"The Power of Lifelong Learning: Education, Purpose, and the Path to True Fulfillment"

My very beginning in journalism was as a news reporter and writer in college. Then I had many jobs to survive, mostly in marketing. In my second career as a Certified Financial Planner® or CFP, I began teaching seminars at the local library and writing a finance column in the newspaper. I still write a monthly column on the economy and wealth building to this day. I hope it empowers others to make informed decisions.

But financial education is not the only knowledge I think is important. Education at all levels is valuable. Neither of my parents made it past the eighth grade. Their lack of education, and the barriers it presented in their lives and in my and my siblings’ upbringing is proof positive that education is a key form of self-improvement. Every one of the nine of us kids were driven towards as much education as they could get.

Now as adults, perhaps with formal education behind us, are we still yearning to know more? I believe that is one of the important distinctions between man and beast. We are not content to just survive, but our need for purpose and identity is strong, in some to their detriment.

I work with a lot of different people, both with my financial planning clients and my colleagues. One of the main goals many clients have is to be financially independent in retirement. This can be achieved in a myriad of ways. But having money or real estate or nice cars does not make retirement successful. Often people find their identity is tied to their profession and they are lost without it. This is another area I put my teacher hat on and work through defining their purpose throughout retirement. Some retirees seek more education, to become what they always wanted to be, not just what they had to be. Many seek new learning tools through senior centers, volunteering or finding their hidden creative talents.

I can see most people are happiest when they are still learning. Knowledge is empowerment. Go for it.