The Price and the Purpose | March 2002 LSOL

The Lighter Side of Life: The Price and the Purpose

Back \| E-mail to a Friend \| Print

Personal experiences teach us the value of our work.

By Stephen T. Gerdel

It seems that every few years, the question comes to mind: Why am I doing all this? All this planning, saving, reviewing, re-targeting, bucking-up and continuing pursuit of the goal? What is the real target and how close to the goal will I actually get?

Questions -- many questions. Innumerable consequences of imponderable events. Hmm.

How many times have those questions gallivanted through your over-burdened mind?

Or, what is more frightening, how many times have they been asked across your desk by a client? If they haven't, they will, in the near future.

Our efforts to protect incomes with life insurance and disability protection gratify the immediate need. Investing and saving satisfy the fears we have about the future.

Completing our financial and estate plans and trust documents assures us that our spouses and children will be taken care of adequately when we are no longer around.

But then they grow up, leave home and become successful, and we are left with all our planning and investments. Now what?

The answer

It can be unnerving at best. There is an answer, however. An answer that will soothe every question, bring every concern into sharp focus and make crystal clear the intent and purpose of every goal. What is the answer? Well, grandchildren.

I know some will argue. Some believe we do all the planning, saving, investing and insuring for the protection and security of our spouses and offspring. Some will say we do it for a well-earned comfortable retirement that will enable us to spend our later years in leisure.

Not so. It's all for the grandchildren. This blinding revelation came to me as I was putting the final touches on Don and Evelyn's revocable living trust. Don leaned across the table, looked me straight in the eye and said, "Grandchildren are the reward you get for not disowning your own kids when they were teenagers."

Not that I had ever experienced anything negative from my kids. All five of them are great. Their teenage years were filled with brilliance, talent and charm that reminded me a lot of ... well, me.

Grandchildren are the reward you get for not disowning your own kids when they were teenagers.

Don is a bit older and significantly wiser than I am. Somehow, he is able to see beyond this generational curse to the potential possessed by these young hellions. As I said, it takes age and wisdom to perceive these things, but it is true. We do all the work with our clients, and with our personal resources, for the grandchildren.

The question remains: "Do they appreciate it?" Probably not. Are they ever aware of it? Most definitely not. Will they benefit from it? Certainly. But if one trains them right, it can be a good thing.

The rewards

Don's grandson graduated from high school last spring. At the ceremony, Don had been told not to give his grandson any money because there was a party already planned, with gifts. Being the dutiful grandfather that he is, Don slipped a $50 bill into the hand of his grandson and whispered, "Take this and go have a burger with your best buds." Grandfathers have the right to be both kind and sneaky.

A few weeks later, Don and Evelyn got a call from their grandson, inviting them to join him and his girlfriend for lunch. They met and had a great time talking about plans for the summer and for college in the fall.

When the check came, Don's reaction time was slower than that of his grandson. Don said, "Hey, I'll get the check."

His grandson said, "Nope. I just had lunch with my best bud."

He's right. It's all for the grandkids.

Steve Gerdel operates Advisor Links Inc., Washington, Mo. His address: 320 East Fifth St., Washington, MO 63090; email: sgerdel@sbcglobal.net.

Top | Back | E-mail to a Friend | Print

If you are not receiving your magazine or need to change your address,
please contact membersupport@naifa.org.

For comments on articles on this website contact mleyes@naifa.org.