By Jon Theriault, CFP®, CKA®, MBA
During a recent getaway weekend with some friends, one of them posed the question “if money was not an obstacle, what would your dream vacation look like?” I responded first, so my answer was a bit conservative in comparison to theirs, but it certainly pushed me out of my comfort zone and added for a thought-provoking conversation over the next hour or so.
His point was ultimately to challenge each of us to bring our dreams alive and commit to making them happen. I appreciated this as I believe the same type of conversation is something we should initiate with our clients and loved ones from time to time. Given all the time we spend working, saving and investing, it is important to step back and revisit the purpose of it all such that the balance, or even the anticipation, of enjoying the resources we have accumulated is not forgotten.
The past ten years have been exceptionally rewarding for investors given the strong run of the stock market and the commensurate investment returns that have been available. For most of our retired clients, this has bolstered their financial security and allowed us to not only reduce risk in their portfolios, but also revisit and confirm the stability of their long-term financial security.
Although other clients have many years to go before retirement and/or reaching a point where they can comfortably know they will not outlast their assets, those that have reached the latter are at a point in life where they should absolutely be reminded to take action on bringing their dream vacations and experiences to life.
That said, and just in case this prompts an idea or two, below is a top ten list of exotic travel experiences[1]:
- A wildlife safari in Gambia, Kenya or Tanzania
- An expedition to Antarctica
- Experience the northern lights in Iceland, Sweden, Canada or Norway
- Hike to Machu Pichu in Peru
- Sail Ecuador’s Galapagos Islands
- Wander the streets of Paris, France
- Spend a night in an overwater bungalow in the Maldives, French Polynesia, or Fiji
- See gorillas in their natural habitat in Rwanda
- Explore Iceland’s amazing landscapes
- Go island hopping in Greece
So, what is your dream vacation?
And do you truly know why you’re waiting?
[1] Source: Forbes – Ultimate Travel Bucket List for 2018