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Question

What is a “financial why,” and why does it matter in retirement planning?

Answer

Your financial why is the deeper motivation behind your financial decisions — the values, relationships, and life goals that give your wealth its meaning. Understanding it helps your wealth advisor build a retirement strategy that’s genuinely aligned with what matters most to you rather than a generic plan based solely on account balances and risk tolerance.

Related FAQs

When is the right time to start retirement income planning?

Do I need a retirement income plan if I’m already working with a financial advisor?

Where can I learn more about the Mercer Advisors retirement planning approach?
Retirement Portfolio Management Retirement Planning Living in Retirement Building Wealth Investors Financial Independence FAQs
Last Updated Aug. 28, 2026
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Connecting the Dots on Your Retirement Plan

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The SECURE 2.0 Act of 2022 introduced significant updates to retirement savings rules — automatic enrollment, emergency savings accounts, and enhanced catch-up contribution limits — that can meaningfully change how you plan for the future.

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Investment Management Podcast

Episode 39 – Financial Planning Is a Prerequisite to Successful Investing

Don Calcagni, Chief Investment Officer, breaks down why financial planning should be the essential first step to building, sustaining, and transferring wealth.

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About Mercer Advisors

We exist so you don’t have to worry about money. For more than 40 years, we’ve taken the sophisticated, time-tested approach that many ultra-high net worth individuals use to help manage their financial lives and made it accessible to more families.

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