Many of us spend years waiting for life to finally “settle down.” But the truth is, it never really does; it just changes shape.
Your twenties are a blur of glorious chaos. Your thirties are when responsibility taps you on the shoulder. And your forties? Your forties are simply everything, all at once.
Right now, my days are a busy blend of career, kids, clients, and school runs. Throw in filing tax returns in two different countries and trying to explain the concept of a UK ISA to my French neighbours, and it is a recipe for a very full plate.
I was speaking with a client recently, and the conversation drifted away from portfolios and onto family. She mentioned her younger brother, who is in his early sixties. She told me how he feels like his life is already winding down, like the best parts are behind him.
I shared a similar story about my dad. He is a bit older, but he has been going through a similar phase. It is incredibly hard to watch people you love lose that spark.
That conversation stayed with me. It got me thinking about how most of us in our thirties and forties are currently living in absolute chaos.
There are kids everywhere. The house is a mess. The dog is barking. The diary is full up, and we are working harder than ever. Some days I feel like a seasoned cross-border financial planner; other days I feel like one of my chickens, running around the yard with absolutely no clear direction.
How often do we catch ourselves saying it?
“I cannot wait for the kids to grow up.”
“I cannot wait for work to calm down.”
“I just want a bit of peace and quiet.”
But one day, that quiet actually arrives. The house stays tidy. The diary has empty pages. The kids have grown up and started their own chaotic lives somewhere else.
And when that day comes, I know so many people who would give absolutely anything to have the noise, the mess, and the madness back.
I have been reminding myself lately that while this phase of life is not always easy, it is truly amazing.
So, my advice—to myself as much as anyone else—is not to wish this phase away. In life, just as in financial planning, time is an asset we have to manage carefully.
As the old saying goes, the days feel incredibly long, but the years disappear faster than a fresh croissant in our house.
Slow down. Take it in. Be present for the madness.
If you want to make sure your financial plan is quietly doing its job in the background while you focus on enjoying the chaos, let’s talk. Feel free to reach out whenever you have a moment.
