What do prayer, financial planning, and possibly your brother-in-law have in common?
The other day, I was talking with my brother-in-law.
Now, he’s not just any brother-in-law. He’s Jewish. Lives in Israel. Studied religion in college. And to top it off, he’s one of those deep thinkers who can casually reference ancient texts and economic theory in the same sentence.
We got to chatting about the concept of fear. Specifically, how faith helps combat fear—especially as we get older.
Because let’s face it, aging, retirement, healthcare costs, identity shifts, and the occasional 3 a.m. “Did I turn off the oven and also what happens if I outlive my money?” spiral… all real.
He said something like: “Faith isn’t just believing everything will be okay. It’s trusting that you will be okay, no matter what.”
That hit me when thinking about the current financial markets and all the fear I’m seeing, and the value of a reliable financial plan. Isn’t this exactly what good financial planning is supposed to do?
Faith and Financial Planning Aren’t Opposites. They’re Teammates.
Faith, regardless of your spiritual background (or lack thereof), is essentially the ability to move forward in uncertainty. And if that doesn’t describe financial planning in your 50s, 60s, or beyond… I don’t know what does.
Think about it:
– We invest based on probabilities, not guarantees
– We plan for retirement without knowing exactly how long it will last
– We insure against events we hope never happen
– We decide today what might affect our lives 20 or 30 years from now
That takes faith.
Faith that:
– The markets will (eventually) go back up
– Our bodies will hold up (even if our knees are already protesting)
– Our partner won’t spend the long-term care budget on a vintage Corvette
– And yes—that we’re building a future worth living into
Faith Calms the Noise, Planning Calms the Numbers
Faith helps us deal with the fear. Planning helps us deal with the facts. What happens when we put them together? We get clarity, peace of mind, and a little more confidence in both our financial projections and the universe.
Now, let’s be real. Faith won’t rebalance your portfolio. It won’t calculate your safe withdrawal rate or decode your Medicare options.
But faith does help when the what-ifs hit:
– What if the economy tanks?
– What if I get sick?
– What if I outlive my money or—gasp—my spouse lives 20 years longer and spends it all on supplements and pickleball gear?
Financial Planning says: “Here’s the data. Here’s what we can do.”
Faith says: “And here’s the hope and trust that you’ll be okay anyway.”
You Don’t Need to Be Religious to Have Faith
Faith doesn’t require a steeple or a yarmulke or chanting under a full moon (although, if that’s your thing—bless it).
Faith shows up when we:
– Envision a future version of ourselves
– Give generously, even when we feel uncertain
– Choose progress over perfection
– Keep going even when the numbers freak us out
And let’s not forget who we can have faith in:
– Your financial or retirement planner
– Your best friend who’s already retired, and still has great legs or great hair
– Your ability to adapt, grow, and course-correct
– Your dog (seriously, they always think you’re doing amazing)
– And yes… let’s not forget your mom. The woman who made something out of nothing, raised you on a budget tighter than your old jeans, and still believes in you more than anyone else. Even if she isn’t here anymore, you can probably still hear her in your head saying, “You’ve got this.”
And you do.
So What Role Does Faith Play in Financial Planning?
In my humble opinion, faith is what helps us start. Planning is what helps us continue. Community, like your team of financial pro’s, family and friends, who support you and say “you’ve got this”, is what helps us stay the course.
Whether your faith is in God, the stock market (good luck), love, retirement planning software, or simply your future self—you need something to believe in. Because if you’re building a financial plan without a little faith baked in, you’re missing a key ingredient.
A Final Note from Me (and Maybe My Mom)
Regardless of your faith, today is the perfect day (the eve before Good Friday) to wish you and your family a…
Happy Easter or
Happy Passover or
Happy Ramadan or
Or Just to wish you Happiness (which might be enough for you)
Whatever your faith — religious, spiritual, cosmic, or just a deep trust in chocolate Easter bunnies and long naps — it’s good to be happy AND faithful. Here’s to both.
Let’s Get Her Done (Amen to having a faith and a financial plan)!!
P.S. If you’ve lost faith in your financial or retirement advisor, or you’re ready to place your faith in an advisor for the first time, reach out, I can hook you up: lynnt@herretirement.com.