Nicholas Gertsema, Chief Executive Officer/Wealth Advisor
Picture this: it was my son’s 15th birthday, and I wanted to do something special, something that would truly resonate with him. And what better way to do that than with music? My son had caught a bit of my country music bug, and it hit me – a Brooks & Dunn concert would be the perfect gift.
So, I hatched a plan. We sat him down and, to his excitement, I told him we had scored tickets to the concert. But there was a twist. In my most convincing tone, I explained that the tickets were far from glamorous – they were, according to our playful fib, “awful” seats. He took it well, though, with a good-natured shrug and a grin that told me he was just happy to be going to the concert.
Fast forward to the day of the concert. The excitement in the air was palpable as we entered the venue. We weaved through the crowd, inching closer to the stage. Then, the moment arrived. I turned to my son and said, “Hey, how about we take a picture right here by the stage? Let’s capture the memory of being this close!” He obliged, and we posed as if we were right in front of the stage, soaking in the atmosphere.
Little did he know, the incredible seats we were pretending were ours… well, they actually were. As we stood there, basking in the anticipation of the concert, I leaned in and confessed my little fib. The look on his face – pure astonishment mixed with unfiltered joy – is etched in my memory forever.
As I settled into those fantastic seats at the concert, the opening act, an artist named Scotty McCreery, took the stage. He sang a song called “Five More Minutes,” and if you aren’t familiar with the song, the chorus goes something like this:
Time rolls by, the clock don’t stop
I wish I had a few more drops
Of the good stuff, the good times
But they just keep on flyin’
Right on by, like it ain’t nothin’
I wish I had me a pause button
Moments like those, Lord knows I’d hit it
And give myself five more minutes
There I was, nestled in those incredible seats, watching my son beside me, singing along with every word. And in that moment, it hit me like a bolt of clarity – this was one of those “five more minutes” instances. It wasn’t about the cost of those seats, nor the material value of the concert experience. What truly mattered was the precious connection between me and my son during these crucial formative years of his life.
Financial Planning Is More Than Numbers
It’s funny how life has a way of providing those poignant reminders, even in the midst of seemingly unrelated moments. As I listened to my son singing with unbridled enthusiasm, the realization struck me: financial planning isn’t just about numbers and budgets, percentages and decimal points. It’s about time – a resource more precious than gold.
Sometimes, we can become so consumed by the complexities of financial planning that we forget its core essence. Retirement isn’t merely a mathematical calculation; it’s a canvas painted with the colors of time. It’s the freedom to cherish those fleeting, irreplaceable moments like the one unfolding before me – a father and son sharing a concert, voices harmonizing, hearts resonating.
In a world that often measures success by the size of our bank accounts, it’s easy to lose sight of the truest treasures – the moments etched into our memory. Financial planning should be a means to an end, a tool that empowers us to capture these priceless experiences. It’s the roadmap to crafting a life where “five more minutes” is not a wish, but a reality we can live each day.
The Importance of Meaningful Moments
And that’s what financial planning means to me – crafting a future filled with meaningful moments, just like that one. It’s not about complex strategies or bewildering jargon. It’s about understanding your dreams, setting goals, and creating a roadmap that paves the way for you and your loved ones to relish life’s extraordinary moments together.
If you’re ready for a shift in financial planning that extends beyond spreadsheets and graphs, if you seek a partner who understands that numbers enable moments, I’m here for you. Let’s embark on a journey that’s not just about securing your future but about nurturing moments that make life genuinely rich. Life isn’t just about counting down the years; it’s about making the years count. Let’s ensure your voyage is filled with moments deserving an encore, the moments that reverberate in your heart, long after the music fades.
Because life is a lot like a country song; it’s not just about the notes, it’s also about the emotions they evoke and the stories they tell. And together, we’ll compose a future for you that resonates for generations to come.
