It might surprise you to learn that the divorce rate for people over the age of 50 is on the rise.

Social observers have offered a number of reasons for this – the most common being that couples run out of ways to find each other interesting.

What if there’s a different reason, though?

After people turn 50 they start edging towards retirement. The problem comes in when the only retirement plans that were made are financial ones.

Forbes puts it down to a lack of ‘longevity planning’, or “the failure to plan how, as a couple, [you] will spend nearly a full third of [your] adult lives together. A far more concentrated time together than all the previous decades [you’ve] shared”.

Don’t get me wrong, laying a solid financial foundation for retirement is key to enjoying your golden years. That’s why smart people get an expert involved in their finances early on to ensure the best possible result when they stop working.

But simply having the cash to live isn’t enough to ensure that you’re really living (and not boring your partner to distraction).

Even the firms that help you manage that cash recognises that the investments you make towards retirement aren’t all about money.

Consequence Private Wealth believes that “the consequences of decisions made today will unfold over a lifetime based on the sound principles applied at their inception”.

That solid piece of advice doesn’t only apply to cash and investments. It also applies to you and your health.

That’s why they’re hosting ‘wellness points sessions’ in November, where you can get a checkup and a fitness assessment that will help you to make plans to ensure your wellbeing moving forward.

Here are the details, if you’d like to stop by, earn some points, and get going on that exercise regime you’ve been meaning to start:

• When: Thursday, November 7 and Friday, November 8, 2019, from 8AM to 4PM.
• Where: Consequence Private Wealth’s office: 1st Floor, Newlands Quarter, corner of Dean and Main Streets, Newlands (above Vida e Cafe).
• Cost: The fitness assessment is R425 per person which can be claimed back from your medical aid savings account (payment in cash is preferable). The health check is free.
• Vitality Points: Fitness Assessment: Up to 7 500/ Health Check: Up to 30 000.
• Duration: You’ll need to set aside an hour for a session. They can also be completed in pairs, so this is the perfect way to let your partner know that you’re planning for the future in more ways than one.
• Email Nazeema to secure a slot: nazeemas@consequence.co.za

Back to Forbes for some relationship maths, in case you need a little more motivation.

The average working person spends roughly six hours a day with their significant other.

Now, let’s consider retirement. A clean break from the workplace. A dividend of 45 waking hours per week are given to you—with interest. Because the end of the daily grind, also ends the daily work commute, another five-plus hours of freedom is gained to spend with your mate.

Suddenly instead of being limited to a just six waking hours per day with your partner, you have scored an additional ten waking hours at home!

If not fully planned for, these additional hours can be difficult to fill, which is why you need to sit down and have a conversation about how you’re going to spend all that time together.

Travel, spend more time with the grandkids, explore new hobbies, get out in nature – whatever rocks your boat.

Just remember that you’re going to need a fair amount of energy and vitality to do all of that, so you’ll want to invest in yourself physically and financially over the next couple of years.

You’re worth it.

[source:forbes]