For Jeff and Debra, the big moment had come. Retirement was not only possible, it was looking more and more attractive. At least that’s how they saw it. And why not?

A successful couple in their 50s, Jeff and Debra had the balance sheet to make it happen, including significant savings and an impressive portfolio. When it came to such a big decision, however, Jeff and Debra — like many professional couples in their position — were not considering the right questions.

Today, for many successful people, traditional notions of retirement are out the window.

Fortunately, we were. Otherwise, they would have gotten just what they thought they wanted. But with too much time on their hands, they’d have ended up less than completely happy — knowing that they were not living life to the fullest.

Today, for many successful people, traditional notions of retirement are out the window. Those who have led active lives are not necessarily ready to relinquish their productive years to a life of leisure. Instead, they’re ready to try something new.

For Jeff and Debra, the picture was more complex, largely because they decided to have children later in life. They felt they had given their careers enough attention. Now it was time to focus on their two young children, Daniel and Sarah.

“We love our kids and don’t want to miss this time with them,” said Debra. And Jeff didn’t hesitate to add, “Big deals just don’t interest me nearly as much as watching my children grow and seeing how much better they do with more encouragement and support.

” Many professional couples think their only option is retirement, when redirecting their energy into a new venture or passion is a much more satisfying option. Jeff and Debra were ready to sacrifice their careers and interests for the well-being of their children, until we showed them they didn’t have to.

Retirement wasn’t the answer; career redirection was. They simply needed to think about their financial goals in a much larger context — their lives.

We worked with Jeff and Debra to help them understand their financial resources, professional strengths and personal interests. And we helped them gauge the amount of time they could commit to different ventures. Ultimately, investing in a proven franchise that required little management on their part enabled Jeff and Debra to leave their corporate positions and devote the time they needed and wanted to share with Daniel and Sarah.

As it turns out, the national franchise we helped them identify and evaluate became so successful they purchased another. And they made a point of con-sulting with us first to make sure the acquisition of this second franchise would not interfere with the time they’ve been able to devote to their children, who continue to thrive with the increased attention they now receive from their parents.

At SEI we help our clients clarify their true goals, then adjust their financial footing to support what they want out of life.

At SEI we help our clients identify their true goals, then adjust their financial footing to support what they want out of life. For Jeff and Debra, that goal was maintaining their loving relationship and the health and welfare of their children. That intention helped them reorient their lives and careers in a more meaningful and prosperous direction than they ever imagined — and in ways they are still discovering.

Working closely with our clients to enrich their lives is what makes SEI different. That’s why people such as Jeff and Debra continue to look to us for ideas and strategies that help them refine their vision and support their goals — for life.