Sovereign Focus New Year 2012 Teach. Wealth. Innovation. Be a Wealth Advocate! I write quite a bit about wealth in these columns, but I thought that it would be wise to close out 2011 by speaking about true wealth. For your pleasure, here are a few items I have discovered and what they "cost" you in real terms! The cost of poor health. Think that taking the day off due to illness costs your employer the most? Nope! The act of attending work while sick (known as "presenteeism") is actually more costly. This is primarily due to delays, mistakes, omissions, and other errors made while sick on the job. The research firm Benefit Planning Concepts, Inc. estimates that 60% of employer costs due to illness are from this effect. Absenteeism? That only accounts for 6%. Source: http://www.bpcwell.com/ The cost of idleness.
I have told clients many times that I never intend to "retire." (I have since become used to the funny stares I get because of it.) Reasons range from stresses on health, your marriage, your bank accounts, your kids, and your sanity - it benefits you to work and/or stay active many years past the traditional working life. (Not to mention the delayed tax hit!)
The cost of lost purpose.
There is an old George Carlin joke that goes like this: "...I went to a bookstore and asked the saleswoman, 'where's the self-help section?' She said that if she told me it would defeat the purpose."
While George may be gone, the joke still rings true. We all need to have a reason to help ourselves find meaning. No one can do this for us - it must be found by each individual on our own terms. It speaks volumes that the average lifespan after retirement for a firefighter is only 5-7 years. Look for our newsletters to continue into 2012. Have a happy and safe New Year!! | 
