Periodically, here at LPSC Financial, we like to feature clients and focus on their unique financial journeys. Often, financial planning focuses on goals that may be many years in the future. It’s important to understand and appreciate that everyone undertakes that journey in their own way. It’s easy to get so focused on the end that we forget to appreciate the ride itself. As you will learn from the Graham family, helping and educating others not only made their journey more fulfilling but also created a legacy of both financial success and improved lives.
Jim and Diane Graham have been retired for a few years now and have been working with Drew Stratton through comprehensive financial planning since 2013. Married in 1979, they have lived and raised their three children, who are now grown, in the central Massachusetts town of Paxton.
Diane received a Master’s Degree in Health Education from Worcester State University. She was a Registered Nurse (RN) at Saint Vincent Hospital in Worcester, MA, for 41 years. She spent 32 of those years as a Clinical Nurse Specialist in Neurology and Orthopedics. She was also a Senior Nursing Instructor at the Saint Vincent Hospital School of Nursing, when it was in operation, for 9 years.
Jim retired in 2023 from the City of Worcester Public Schools as an industrial arts teacher at age 66. Technically, that was his second retirement. He had previously retired in 2017 at the age of 59, but was asked to come back to fill a void in the department. He happily accepted. He told me that if they hadn’t closed the school, he’d still be there. “I loved it,” Jim proclaimed.
During the early years, finances were sometimes an issue, as three children, Patrick, Shannon, and Kaitlyn, came within a four-year period. As all of us with children can appreciate, life changes quickly, and priorities shift once a growing family arrives. They both agreed that their priority during those years was to ensure they could provide the financial support needed for college. Having three kids in college at once is a daunting task and can cause many negative ripple effects financially if you don’t prepare well in advance.
As the son of a high school history teacher, I can personally attest to the fact that education was a strong theme in my household growing up. As such, it came as no surprise to me to learn that Jim and Diane’s three children all ended up in the education field. Shannon has a PHD and teaches geophysics at The College of New Jersey. Kaitlyn is a teacher in the Worcester Public Schools. Finally, Patrick is the Athletic Director in the Chicopee Public School System.
After spending some time with Jim and Diane talking about their earlier lives, it became apparent that, like so many educators, they weren’t in it for the money. Diane told me that she got into nursing to help others. After working and teaching in the field for many years, she described that she cared deeply about both her students and her patients. Nursing during COVID was especially challenging, and it was difficult not to get emotionally attached to her patients. It was not uncommon that due to the “quarantine” environment in hospitals battling COVID for patients to be isolated from their families.
As such, nurses would often take extra care to ensure patients didn’t feel alone. Often, setting up Zoom communication with family members to speak with their loved ones, since they were not allowed to be in the room. She recalled sitting with a patient who was dying and telling him, “I’m sorry, but I will be here for you and do all that is possible, even if it is only holding your hand.”
Jim taught in schools that it was not uncommon to have kids who were also gang members. Inner city schools face a myriad of challenges. Teaching in these schools requires an astute eye and approach, as the kids all have unique and disparate backgrounds. Identifying and implementing a custom approach, potentially for each child, is so important. Jim described a boy in his class who was a member of a gang. This boy had talent, and Jim realized that a “low-pressure” approach was best suited for his personality. He knew this boy had the potential to be successful, but cajoling and nurturing his talent wasn’t always easy. Today, this boy is 36 years old and running his own successful flooring business.
After years of working and helping others become successful, one of the biggest challenges we all eventually face is what to do with all that energy and time in retirement. As I tell all my clients before they transition from the working world to their retirement days, “you can’t just retire FROM something, you must retire TO something.” If you don’t have a plan to fill up the 40+ hours you spent working every week, you won’t feel fulfilled when you get there. There are only so many books to read and backyard projects to complete before you find yourself bored beyond belief and wondering what to do with yourself.
Jim, as an industrial arts teacher, also has some incredible woodworking skills. In his home “shop,” he has created many of the items and furniture that adorn their beautiful home. The pictures you see are just a few examples of his wonderful creations. He told me that having 10 weeks off every summer for school vacation gave him the practice he needed to stay busy during downtime. He also plays golf 5 or 6 days a week when the weather permits, and has a large fruit and vegetable garden. He shares the produce with family and friends.
Diane is no slouch either. Although she has officially retired from her nursing career, she is as active as ever. She has maintained her Nursing license so she can volunteer, at vaccine clinics. She runs the blood pressure clinic at the local senior center, takes piano lessons, participates in yoga and zumba classes, and goes to Bible study.
Together they travel to see family and friends, and they love to cruise. They recently enjoyed their fourth cruise together!
Jim and Diane are a fantastic example of a life well lived. Careful planning and finances were never a priority for them. They had the foresight to work with professionals, like me, to transfer this burden and help guide them through it. As such, they were able to “have their cake and eat it too.” Along the way, they made others’ lives better and are now living confidently in their retirement.
*This story is not an endorsement or recommendation of the LPSC Financial's services and is for illustrative purposes only. It may not be representative of your experience.