Five years ago today was my last one with Fidelity Investments. The “early retirement” offer I accepted was to begin the next day. It was among the better and the worse decisions of my professional life. My journey since then is not as I expected. The plan was to resume work after a short break, perhaps practicing law once again. But then there’s that old “warning” about “the best laid plans of mice and men” from Messrs. Burns and Steinbeck. 

Instead I’ve traveled near and far since that day. On Christian mission trips to the third world, disaster recovery trips throughout America. And, when not traveling, I have volunteered my time & energy here at home. I reached out to help others and in doing so learned that it was I who was really being helped — in giving I received. I learned much about life and how to truly & fully live each day. I learned these lessons from men, women & children that most believe have little to offer. People with little to none of everything our culture values — education, freedom, liberty, opportunities, possessions, resources — who live daily on a precipice that would break most. Their focus is not on what they’re “missing” but on what they have — family, friendship, community. Their similarities more important than their differences. They do life together. They may not have much but that have one another. You and I should be so lucky. 

I’m forever grateful for this detour in my life and the lessons that I’ve learned.

Nevertheless, I do miss my time at Fidelity and would return if given the opportunity. I miss the rhythm of the day, the camaraderie of my coworkers, the challenges of meeting the needs of the clients. While the last few years have been immeasurably rewarding, the very nature of it (especially during the pandemic) exposed gaps of time with nothing to do, without purpose to fulfill. It’s during these gaps that my decision turned from better to worse.

Would I make the same decision today? I’m not sure. Probably so. But maybe not.

Perhaps my experiences could be of help to you. Please feel free to reach out to me if you are facing this “retirement” decision and would like to talk a bit more about it. 

~Weston Worthington, JD

Mighty Men Member

*Weston can be contacted by email at weston.worthington@gmail.com or by phone at (859) 250-8030.