| by Glenn J. Downing, MBA, CFP® |
Introduction
A few years ago I attended my Guilford, Connecticut high school’s 50th reunion. I’ve got to say, it has given me pause. Where did 50 years go? Couldn’t be – but it is. I had a great time, and even my wife commented on what a group of really nice people were there – pretty much what I remembered, too.
I remember reading Gail Sheehy’s books Passages and Pathfinders as a younger man, and I enjoyed the overall perspective they gave for that generation. Now I look to YouTube, and have found many good perspective pieces on getting older, and what to do and not to do in one’s dotage.
I’ve actually been thinking about a blog to share my musings for a while now. Not just pieces about aging – how boring would that be! – but more to the point sharing my professional and personal observations about the differences between my late baby-boomer perspective on life and those of the millennials and younger. I plan to write about work, money, fitness, and relationships, all with an eye to personal productivity and satisfaction.
Growing Up
My father was the youngest of three brothers, and at age 19 was a WW2 veteran. All three brothers were graduated from prestigious educational institutions after the war, and there was never any other option for me but to go to college. Dad was upper middle management at his place of employment, and although we were certainly not wealthy, money was never a problem.
My mother budgeted carefully. Both my parents grew up during the Great Depression. Dad’s mother was a widow with three young boys and worked two jobs to make ends meet. My mother’s mother came from Italy as a young girl, and my mother’s father also came from an Italian immigrant family. He was a successful florist by trade and was a prominent businessman in New Haven.
Dinner was a family event. We came to the table cleaned up and ready to converse. My older sister and I were expected to contribute to the conversation, and we all shared about our days. Dad always had classical music playing in the background. Table manners were important. Deportment and dress were very important, as was caring about what others would think.
My vocation
I love this word – vocation. It is so much more encompassing than a mere job or employment. When I’m highly functioning in my vocation, I feel like a fish IN water. Finance, investment, and financial planning were always interests of mine. But I took a diversion during the college years to test a vocation in Christian ministry. I found my vocation was to be a committed layman, and to serve God in that way.
I completed an MBA at UCONN, and during that time had bronchial pneumonia three winters in a row. We moved to Florida for health reasons as much as employment. When I’m working in my vocation I feel that I am pleasing God – using the gifts and talents He’s given me to benefit others.
CameronDowning
It has been an absolute joy to found CameronDowning with Jonathan Cameron, and to see it grow. In September coming up (2026) we’ll celebrate our 12th as a firm. We are now a team of four – three CFP professionals and an estate planning attorney. See the About Us section on this website for more. I had the vision for this firm years ago, but it took many years before meeting the right business partner. Jon and I have enjoyed nearly every minute of working together and have a terrific partnership. And for those who don’t know, age-wise he could be my son.
We’ve always been forward-looking, trying to anticipate what clients will need from us, and providing it.
What follows
This is enough of an introduction, I think. I’ll have more detail to give as I add installments. I have quite a few wide-ranging posts planned that I hope will entertain my readers and give some food for thought. The subsequent installments are given in no particular order, and each can be read independently of the others.
Remember – these are my personal musings. You may agree with my observations or not agree – doesn’t matter. I’m just sharing my own thoughts and observations for both your edification and entertainment.
