Making $ense out of Personal Finance, Our Thoughts and Perspectives

           This past week I was in Boston, Massachusetts where I sat in on a seminar given by an MIT professor by the name of Dr. Joseph Coughlin. By any standard Dr. Coughlin was a truly engaging speaker whose modulating vocal variations coaxed genuine auditory conviction from even the weariest of seminar attendee. Over the course of an hour the good doctor imparted on us the MIT Age Lab’s research regarding various factors within client behavior, attention economics, and culminated the assemblage with his forecast for future of financial planning as an industry. Insightful research abound, I found that one aspect of his discourse seemed to resonate with me in more depth than the others. Portions of the research Dr. Coughlin presented were comparing and contrasting the three most impactful generations in our current society, in regards to their differing ideologies and approaches to work, lifestyle, and wealth. It is far cry from a revelation to assert that the baby boomer generation has differing values and beliefs from those of their technologically “plugged in” Generation Y decedents. However, having integrated into a successful Financial Planning firm whose foundation was built upon years of assisting this older generation achieve financial independence, I had developed a self-imposed narrowed view of the clientele who could derive the most long term benefit from the services I provide. The newer X and Y generations had deviated so greatly both ideologically and professionally from the conventional mold which most investment professionals consider “ideal” that they had, in large part, fallen off my radar for the time being. Never could I have anticipated the impact my attendance of this previously unassuming education seminar would have on my professional path, which in hindsight seems so organic. Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, “Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.” Our company has a clearly defined path, with Dr. Coughlin’s unexpected help; I had found my trail to blaze. Financial Planning isn’t just for Baby Boomers anymore!

           -Matthew Hutton, CFP®, MBA-FP

            As I was flying home from attending the Schwab conference in Boston Friday night, I happened to be on the flight that had personal television screens. I became a captive audience to all the terror and devastation that was taking place in Paris. For six hours I watched as the death toll climbed and the newscasters repeated the same information, I couldn’t change the channel to a lighter form of entertainment feeling as if I needed to somehow experience it along the French people. It was a bit surreal as they kept saying that this was France’s 9/11, and knowing I was on an airplane that had left from an airport from which two of the 9/11 airplanes had taken off.  I was struck by a segment where Geraldo Rivera spoke live to his daughter who was studying abroad, and had been in the Soccer Stadium when the first bombs went off.  Her fear was palpable, and watching him almost speechless asking her if she was alright and telling her he was coming to get her. I thought of all the families in Paris that night and what they must have been going through.

This morning I saw a video of an interviewer talking to a father and son at one of the memorials for the victims.  The little boy was probably around five and had said to the interviewer that now he would have to move because the mean men with guns would hurt him. His father said that they would not have to move, and that the flowers would fight the guns, to which the little boy questioned “the flowers and candles will protect us?” Both the interviewer and father said yes. It was a poignant moment when you witness adults trying desperately to shelter a child’s innocence. But, when I pondered the conversation, it is true.

When you watch the French people placing flowers and candles, you see people from all walks of life. When they are gathered there in mourning, there are no differences between them, they are all just the people of Paris, the people of France. That is the only thing that can fight terrorism, people of one country coming together to support each other. That is what happened to the US after 9/11, and that is what is happening now in France.

It is sad that it takes a tragedy for a country to band together.  I fear that these killers have only just begun their terror tactics.  I hope that we as a nation can look at France, and remember our own days after our own tragedy.  I hope that we can put aside all of our differences, and unit as one country to keep all of us safe.

I pray for the families of the victims of Paris and for all of the French people. I pray for the safety of all.  Please be safe, and aware.

Susan

Link to referenced video

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/little-french-boy-explains-bad-guys-to-his-dad-after-paris-attacks/