ROL

Spring Cleaning for Retirement

Spring Cleaning for Retirement

Much like the arrival of spring, retirement can be a time of fresh starts and new beginnings. Navigating this major $Lifeline transition can also give retirees an opportunity to "spring clean" more than just our overstuffed closets and garages. Retirees can clean out the things in life that no longer bring them joy and make room for more growth, more fulfillment, more memories, and more Return on Life.

Start by looking back on your career and identifying what you liked most about your job. Then, think about how you can clear away the things that made work feel like work, such as:

Focus on Consistency for a Better ROL

Focus on Consistency for a Better ROL

The most impactful investments tend to be those that we make consistently over time. When we stick to a plan and keep checking off the items on our to-do lists, our efforts compound and build towards the results that we want.

Think about how being consistent in these three areas could help you achieve your long-term goals and improve your Return on Life (ROL).

Buy Experiences & Not Things for A Better ROL

Buy Experiences & Not Things for A Better ROL

Pick up your cell phone. If it's a few months or years old, try to remember when you first bought it. How shiny and light and scratch-free it was. How excited you were to sync up your accounts, take pictures and videos with the new camera, or play some games.

 And now? Be honest -- it's just your phone. You might not be able to get through a day -- or an hour -- without it, but even if you've kept it in good shape the shine and the newness are gone.

That's due to a phenomenon that psychologists call "hedonistic adaptation." Over a very short period of time, the things we buy just become more things that we have, and that initial bust of happiness we feel when we crack open the box returns to the baseline.

On the other hand, buying experiences tends to create happiness that sticks with us, reverberates with our loved ones, and improves Return on Life. Here are three reasons why:

The Many Benefits of Enjoying Your Work

The Many Benefits of Enjoying Your Work

Very few people love everything about their jobs. But even if you're someone who just clocks in and out for a paycheck, wouldn't it be nice to get a little more Return on Life from something you spend 40+ hours doing every single week? Whether you're looking into a career change or trying to reframe how you think about and perform at your job, here are four reasons to whistle while you work:

Creative Hobbies Can Improve Your Work and ROL as a C-level Executive

Creative Hobbies Can Improve Your Work and ROL as a C-level Executive

The demands of being a C-level executive can be so overwhelming that you might feel like you're "on call" even on your rare days off. If you're struggling to unplug from your work, perhaps you need to make more purposeful investments of time and energy into your hobbies. Adding some creative relaxation to your routine could help you make three big improvements that could reduce burnout and boost your Return on Life.

Social Media’s Impact on Your Money Mindset

Social Media’s Impact on Your Money Mindset

There are a variety of viewpoints on how social media influences our society - both good and bad. After all, some people are spending hours a day on these platforms and we need to be aware of their impact. From our vantage point, we’re paying close attention to how these networks influence our clients’ spending, saving, and investing habits.

Can Eustress Improve Your ROL?

Can Eustress Improve Your ROL?

Not all stress is bad stress.

While there's overwhelming medical evidence that negative stress can cause significant physical and emotional damage, "eustress" can energize and inspire us to meet surmountable obstacles. In fact, if you attempt one of these three challenges, you might actively cultivate eustress that leads to personal development and a greater Return on Life.

Building Momentum for ROL

Building Momentum for ROL

Unless you win the lottery, no financial plan is going to deliver massive overnight results that change your life. Even windfall events like getting a major promotion, or achieving a big exit from the company you started are all the end result of smaller achievements that gather and sustain momentum towards your ultimate goal.

Whether you want to save more, improve your health, or spend more quality time with your family, this simple three-step process can help you build momentum that will improve your Return on Life in the areas that matter the most to you.

Simplify Your Stuff For a Better ROL

Simplify Your Stuff For a Better ROL

"Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication," proclaimed an Apple Computer marketing brochure back in 1977. In the ensuing decades, Steve Jobs' commitment to this ideal resulted in technology products that were as beautiful as they were easy to use, and resulted in Apple becoming one of the most valuable companies in the world.

The clutter that we accumulate in our life often prevents us from getting as much value as we can from our time and money. Think about how pairing down to the essentials in these four areas could improve your Return on Life (ROL).

How Does Your View of Independence Affect Your ROL?

How Does Your View of Independence Affect Your ROL?

Independence is an important value to all Americans. It's also a value that's central to how we feel about and use our money. When we feel financially free, we can make a wider variety of choices, pursue our passions, and find our ideal version of work-life balance. As we move past the 4th of July and head into the second half of the year, ask yourself how these three areas of financial independence are affecting your planning and how to get more Return on Life going forward.