Military Officer - January 2007 - (Page 68)

For your wallet W hat in your financial life would you do differently based on what you know now? Most responses to this question are similar, regardless of the age of the respondent: “I wish I had started sooner.” In Seven Stages of Money Maturity (Dell, 2000), author George Kinder asks us to consider the things that we would regret most if we knew we wouldn’t wake up tomorrow. Are our ﬁnancial affairs in order? Do we have a current estate plan? Does our executor or trustee have an executed copy of the documents For your family T pertaining to his or her role? Where are all of our ﬁnancial records? Share with others in your life the wisdom you’ve gained so they never have to say, “I wish I had started sooner.” Imagine the impact your inﬂuence could have in their lives if you are able to help them take action now to ensure their future ﬁnances are adequate. — Sheryl Garrett, CFP®, is founder of the Garrett Planning Network, a network of fee-only ﬁnancial advisors, www.moaa.org/garrett. 68 MILITARY OFFICER JANUARY 2007 he spoken word can be forgotten or misinterpreted over time, but the written word can be kept for generations. So this year, why not resolve to give your loved ones a letter that lets them know how much they mean to you? Begin with your immediate family. Tell your spouse and your children in detail how their presence has enriched your life. In addition, write a letter to each of your grandchildren. (If you don’t have them yet, try writing to your future grandchildren.) Having a personal letter telling them of your love is one of the greatest gifts they’ll ever receive. Providing these letters will give you the opportunity to pass on to your loved ones your praises, your life lessons learned, your wisdom, your guidance, and most important, your love. Such a gift, in written form, will last throughout their lives and could well become a treasured memento they will reﬂect on during special moments. Maybe one day they also will use this as a model to provide the same gift for their children and grandchildren. — Chaplain Capt. Wilbur C. Douglass III, CHC, USN, is special assistant for Pastoral Care at the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, Washington, D.C. IMAGES: ABOVE, CORBIS; LEFT, ELWOOD SMITH http://www.moaa.org/garrett

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Military Officer - January 2007

Military Officer - January 2007 Contents From the Editor From the Chairman Your Views MOAA Directory Rapid Fire Washington Scene Financial Forum Ask the Doctor Chapter Activities Cover Story: Osprey Rising? Battlefields of the Great War I Resolve ... New Mission Pages of History Information Exchange Advertising Index MOAA Scholarship Donors MOAA Member Services MOAA Calendar Sounding Taps Member Books Encore

Military Officer - January 2007

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