When I come to a fork in the road, I choose to live. I’m not talking about being reckless (I absolutely believe in planning ahead, saving, and making sound financial decisions). But I also believe that there is such a thing as playing it TOO safe and protecting yourself from living.

A story in Schwab’s printed magazine (Summer 2011) tells Jim and Wendy Pease’s story. While the couple prefers to plan ahead and make conservative financial decisions, they decided there was something more important than waiting for all their ducks to be in a row. At 65, they wanted to downsize and move into a home with conveniences that matched their new stage in life.

This is something we’ve found to be true at The Villages in Central Florida—a unique retirement community with tons of amenities and extremely high customer satisfaction. Many current residents who waited for everything to line up say they wished they’d made the move sooner. Life is just too short.

Jim and Wendy Pease agree—rather than delaying life until the market improved, they contracted on their new home before selling their current one, which they listed for less than the appraised value. In order to reach their goal and improve their lives, they were even willing to get creative and take out a HELOC until the old home sold. As they settled into their new home, they got a buyer.

The Schwab article concludes, “Perhaps the biggest lesson for the Peases is that while you can’t control the economy, you can respond to financial challenges in creative ways. An open mind and some careful research may reveal a new path to reach your goals.”

Your Turn: Have you ever found a creative way to reach goals (your own or your client’s)? Please comment below.

P.S. Learn about our new home sales training programs.