The impossibility of providing retirement planning to those who won't listen.

There occasionally comes a time when I have to accept a tough reality: some people don’t seek guidance because they genuinely want it—they seek it to validate what they already believe. 

I’ve spent 43-years helping people navigate the complexities of retirement planning. The cornerstone of my work is trust—trust in the process, trust in the numbers, trust in the idea that careful planning is what leads to financial security and ultimately trust in me.

Some people can’t or won’t trust the process or anyone else. Sometimes people are looking for only validation. Confirmation of their locked-in views.

This gentleman I recently met had success in his career, intelligence, and confidence. He came to me, presumably looking for retirement guidance, but as we began talking, I realized he wasn’t actually interested in learning—he already thought he had it all figured out. 

He had done a good job of accumulating a nest egg. But he was nowhere close to making the most of his substantial resources.

Every suggestion was met with immediate dismissal. Not because he had better data, not because he had a different approach—but because he believed he was simply smarter than the process. 

After two discussions, it became clear: he wasn’t looking for advice. He was looking for confirmation. And when he didn’t get it, he refused to engage. 

I used to believe that if I just explained things the right way, he’d come around. But the truth is, wisdom isn’t just about knowledge—it’s about knowing when to trust expertise. 

Planning is a collaborative process—it only works when there’s mutual trust and an openness to listen. 

Financial planning isn’t about convincing someone—it’s about people working together who value expertise. 

So, I walked away. 

It wasn’t about frustration or resentment—it was about integrity. A planner’s job is not to fight a client’s ego. It’s to provide real, actionable strategies that lead to financial security. And that only works when both sides recognize the value of collaboration. 

I’ve thought a lot about the clients I work best with—those who trust the process, who seek guidance because they know retirement planning is more than just numbers, and who understand that financial security comes from making informed decisions, not assumptions. 

I encourage you to ask yourself: “Am I open to expertise? Am I willing to listen to the data, the strategies, and the insights that will secure my future?”

Because when you are, that’s when your greatest financial success begins.