Health, Identity, and Life Transitions

Happy Saturday, and thanks for being part of the Get Ready Movement.

Money decisions are becoming more connected to how we live, grow, and adapt through life’s transitions. 

This week, one theme stood out: financial readiness expands when we connect money decisions to health, identity, and the transitions that shape our lives.

🔟 10 Things I’m Thinking About This Week

1) Philanthropy: Creating the World You Want to Live In
Philanthropy is more than giving money, it’s an opportunity to shape the world you want to live in.

Philanthropy is for everyone and can include time, talent, ties, testimony, truth, and treasure.

Financial readiness includes thinking about impact, legacy, and generosity. When we give with intention, philanthropy becomes a powerful expression of who we are and what we value.

🎙️ Deborah Goldstein with Tony Steuer on the Get Ready Before Life Happens Podcast (watch or listen)

2) Through the Threshold

Our identity and beliefs shape our relationship with money.

Storytelling frameworks can facilitate profound personal and financial transformation.

🎙️ Heather Hutzel and Christine Luken on the Money is Emotional Podcast (listen)

3) How to Align Your Money with Your Life

What would change if your financial decisions reflected what matters most to you?

Behavior and emotions play a significant role in our decision making. 

Shifting our focus from optimization to alignment and meaning helps us find satisfaction with our money and life. 

🎙️Carl Richards and Linda Grizely on the Real Money, Real Life Podcast (Apple Podcasts) 

4) How Women Can Build Investing Confidence

Investing confidence begins with asking better questions and taking consistent action.

Women are often conditioned away from investing, even though they tend to generate strong long-term returns. Small actions reduce fear and weaken limiting beliefs.

An abundance mindset expands what feels possible financially.

🎙️ Diana Perkins with Tony Steuer on the Get Ready Before Life Happens podcast (watch or listen)

5) Retire Early: What Women Need to Know About Leaving Work on Your Own Terms

What would it look like to stop working at 50? Or to step away from a high-powered career and spend your time doing something that lights you up instead? 

Early retirement is as much a social and emotional transition as it is a financial one. Give yourself permission to think about what you actually want your life to look like. 

🎙️ Bridget Grimes and Melissa Joy on the Women’s Money Wisdom Podcast (Apple Podcasts)

Retirement Planning for Women: Why the Stakes Are Higher. Women face unique challenges in retirement, from wage gaps to caregiving responsibilities and longer life spans. 

📖 Morgan Stanley At Work (read)

6) Gender Differences in Financial Advice. 

A recent study of real-world meetings between financial advisors and clients found that women received more self-serving advice, while men were more likely to receive fee rebates and less likely to be recommended expensive in-house funds.

The findings point to a larger issue: assumptions about financial sophistication can shape the advice men and women receive. Financial readiness depends on better questions, clearer communication, and advice that serves the client first.

📈 Tabea Bucher-Koenen, Andreas Hackethal, Johannes Koenen and Christine Laudenbach for the American Economic Review from the American Economic Association (here).

7) Treating Your Health Like a Financial Asset

Applying the concept of health span versus sick span may be one of the most valuable frameworks advisors can bring into client conversations. 

Overlooking health related questions is missing a wildcard that could derail an entire financial plan. 

🎙️ Stevyn Guinnip and Kathleen Kenealy on the Wicked Pissah Podcast (Apple Podcasts) 

📖 The Gap Between Living And Living Well by Fritz Gilbert for The Retirement Manifesto (read)

8) The Growing Influence of Health Risks on Retirement Security 

Client conversations and financial outcomes improve when health-related retirement risks and fears are addressed directly. 

Medical expenses and long term care should be part of the financial planning conversation.  

📖 Chris Heye, Ph.D. for the LIMRA Retirement Income Institute (read)

📖 How Much Will Your Long-Term Care Needs Cost? It Depends on How Average You Are. Center for Retirement Research at Boston College (here)

9) Finding Strength Through Uncertainty and Rebuilding After Divorce

Participating in financial conversations early can help reduce stress and uncertainty later in life. Financial control in relationships can limit independence and decision-making during major life transitions.

Taking one step at a time can reduce overwhelm and build confidence in uncertain situations. A trusted support team can provide guidance, perspective, and accountability when it matters most

🎙️Claudia Porter and Eric Blake on The Simply Retirement Podcast (watch or listen)

10) Your Health Insurance Needs / How They Change Over Time 

Health insurance should change as your life stage, medical needs, and priorities evolve.
Open enrollment is your opportunity to make sure your coverage aligns with your goals and needs.

💭 Tony’s Take: One important transition, before turning 26, review your health insurance options and begin the enrollment process early so your coverage starts on time and avoids unnecessary gaps.

📖 Thanks to Beth Braverman and WebMD for including my take (read).  

🎯 This Week’s Focus

👉 Do you know the current value of everything you own?

Reviewing your property and assets helps you assemble your net worth statement and will help determine whether you are on track to meet your goals. 

Become A Get Ready Insider

Support my mission to help people change the way they think about money and prepare before life happens. This newsletter is always free, and Insider support helps make this possible. 

👉 www.buymeacoffee.com/tonysteuer

👀 Coming Next Week

AI Will Accelerate the Shift from Advisor to Coach with Chris Heye

💬 Final Thought

Financial clarity comes from seeing the full picture. The more we understand the role of health, identity, and life transitions, the better prepared we are to navigate what comes next.

Stay ready.
Start the conversation.
Be curious and ask questions.

— Tony