terms it means pursuing their passions. Trips to baseball spring training camps, volunteering for an organization that makes a difference in their community, not missing a single grandchild’s soccer game, immersing themselves in Italian Opera, frequent trips to visit family across the country, working on that masterpiece, perfecting that golf swing or finishing a marathon in each of the 50 states. (Okay, I admit it: that last one is one of my dreams.)

Pursuing one’s passions with focus requires letting other activities and responsibilities go, either by discontinuing them or by delegating them to others. It is because of this “letting go” process that we often first meet our clients at Merchants Trust. They have arrived at a point in their lives where they realize that they want to minimize the amount of time they spend managing their finances. They fully understand that they need prudent management now more than ever, but they simply no longer want to allocate their precious time and energy to this area.

We take on an awesome responsibility when our clients delegate the management of their assets, because what we offer is much more than a financial service. We provide guidance, support and peace of mind that assist them in the pursuit of their passions, thereby increasing the probability of their life satisfaction and fulfillment.

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The Clock Is Ticking