What comes after ‘enough’?
With wealth creation becoming less of a challenge, we can now decide what we want that wealth to achieve.
In a world where wealth creation has become less of a challenge, individuals are now faced with the question of what they wish to achieve with their accumulated wealth. The traditional Singaporean narrative of hard work leading to career success, homeownership, family-building, and prudent saving is familiar, but it has also fostered a new inquiry: what comes after having "enough"?
The paradox is that even with financial wealth, one might not feel prepared for what lies ahead. This could be due to time constraints, lack of experiences, or a lack of purpose. The distinction between wealth creation, which focuses on how much is needed, and life creation, which asks what the wealth should enable, is crucial.
With aging parents, adult children embarking on careers, and growing family complexities, decisions about how to utilize one's wealth become increasingly intricate. Health concerns further complicate matters, forcing individuals to consider their desired medical care and the end-of-life journey.
Recent surveys by Etiqa Insurance Singapore show that a majority of Singaporeans believe wealth transfer should be discussed within families, with nearly half having already initiated or plan to do so. Additionally, more than three-quarters view leaving a financial legacy as important. These findings suggest a shift in perspective, moving beyond the accumulation of wealth to understanding its purpose.
This change in mindset indicates that people are increasingly considering the impact of their wealth transfers, whether it's helping their children buy their first home, creating shared experiences, supporting aging parents, or contributing to causes they care about. The focus is no longer solely on the eventual value of an estate but on the experiences and opportunities created for oneself and loved ones.
Financial planning must evolve from a purely accumulation-focused approach to one that encompasses life planning. Questions about family dynamics, health, responsibility, time, and purpose should take precedence over discussions about products, portfolios, and returns. The answers to these questions will vary for each individual and family, whether they are a business owner looking to succession plan, a parent helping children establish themselves, someone nearing retirement planning their post-career life, or an individual seeking to give back or pursue personal ambitions.
Ultimately, the true measure of success is not merely the wealth left behind but the time, experiences, opportunities, and meaning that wealth enables. In this new era, financial success should be measured by the impact one can make and the life they can create, not just the accumulation of assets.
Written by urgent.news from Straits Times Business's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
