Time Flies

Four years ago, I wrote an article about using 529 College Savings Plans as an educational planning tool for families who have newborns and toddlers in their lives. At the time, my nephew Elijah had just turned one and was learning how to walk.

Fast forward to the present and he just wrapped up his first full week of kindergarten. It feels like four years passed in the blink of an eye.

All of us have had these “time flies” moments and it’s a great reminder how it’s easy to shelve tasks for a “better” time in the future. Laws change. Priorities shift. But life doesn’t slow down to wait for perfect timing. Many families have a few planning items pushed to the back burner. Not because they’re unimportant, but because they’re easy to postpone. Life is filled with urgent distractions-then one day, you glance up and realize time has quietly slipped by.

Time doesn’t just fly in regard to life milestones; it happens with financial planning, too. It’s easy to fall behind on plans we intended to complete or keep up-to-date. A few examples:

Maintaining estate planning documents 

• Updating wills or powers of attorney is a commonly delayed task, even though life changes make it essential.

Reviewing insurance coverage 

• Insurance policies like life, home, and disability coverage are often set up once and left on autopilot (i.e. autopay) for years. But as your life and assets evolve, so should your coverage. A quick review could reveal gaps, overlaps, or possibly even opportunities to save.

Revisiting what is most important 

• Financial goals aren’t always static. They sometimes evolve as we navigate various seasons of life. Whether it’s shifting investments from growth to preservation, funding education, or preparing for retirement, it’s important to periodically pause and ask: “Are my actions still aligned with my priorities?”

Time has a way of moving faster than we expect. And while we can’t control time, we can control how prepared we are. Financial planning doesn’t have to be overwhelming or all-consuming. But it does require intention. Tasks like updating estate documents, reviewing insurance, or revisiting your goals may not feel urgent in the moment, but over time, those small, postponed decisions can have a big impact.

So take a fresh look at your plan. Revisit the items you’ve set aside for another day. Make the call, schedule the meeting, and ask the question. Because, the next four years, will go by just as quickly. You don’t have to do it all today, but starting now can make a difference (and maybe alleviate some stress along the way).

Daniel Maupin, CFP® is an advisor with Rather & Kittrell.