More Wealth or More Experiences and Memories?
There I was, standing at the back, nearly in the garden, surrounded by over 100 people. This was the funeral of a 50-year-old man—a character at my son’s cricket club. A season wouldn’t have been the same without him.
As I stood there, listening to stories from his family and friends, I couldn’t help but reflect. Story after story painted a picture of a man who packed so much into his 50 years.
There were smiles, laughter, and, of course, tears. But one thing was clear—this man lived fully. He created memories that would live on in the hearts of those who loved him.
And yet, I found myself wondering: what stories will people share about me one day?
What stories will they share about you?
Will they talk about the wealth we accumulated—or the memories we created?
The Trap of Hoarding Wealth
For most of our lives, we’re on the 9-to-5 treadmill, working to pay for today while chasing a financial number for tomorrow.
The goal? To accumulate as much as possible so that one day, we can finally take back control of our time.
But here’s the thing: the financial services industry has conditioned us to believe that more is always better. They’ve built their profits on convincing us to hoard wealth, even as we approach retirement.
And the result? Many people enter retirement with a scarcity mindset, fearful of spending what they’ve worked so hard to save.
What if everything you’ve been taught about retirement planning is wrong? What if the goal isn’t to hoard more wealth—but to spend it wisely, on the experiences that truly matter?
When Is Enough, Enough?
I was speaking with a couple recently. The husband was in a high-pressure role with a great salary, but he was exhausted.
They’d accumulated a reasonable amount of wealth, but past investment setbacks had left them feeling uncertain. They told me, “It feels like we’re walking down a path with our eyes closed.”
Their biggest concern wasn’t about hitting a specific financial number. It was about time.
They wanted the freedom to slow down, to choose how they spent their days, and—most importantly—to create memories with their children and, one day, their grandchildren.
As we talked, the conversation shifted. We stopped focusing on their assets and started focusing on their aspirations. What they truly wanted wasn’t more money.
It was the ability to sit around the table with their family, years from now, and reflect on the experiences they’d shared together. They wanted to accumulate what I call “memory dividends”.
The Power of Memory Dividends
Memory dividends are the returns you get from investing in experiences. Unlike financial dividends, they don’t fluctuate with the market. They grow richer over time, as the memories you create become stories you share with loved ones.
Bronnie Ware, a palliative care nurse who wrote The Top Five Regrets of the Dying, found that none of the regrets people expressed were about money.
No one wished they’d accumulated more wealth. Instead, they wished they’d spent more time with the people they loved, doing the things that brought them joy.
So, let me ask you: what’s more important to you? Maximising returns—or maximizing memories?
Avoiding Regrets in Retirement
The transition to retirement requires a 360-degree shift in thinking. It’s not just about accumulating wealth anymore. It’s about using that wealth to create a life filled with moments that matter.
But this shift isn’t easy.
The fear of running out of money can be paralysing. And the financial industry doesn’t make it any easier—they’re focused on keeping your money under management, not on helping you spend it in ways that bring you joy.
That’s why it’s so important to have someone in your corner who can help you navigate this new phase of life.
Someone who can guide you toward a retirement that’s not just financially secure, but truly fulfilling.
Your Next Step: A Retirement Clarity Call
The truth is, retirement isn’t about reaching a financial finish line. It’s about creating a life filled with moments you’ll cherish forever.
If you’re ready to shift your focus from accumulating wealth to accumulating memories, let’s have a conversation.
A Retirement Clarity Call could be the first step toward designing a future that’s not just financially secure, but deeply meaningful.
Book a free 15 min Retirement Clarity Call by clicking here with me, and together, we’ll create a plan to safeguard your retirement.
Don’t wait until it’s too late. Your future deserves this.
Glenn Doherty – CFP – Financial Planner | Retirement Planning Specialist |Retirement Planning Made Simple for over 55’s within 7 years of retirement
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Schedule hereAdvice Disclaimer: Any reference in this publication to the provision of advice refers to advice of a generic nature, and should not be taken as product or investment recommendations. Before any action is taken based on the information provided, independent financial advice from a licensed financial adviser should be sought. Financial Freedom Project Pty Ltd ATF GA & DC Doherty Family Trust Trading as Jigsaw Private Wealth is a Corporate Authorised Representative of Spark Advisors Australia Pty Ltd. The information contained in this publication is of a factual nature only and is not intended to constitute financial product advice. Information is current as at date of publication. This is an online information blog. It does not imply an offering of securities.