Turning 50 has a way of making you pause.
On my recent birthday, I found myself reflecting on the past decade, not just on work or finances, but on life. What stood out most wasn’t a milestone or achievement, but a personal experiment I started ten years ago.
When I turned 40, I set a goal to complete 40 new things in my 40th year of life.
There were no rules. Some experiences were big, some were small. Some cost money, many didn’t. What mattered was that each one was new; something that pushed me slightly outside my routine. New foods. New places. New activities. New ways of spending time.
That year was meaningful enough that I kept going. Every year since, I’ve tracked new experiences. And standing at 50, looking back over that list, I realized something important:
Those experiences compounded.
Not overnight but quietly, over time. Just like good financial planning.
Most people think financial planning is about numbers: saving more, investing wisely, reaching a retirement target. Those things matter, but they’re not the point. The real purpose of planning is to support a life that feels full, intentional, and meaningful.
This year, I’ve set a new goal: 50 new experiences in my 50th year of life.
When I started brainstorming ideas, I didn’t overthink it. I began with what I love:
- Being in nature
- Exploring food and flavours
- Traveling for perspective, not just destinations
From there, ideas flowed naturally.
That process mirrors great financial planning. You don’t start with products or projections—you start with values. What do you enjoy? What gives you energy? What experiences do you want more of? Then you build a plan that supports those priorities.
Money becomes a tool, not the destination.
I’ll share some of the experiences I complete this year. Not because they’re extraordinary, but because they’re reminders that plans are meant to be lived, not just reviewed.
Turning 50 didn’t make me ask, “Do I have enough?”
It made me ask: “Am I using what I have to live the life I want; now and in the future?”
That question sits at the heart of both great experiences and great financial planning.
