We spend so many years working toward the “Retirement Finishline”. We prepare, we postpone, and we plan so we can enjoy the prime of our lives. It’s a solid strategy that I worked towards for many years until one morning…

… my right hand stopped working. 

My fingers suddenly locked together on the computer mouse, and I lost control of my hand. Assuming it was something common like carpal tunnel, I headed to my doctor for a solution. 

Well, twenty-three medical visits and several MRIs later, I was faced with a gruesome outcome: 

I either had a compressed nerve issue requiring surgical intervention, OR ALS (also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease).  

Since there is no definitive test for ALS, I was told to come back in six months, so they could see if the damage had spread. If it had, ALS was the answer.

I was forty-seven. I had four daughters and my beautiful wife at home. I had spent my entire career helping other people plan for long lives and peaceful retirements. Suddenly, I was reading about ALS, a disease with a life expectancy of approximately two years.

It was then that my wife and I stopped waiting for retirement. We wrote a bucket list of everything we wanted to experience as a family while we still could. We focused on time together, on creating memories, on living fully, even in the middle of fear. Those months changed me in ways I will never forget.

Then came the turning point. Through my Critical Illness insurance, I had access to a unique service that allowed me to access the best medical advice in North America. A specialist reviewed my entire case and was finally able to give us clarity…and peace.

It was not ALS. 

It was a damaged nerve, and with a rare surgery, I regained most of the use of my hand. 

What I learned is simple. The future matters, but so does now. A financial plan should protect you long term and help you live a meaningful life today. No one should wait for a crisis or a diagnosis to start living the way they want to live.

Most financial advisors only share with you how to accumulate wealth. My team and I are here to guide you through both the life you want later and the life you want now.

As you set your financial goals this January, we’d love to offer you a free consultation to help you align your money with the life you want to live, both today and in the years ahead.

2026 is your year to protect yourself, your family, and your life, so book a no-pressure consultation with us here:

bgip.ca

If you are interested in learning more about us, please visit our blog at theinvestorscorner.ca where I share free advice every single month. 

Happy New Year from Brian and the BGIP Team