This article is an excellent example of how people can take control of their own financial happiness. I recently followed up with a couple who are approaching the next phase of their lives. They have always dreamed of “reinventing themselves” rather than “retiring” – using their time in service to their community when they leave full-time work. Each time we follow-up, we check in to make sure that the plan is nimble enough to function within the prevailing market forces and that they are living the values they identified as most important to them. Financial planning should be about focusing on the values YOU want to live by today, tomorrow and into the future then under-writing the costs of making them come true.