One of the great things about being a financial planner is that we work with clients in all stages of life. We get the benefit of their collective wisdom on money, careers, marriage, parenting, and just about everything in between.

Before maternity leave for our second baby, one common refrain from clients with more than one child was, “Two kids are harder than one.” Three months in, I can safely confirm this is true!

But I’ve also been surprised by how much easier some things feel the second time around. Things that felt so hard with my first are now just part of the routine. And the new things that initially felt impossible with two? You do them a few times, and those become normal, too.

The biggest difference is perspective.

I still worry. I still obsess over which baby product will solve the problem of the day. And I still have plenty of moments when I have no idea what I’m doing. But this time around, I’m better at recognizing what deserves my attention—and what probably doesn’t. Experience has a way of doing that.

The same is true with investing. Markets give us an endless supply of data, headlines, predictions, and reasons to wonder whether this time is different. Taking the Long View doesn’t mean ignoring what’s happening around us. It means having the perspective to recognize what matters and the discipline not to react to what doesn’t.

Maternity leave has given me another kind of perspective, too. Like all of us at Hill, my family is also a client of the firm. Over the past few months, I haven’t had much time to think about markets or financial headlines. And honestly, that’s been just fine. We know where our plan is going. We trust our team and the process. Our financial life doesn’t require our constant attention, which has allowed us to give our attention to something that deserves all of it.

Having a second child has also prompted bigger conversations with my husband: How have our values as a family changed? What do we want our kids to learn about money? What do we want to prioritize as a family? What do we want our money to make possible, now and decades from now?

Those questions matter far more to us than what the market did this week.

Having a second child hasn’t made life less complicated. If anything, it’s made it more so. But it has given me a little more perspective about what deserves my attention—and what doesn’t. And I’m learning that’s a pretty valuable perspective to have in parenting, investing, and just about everything in between.

A few years ago, a family member transitioned to assisted living. The decision felt difficult for her, like a loss of independence. She fought it hard. But once she settled in, something unexpected happened: she found routine, connection, and purpose again.

Watching that shift reframed how I think about financial planning.

As planners, we often approach aging and retirement through a practical lens. We focus on the details: health care plans, long-term care, estate documents, and whether the financial plan can support the years of spending ahead.

Those things matter. But quality of life matters too. So does preserving a sense of agency as your needs, abilities, and priorities change.

Earlier this year, during a conversation about a client’s transition into assisted living, his daughter suggested I read Being Mortal by Atul Gawande.

I’m glad she did. The book changed how I think about the later stages of life and the role planning should play in them.

1. Independence Matters More Than Perfect Safety
One of the book’s core ideas is that many senior living decisions prioritize safety over autonomy. Safety matters, of course. But losing independence can take a real toll on wellbeing.

The best living environments preserve choice: how you spend your day, who you’re around, and what gives you meaning.

We’ve seen this with clients who explore senior communities early, before they need them. Beginning earlier gives families more agency over the decision. It can also help clients gain more life through social connection, activities, and less stress about home maintenance.

2. Purpose Is Fundamental to Wellbeing
Gawande highlights research showing that even small responsibilities, like caring for a plant, can improve wellbeing and longevity for older adults.

The lesson is simple: people need purpose. They need a reason to get out of bed in the morning.

Financial independence is important. But planning should also ask what replaces the structure and meaning that work once provided. People who thrive in this phase often stay connected to hobbies, community, family, or roles where they still feel needed.

3. Define Quality of Life, Before a Crisis
Being Mortal reminds us that our definition of quality of life changes over time.

When we’re younger, it may mean freedom and adventure. Later, it may mean staying close to family, maintaining familiar routines, or enjoying a favorite meal with people we love.

Many families avoid talking about aging until a crisis forces decisions. The book encourages asking better questions sooner:

• What are your fears and goals as you get older?
• What tradeoffs would you be willing, or unwilling, to make?

In our advisory role, we’ve seen how helpful it is when families have these conversations before a medical event or major transition. When your values are clear, decisions become less about guessing and more about honoring what matters most.

Planning for aging doesn’t mean expecting the worst. It means getting clear about what matters most, so that when decisions come, they reflect your values instead of default choices.

At Hill, we believe financial planning is about more than numbers. Taking the long view means helping people live well across every stage of life, with clarity, confidence, and peace of mind.

If this sparks a conversation about aging, independence, or planning for later life, we’re here to help you or someone you care about talk through it. Reach out any time here.

Last month, we dedicated an issue of the journal to Odds On. As we were putting that together, I had a realization. The reason I’m actually here at Hill is because of this book I read years ago.

Before Hill, I worked at Dimensional Fund Advisors. That’s how I met Matt Hall, through a study group we were putting together of advisors who had an aptitude for media and marketing. In advance of that meeting, I read Odds On. What initially stuck out to me is how the book reads. It’s not a typical finance book. There’s no jargon. There are no equations. It’s simply a story about someone finding a better way to invest and building a firm that treats clients right.

Hill is a really special place. What is apparent to me now is that the values and the things that drew me into the firm years ago still ring true. The intentionality we put into every interaction. The hospitality we try to show our clients every step along the way.

Making the switch ultimately gave me the ability to use my CFP in a much more meaningful way. Rather than just focusing on investments, now I get to help and guide clients through some of the most important financial decisions of their lives.

Looking back, reading Odds On and meeting Matt felt relatively small at the time. Today it feels more monumental. It led me to where I am now, and it shaped the way I show up for this work and the way we want to treat clients every day here at Hill.