High Heels and High Worth

Today started like every other Monday...early prayers and meditation, a quick shower before getting dressed for work and a gentle reminder to my 17 year old.   Time to get up, I thought before knocking on his door. "Good Morning," I announced,"Time to rise and shine." 

With the radio  stations playing our favorite morning tunes; his on hip hop and mine tuned into R and B initially, I  paid very little attention to the number of times I heard Luther Vandross crooning his heart out.  After the 5th song in less than an hour, it made perfect sense.  I heard Steve Harvey from  The Morning Show announce, "Today is his Birthday." he stated..."The greatest R and B voice ever to sing." 

With a smile on my face, I knew despite whatever the news for the day and meeting update from    President Obama's Economic team meeting in Washington DC at the  summit, today was Luther's birthday and just for today...."A House is Not a Home" and "Any Love" would reign in my heart.

Initially thinking about my client's and their financial matters -  especially after watching 60 Minutes last night, and hearing the reporter discuss  everyone's 401k blues and debt management non solutions somehow, it did not have its weight. It probably would have been different even a year ago.  After all, haven't we all resigned to the fact that we will be working until death or debt due us part???

Considering that it was Luther's birthday,  today was about a song and my heart NOT another blues singing moment and broken promises with no plan.  The daunting news shared by the correspondent on America's #1 TV show, about shrinking or dare I say a shrunk and dissipated 401k retirement fund appeared almost moot after listening to Luther sing his heart out - again and again throughout the day.

What is it all really about? I asked myself.  We work our hearts out for years, save in hopes of golden years only to find out that what was once golden, (if it ever was)  may not even be plastic lining, forget silver lining or even copper.    Is that the real problem?  Did we lean too heavily on the plastic and somewhere, somehow lost our way? What about the lessons our parents tried to show us?  Were we too busy living it up to listen to their old fashioned ways of pay as you go and never ever live beyond your means?

Recognizing that building and rebuilding a 401k and or planning for a savings plan may take a minimum of 10 years to build. That is what the experts told us yesterday on the show.  "We have to be honest with the public" is what one of the retirement fund gurus told the watching public.  "Where were you when we needed you?" I smirked to myself.  For those who did all of the right things, where did that leave them who have become us?.  Not asking the right and pertinent questions about who and how the 401k funds were being managed is only one of the many problems discussed.  Too and probably most important, the experts told the audience that the fees being charged on many retirement funds had hidden costs and  how to find them was near impossible.  Mmmh...whose money is it anyway?

Reminded of the way things were, I wondered how many might go back to saving (cash)  in the mattress  and doing away with banks, paying enormous fees, "come on" gimmicks and teaser rates to get consumers to just say "Yes" for the future, of course.  Yes, the cynic in me, is exaggerating (I think) but just for today, I chose to not think about it.  Money and financial matters that have caused us all to sigh and wait for better days waited as I celebrated Luther and sang loudly "Superstar....till you come back to me".   Now if only my money would respond in kind - like the words of his Grammy award winning words.