I spent a morning at Mudeford Junior School this week in Christchurch, talking to two classes of ten-year-olds about what they want to be when they grow up. It's the third year I've been invited back, and it's always a pleasure.
That evening was parents' evening, and one of the teachers rang to tell me what had happened afterwards.
Several parents had mentioned that their children had come home talking about my visit. Some had even written down what they wanted to be and started making lists of what they could do to get there.
It's lovely to think that something from our conversations had stuck with them.
It also reminded me how closely this relates to what I do every day.
When I sit down with a client to build their financial plan, I start with much the same question:
What would an amazing, fulfilled life look like for you?
Before we talk about pensions, investments or tax, I want to understand what really matters to them. What do they want to achieve? What would make life meaningful and enjoyable?
The numbers come afterwards. After all, there's little point in building a financial plan until we understand what we're actually planning for.