What Are You Saving For, Really?
Lifelong Strategies with Sparkman Wealth Management
You might remember those evenings in high school — sitting on your bed or at your desk,
leafing through college brochures or job listings. Thinking of what you could be, or do, or maybe
trying to figure out what you want. That was the time we were told to start thinking seriously
about our future.
Go to school. Go to college. Get a job. Work hard. Save for retirement.
Maybe not a perfect road map, but a pretty solid one. It gave us direction, a sense of structure,
and the comfort of having a plan. And at that age, most of us were focused on taking the next
right step — not necessarily picturing what would come long after it. The decisions in front of us
felt large enough to demand all our attention. The rest could wait.
Surprisingly, many people approach retirement the same way.
We spend decades saving, working hard, and following the financial steps we were taught. We
hit our benchmarks, check off the boxes, and start looking toward that long-anticipated date on
the calendar. But when the time comes to ask, “What does life actually look like after work?” —
the answers aren’t always clear.
Most people begin with a number in mind. They ask:
“How much do I need to retire?”
It’s a good question. But there’s a better one:
“How much do I need for the life I want to live?”
Because retirement isn’t just a finish line. It’s the beginning of something new — and that
something should be shaped around who you are, what you value, and how you want to spend
your most flexible years.
The people who navigate retirement most confidently tend to be the ones who approach it with a
clear sense of purpose. They’re not just financially prepared — they’re personally aligned.
They’ve taken the time to imagine what comes next, and their financial plan is built to support
that vision.
It’s the difference between going to college because you’re “supposed to” and applying to
Stanford because you want to learn directly from Eric Schmidt and lead a development team at
Google. That kind of clarity doesn't just change the destination — it changes the path you take
to get there.
Retirement works the same way.
What Might That Look Like?
Maybe it’s about freedom and flexibility — traveling part of the year, visiting family across the
country the rest, getting in some cross-country road trips. Maybe it’s a journey to see all the
surviving Roman amphitheaters from Britain to Turkey.
For others, it’s deeper roots — building community ties, mentoring younger professionals,
spending more time with grandchildren, or diving into a long-postponed creative pursuit. Maybe
your life’s ambition is to build a giant concrete mobile of a bird carrying a twig, or to turn your
house into a castle.
Some may want to continue working in a more flexible, meaningful way — not because they
have to, but because they choose to.
Each of those lives has a different shape. Each deserves its own plan. And the clearer you are
about the life you want to live, the better your financial strategy can serve it.
That’s the part that often gets missed.
We spend a lot of time talking about saving, investing, and planning — and all of that is
important. But we don’t always spend enough time thinking about the shape of the life those
things are meant to support. What will your days actually look like when work is no longer the
center of your schedule? What will give you purpose? What will make a Tuesday feel full?
Life decisions and financial decisions aren’t always intentionally linked — but they do tend to
bump into each other. Like how finding a $20 bill on the ground might mean you're going out for
dinner instead of eating leftovers. Or realizing after owning a boat for a couple of years that you
might have to revisit that operational costs estimate spreadsheet... or start making one.
At Sparkman Wealth Management, we make space for those kinds of thoughts. Not because we
have all the answers, but because sometimes just asking the right questions — even the simple
ones — brings surprising clarity. If you're not quite sure what your next chapter looks like, or
how to make the most of it, we can help you start that conversation.
13706 Research Blvd Ste. 306
Austin, TX, 78750
512-676-5999
Securities offered through Raymond James Financial Services, Inc. Member FINRA/SIPC.
* Sparkman Wealth Management is not a registered broker/dealer and is independent of
Raymond James Financial Services, Inc. Investment advisory services offered through
Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc