All Good Things Must Come to an End                              

It’s official; I’ve decided to retire and my last day with the Howe Team at U.S. Wealth Management is April 30, 2026.  There are many more things I want to accomplish before departing for the great beyond and I have no desire to die in the saddle.  George is working diligently to hire new staff members and you’ll meet them soon.  Until then, please allow me to share a few thoughts on my time as a financial advisor.

It’s good to reinvent yourself.  After being “dismissed” from my last corporate gig at Berkeley Point Capital, I enrolled in the Certified Financial Planning program at Boston University and passed the exam at the age of 60.  At the time, I was facing a lot of important issues associated with retirement and aging (in particular, long-term care insurance, Medicare, and Social Security) and felt ill-equipped to address them.  I thought that, if nothing else, those courses would serve as a graduate seminar in personal finance.  With a little bit of networking, I found U.S. Wealth Management and have been happily ensconced there for the past 12 years.  I’ve felt more appreciation and gratitude from clients and fellow employees there than I did in the entirety of my corporate years and can safely say that this has been the highlight of my career.

It’s important to remain “relevant.”  I believe that a lot of people hesitate to retire because their day-to-day lives (and sometimes their identity) are tightly wrapped up in professional achievement.  As I have gradually wound down my working days, I have often wondered “what’s next?” but am pleased to say that I anticipate few problems here.  My four kids, four grandchildren, and my loving and supportive partner, Linda, all help to keep me grounded and engaged.  I hope to always have my books and music to keep me company, and I want to continue to use my marbles before they roll off the table.  I recently joined Greater Boston PFLAG (a non-profit that supports and advocates for the LGBTQ community) as Board member and Treasurer, and am about to join the Board of Kinhaven Music School, a residential summer classical music camp in Weston, VT.  These causes resonate deeply with me, and I love knowing that I have something of value to offer my community of family and friends.    

The world is growing ever more complex.  Having now lived through most of the money decisions I was apprehensive about, I feel good about my trajectory, but there really are no opportunities to rest on your laurels.  Every day seems to bring new “opportunities”, and I find it challenging to keep up.  Staying abreast of current developments and successfully managing your financial affairs requires constant education and diligence, which leaves me even more convinced that well-qualified financial planners that adhere to a fiduciary standard are more important than ever.  [George, you can slip my customary honorarium into my final paycheck!]. 😉  

It’s been an honor and a privilege to work with and for such a great group of clients over the last decade plus.  Thank you all for trusting and supporting me.  Think of this as goodbye rather than farewell, as I suspect I’ll be bumping around the periphery for a few more years.  If you’d like to stay in touch, please drop me a note using my personal email account: alanreese@icloud.com.