Who's the Ghost in Your Life?

“Of all the liars in the world, sometimes the worst are our own fears.” — Rudyard Kipling

‘Tis the spooky season and so recently I’ve been thinking of that oh-so-frightening question:

What scares you the most?

For me, it’s not ghosts. It’s not goblins. It’s not demons or witches or little kids in creepy clown costumes.

It’s not even the sight of my hair in the morning.

I think what scares me the most is not knowing what’s going to happen next.

I can’t predict the future and so the realization (one that dawns again and again and again) is that I am always going to have to change and grow. I’m going to have to continue to learn to be flexible and adaptable. And the idea that there are very few things that are “for sure” or “guaranteed” – well, I find that idea rather scary.

At the same time, the idea that I don’t know what’s going to happen next is also kind of…exciting! It’s invigorating! It’s energizing.

I’ve been thinking a bit this month about that contradiction – that something that scares me deeply can also inspire me and energize me to keep moving forward.

I suppose, though, what’s the other choice? If you DON’T keep moving forward, well, you’re stuck. And while staying in the same place you’re used to might feel “safer,” the stagnancy of being stuck is, in fact, very frightening, too.

As if that isn’t enough fear this Halloween season, here’s something else I’ve been hearing recently (not from my clients, but from friends of friends and some colleagues, too). Why, they wonder, isn’t my financial advisor talking to me right now?

And so I’m curious: is YOUR financial advisor ghosting you?

Maybe it’s a Halloween thing. Maybe they’re going as a ghost when they trick or treat this October 31 and so they’re practicing “ghosting.” But maybe it’s a real FEAR thing.

The market is scary right now – legitimately scary. And advisors might not be sure what to say or how to calm your fears and concerns. Maybe, they think, it’s best not to say anything at all.

We don’t agree with that philosophy at WatersEdge.

We’ve been having tough (and sometimes scary) conversations with our clients over the past few months, and we’ll continue to do that, too – even BEYOND Halloween.

We believe our role is to guide you through your fear, to encourage you to open your eyes, look around you, and realize that while those ghosts and goblins are frightening, they aren’t going to hurt you, in the long run.

If you’re feeling ghosted, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. We’re here for you – even at the scariest time of year.

Happy Halloween from all of us at WatersEdge Wealth Management!