Have the Mid-Life Crisis. Just Run the Numbers First.

The Controlled Mid-Life Crisis: Why Your Financial Plan Should Leave Room to Live

There comes a point in life when the question stops being, “Can I afford this?” and becomes, “What am I waiting for?”

You’ve spent decades doing the responsible things. You built a career. Raised a family. Paid the mortgage. Saved for retirement. Maybe you built a business or accumulated a meaningful investment portfolio.

Then one day, you look around and realize something uncomfortable:

You’re financially successful—but are you actually enjoying it?

That’s where the mid-life crisis gets interesting.

Most people think of a mid-life crisis as the stereotypical sports car, expensive watch, impulsive vacation, or sudden career change.

But I’d argue there’s a better version:

Have a controlled mid-life crisis.

Not reckless.

Not financially irresponsible.

Intentional.

Your Financial Plan Shouldn’t Be a Prison

Financial planning is often presented as a discipline of saying no.

Don’t spend too much. Don’t retire too early. Don’t take too much investment risk. Don’t buy the expensive thing. Save more.

Those are important conversations—but they can become counterproductive if the goal of financial planning becomes simply accumulating the largest possible number.

Money is a tool.

At some point, you need to ask what you’re actually building all that wealth for.

If you’re 45, 50 or 55 and have accumulated significant assets, perhaps the answer isn’t to spend everything.

But perhaps it also isn’t to keep postponing everything you enjoy until age 65 or 70.

That’s where a financial plan can create something incredibly valuable:

permission.

The “Controlled” Part Matters

A controlled mid-life crisis starts with knowing your financial boundaries.

Maybe you want to buy the boat.

Maybe you want to take six weeks off and travel Europe.

Maybe you want to start a business.

Maybe you want to buy the sports car you’ve wanted since you were 20.

Maybe you want to work less, even if it means making less money.

Maybe you want to help your kids financially while you’re still around to see what they do with it.

None of those decisions are inherently irresponsible.

The irresponsible decision is making them without understanding the consequences.

Before you pull the trigger, run the numbers.

How does the purchase affect your retirement timeline?

What happens to your cash flow?

What happens if markets fall 30%?

Does it interfere with college funding?

Are you still on track for your desired lifestyle later?

How much flexibility do you have?

Once you understand those trade-offs, you may discover something surprising:

You can afford more than you thought.

Or you may discover that the dream needs to be modified.

Both outcomes are valuable.

Don’t Sacrifice Your 50s for Your 70s

One of the biggest mistakes I see in financial planning is treating retirement as the finish line for living.

The problem is that your ability and desire to do certain things can change dramatically over time.

A 55-year-old may want to hike through Europe.

A 65-year-old may still want to.

A 75-year-old may not.

That’s why retirement planning shouldn’t only answer, “How much can I spend every year?”

It should also answer:

“When should I spend it?”

There is a difference between having $2 million at 50 and having $2 million at 80.

The money has different utility at different stages of life.

That doesn’t mean you should blow up your retirement plan.

It means your financial plan should recognize that time is an asset, too.

Build a “Fun Money” Account

Here’s a simple concept I like:

Create a portion of your wealth that is specifically designed to be spent.

Call it your Freedom Fund.

The purpose isn’t to maximize it.

The purpose is to use it.

Maybe it’s 5% of your investable assets.

Maybe it’s a few thousand dollars a year.

Maybe it’s a larger one-time amount earmarked for a major experience.

The important part is psychological.

When money is explicitly designated for enjoyment, spending it doesn’t feel like you’re sabotaging your financial plan.

You’ve already accounted for it.

That’s controlled financial rebellion.

The Best Mid-Life Crisis Might Be a Career Change

The mid-life crisis isn’t always about buying something.

Sometimes it’s about realizing you don’t want to spend another 15 years doing something you hate.

That’s a financial planning problem, too.

What if you took a lower-paying job?

What if you started your own company?

What if you went part-time?

What if you retired from your career but started doing something completely different?

Those decisions should be modeled—not automatically dismissed.

If you’ve accumulated enough assets, you may have something more valuable than money:

optionality.

You may be able to make decisions based on what you want rather than what pays the most.

That’s one of the greatest benefits of building wealth.

The Goal Isn’t to Die With the Most Money

There’s nothing wrong with accumulating wealth.

In fact, disciplined saving and investing can create incredible freedom.

But eventually, the question changes.

Early in your career, the goal is often:

How much can I accumulate?

Later, the question becomes:

What should I do with what I’ve accumulated?

That includes retirement.

It includes philanthropy.

It includes your family.

And it includes you.

Your financial plan should account for the future version of yourself—but it shouldn’t completely ignore the person sitting in front of you today.

Have the Mid-Life Crisis. Just Run the Numbers First.

I’m not advocating financial recklessness.

I’m advocating intentionality.

If you want the car, run the numbers.

If you want the vacation, run the numbers.

If you want to leave the job, run the numbers.

If you want to help your kids, run the numbers.

If you want to take a year off, run the numbers.

Then make the decision.

Because the purpose of financial planning isn’t to help you become the wealthiest person in the cemetery.

It’s to help you use your money to build a life you actually want to live.

A controlled mid-life crisis might just be one of the best investments you ever make.

Click here to schedule a meeting — I’m here to help you take the next step toward financial freedom.

Colin Symons, CIO Lloyd Financial Group

ADP Employment was 11.75K vs. prev. 9.5K. The 4-wk moving average continues to move down, though, so don’t get too excited.

New Home Sales fell -10.5% m/m to 607K units vs. exp. 620K, and supply rose to a 9.6 month supply, from 8.5 months.

Consumer Board Consumer Confidence was 89.4 vs. exp. 90.1.

Richmond Fed Manufacturing was 4 vs. prev. 5. No big deal, but definitely short of the 7 estimate.

Oil was -5% yesterday on talk of a new Iran ceasefire from Russian sources.

Canada retaliated to US tariffs with its own set.

Sources say the ECB is set to raise rates in September as the Iran war keeps energy prices high. Maybe I need a doctorate to understand how a rate hike solves a supply issue.

Dick’s Sporting Goods (DKS) missed estimates and lowered guidance, yesterday, with their Foot Locker business leading the decline, sending shares -31%.

Intuit (INTU) is -11% on lowered guidance.

Lots going on today, with Durable Goods Orders, PCE and GDP, plus NVDA earnings tonight.

Bottom line: PCE and NVDA can really shift things around today.

Click here to schedule a meeting — I’m here to help you take the next step toward financial freedom.

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