Closing Thoughts: What To Watch for at Every Stage
The healthiest futures are built one intentional choice at a time.
There’s no finish line on the health and wealth journey. Each stage of life brings new opportunities and new distractions. Keep these reminders close as you keep choosing tomorrow, making decisions with your future self in mind and recognizing what may pull you off course.
In the Early Years, You’re Most at Risk Of…
- Letting income increases turn into higher fixed expenses – like a higher car payment – rather than long-term savings or investments
- Overlooking the need for preventive care when you feel healthy
- Feeling pressure to keep up with how people are spending in your social network
- Mistaking newfound financial freedom for unlimited flexibility
In the Busy Middle, Remember To…
- Make your own health part of the care you give others
- Keep your long-term goals in focus when taking on financial responsibilities for others
- Discuss future caregiving, healthcare and funding needs before decisions become urgent
- Protect your time to recharge and minimize stress, especially when life feels most demanding
In the Final Sprint, Be Intentional About...
- Building the rising costs of healthcare into your retirement plan
- Stress-testing your savings against longer life expectancies and rising medical expenses
- Making healthy changes today can have a meaningful impact tomorrow
- Considering the role family health history should play in future planning
In Retirement, Stay Flexible By...
- Adjusting spending as markets, healthcare needs and personal priorities evolve
- Planning for healthcare costs that may change over time
- Maintaining a sense of purpose through meaningful connections and routines
- Preparing for parents' future care and decision-making needs
Whether you’re just getting started or putting your plan to work, the greatest advantage you have is the ability to make thoughtful choices around your health and wealth – one stage of life at a time.
For a deeper look at how health and wealth intersect – including additional perspectives and planning considerations – explore our new Health and Wealth guidebook.
Health x Wealth
Health may be one of the most influential factors in your financial future – and one of the least discussed.
Here’s how the decisions you make early can shape both your health and your financial future – often in ways that compound.
This stage of life often brings more responsibilities – but it also brings more opportunities to prepare for what’s ahead.
Approaching retirement brings new decisions about your health, savings and how they work together.
Retirement is when your plan moves into practice, requiring flexibility as health, income and priorities evolve.
This information has been developed by a member of Baird Wealth Solutions Group, a team of wealth management specialists who provide support to Baird Financial Advisor teams. The information offered is provided to you for informational purposes only. Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated is not a legal or tax services provider and you are strongly encouraged to seek the advice of the appropriate professional advisors before taking any action. The information reflected on this page are Baird expert opinions today and are subject to change. The information provided here has not taken into consideration the investment goals or needs of any specific investor and investors should not make any investment decisions based solely on this information. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. All investments have some level of risk, and investors have different time horizons, goals and risk tolerances, so speak to your Baird Financial Advisor before taking action.
