COMING TO YOU SOON – Midlife Money Makeover

Your midpoint is a significant milestone – it means that you have lived half your life. Of course I celebrated in style, but I also paused and took time-out to plan my life ahead. I wanted to make sure that my second half is more meaningful and unforgettable than the last. I wanted to design this chapter on purpose, with purpose, and I wanted the security of knowing that my money would make this happen.

As I was planning my own transition, younger and younger clients were coming to me in workshops, talks and life planning meetings and I was hearing the same things. They wanted more meaning in their lives, they wanted to live with purpose and they wanted to get off the hamster wheel of life and work.

People were wanting change. They wanted their second half to be different, better and on their terms. I knew that I needed to take the work I was doing with clients on money and meaning to a deeper level. Deep down I have known for a long time that the concept of retirement was defunct and no longer relevant in the modern world. An entire rethink was needed in the way we think about the second chapter of our lives.

I knew three things for sure:

• I knew that money habits were sabotaging change.
• I knew we were starting to do a makeover too late.
• I knew any big money change required deeper work.

So, I did what I do best. I started reading, learning and researching the topic. I have been following the work of US psychiatrist, Dr David Krueger, for many years now. I have learnt that it is possible to understand your money story, take ownership of it and make changes to it. I met up with David in Houston and found in his New Money Story® programme the key to help people see, understand and change their money habits.

A friend suggested that I read a book called Wisdom at Work by American ex-hotelier and entrepreneur Chip Conley. He wrote how important it is to start a shift in your 50s and create a life of meaning and called this breed the modern elders. It was a narrative I had been following and teaching for a long time and wrote about in my first book. I love the concept of reframing your life or starting a parallel life in midlife.

In my two new mentors, Chip Conley and David Krueger, I knew that I had found a framework for the two biggest shifts I needed to bring into my work with clients. The third was the final link in the chain – finding the courage to do some deep work on my inner self around shame and vulnerability.

I have been learning from the work of research professor Dr Brené Brown and her studies around vulnerability, shame and courage for the last eight years. The key lesson that she teaches is that vulnerability is not weakness. Brené’s work speaks to me on a personal level, but I also know how acute emotions are around money. We are all defensive and protective about our money.

I knew that the final link I was looking for was this. A way to help clients improve their relationship with money was by doing this inner work with them. A lot of courage is required if you want to look at your relationship with money and be open to reset it – and that means getting comfortable with vulnerability.

My new book, Midlife Money Makeover will guide you to prepare for your second half as a modern elder. It’s about pausing to recalibrate your dreams for your life ahead and making sure that your money enables this.

This book is filled with wisdom, from the work of David Krueger, Chip Conley and Brené Brown and of course, my clients who have openly and honestly shared their midlife stories, tips and lessons. I am incredibly grateful to my mentors and collaborators for helping me make this book a reality, and I look forward to sharing this work with you.

Always remember, when it comes to your money, I want you to be inspired, brave and on purpose.

Kim