While Kiwi saver is all about planning for the future, what has happened to living in the moment?
I often tell my clients that a saying that struck me nearly 20 years ago still holds true today and that is “Live like you will die tomorrow but invest like you will live forever”.
I think I found that in a martial arts book or perhaps the Art of War. It doesn’t matter really what does matter is that in any particular instance when planning for retirement we are faced with the conflict of what is more important, today or tomorrow?
If we think about the saying “Live like you will die tomorrow but invest like you will live forever” it is one of those things that is seemingly impossible however in practice it’s rather simple and something that has allowed me to retire twice by the age of 41.
In the meantime the Australians are arguing about whether or not they should increase the superannuation guarantee (the amount of your income that must go into superannuation) to 12% yet over here we don’t even have a compulsory system yet.
I believe in creating a long term plan, implementing that plan, reviewing that plan regularly and then getting on with living life to the max.
It’s not hard, you just have to make the decision that you want to do it and then find someone who can help guide you.