At TCM we live in the world of transitions. We become very comfortable with change so that our clients can feel the strength of stability. Maybe that seems contradictory but for this month’s client hero Lynn Rule it makes all the sense in the world. Lynn is a retired teacher and like so many as she retired, her elderly parent became ill and required a move to a care home.

Have you ever seen those retirement brochures that show retirees basking on a beach somewhere? Well let’s just say that Lynn was not in those photos! Instead she was tending to her mother, packing up and selling her mother’s home and disposing of possessions that were no longer needed. She was also managing her financial affairs with continuous advice from John Hewson who had been their financial advisor for many years. That continuity brought not only a sense of calm amongst the chaos of such significant life changes, but also confidence that her mom’s best interest were at the heart of the decision-making.

When Lynn pictured what she would answer to “how did you spend your first year of retirement?” this was not the answer she expected to be giving. Read on and see how Lynn’s resilience got her through some unexpected events. Many of the largest life changes we experience are not scripted and leave us with questions we likely have not thought of before.

What is your occupation?

I am a former High School Administrator and math teacher. I started in September 1971 and retired in June of 2015.

How did you spend your first year of retirement?

I basically spent my first year of retirement attending to the needs of my elderly mother.  In March of last year my 95-year-old mother had a serious fall that required a lengthy hospital stay.  It became obvious she would no longer be able to return to her home; so from August 2016 to the end of January 2017 I have been dealing with moving her permanently into a seniors’ lodge, selling her home, disposing and/or selling most of her possessions and managing all her financial affairs (I have Power of Attorney) with continual advice and support from John Hewson.

As of two weeks ago the home has been sold and invested in a diversified low risk portfolio. I now have Taylor Hewson as my financial advisor.  As a result of this process, I have the same confidence in Taylor as what my parents expressed about John over the past 25 years.

 What might someone be surprised to know about you?

I have broken my leg(s) three times skiing.

What is your favourite quote? 

I have two: “if you are good everyone already knows it”, and the other is “ two things you earn that no one can take from you are your education and your reputation”.

My proudest money moment:

When I renegotiated my mortgage rate from 7.5% to 1.5% and consolidated other monthly payments. The end result was that I saved about $400 a month.

What is your top money frustration?  

Like everyone – paying the provincial and federal governments various taxes.

Financial security to me means . . .

. . . sleeping at night.

What is your favourite splurge?

Holiday activities like skiing and golfing.

If you had a chance for one do-over in life, what would you do differently?

Buy that more expensive house that we first considered in 1973 – and make it work, as it would be worth it now.

If you could ask a financial planner any question, what would it be? 

If I pass away before my mother, what happens to the money that she has planned to pass down to me? Would my children receive the inheritance once my mother passes away?