A Conversation with Fee-Only Certified Financial Planner, Darren Zagarola, about creating a life you love in retirement

Alicia: Today, I’m sitting down with Darren Zagarola, a Fee-Only Certified Financial Planner, to talk about wealth, or more specifically, redefining wealth.

Darren, so many people think wealth is just about numbers in an account. Do you believe financial planning extends beyond the numbers?

Darren: Absolutely. We believe wholeheartedly that comprehensive financial planning leads to financial independence ─ the freedom to live life on your terms, without letting money dictate all your choices. That financial freedom is how we ultimately define wealth, and it can look different for everyone. Real wealth is about your life – your goals, your values, your relationships, and your well-being. It’s about being able to do what you want, when you want, without it negatively impacting your independence.

Alicia: I love that. Why do you think it’s so important to consider these other areas alongside finances?

Darren: Because your finances support your life. If you focus only on accumulation without a purpose, what’s the point? It’s not just about hitting a specific number. It’s about what those dollars allow you to do – travel, support family, volunteer, work part-time on your terms, or simply feel secure enough to sleep at night.

Alicia: When you meet with a new client, what’s the first thing you focus on?

Darren:  We always start with their personal goals and their “why.” We ask: What are your goals? How do you define retirement? What does financial independence look like to you? From there, we build a plan to support their desired life. We’ll also explore their investing history and the financial lessons they’ve learned along the way—those past experiences often influence how they make decisions today. Plans must be flexible because life changes. Your goals today may shift in five years, and your plan should adapt with you.

Alicia: That makes sense. Do you ever feel like a life coach in your role as a financial planner?

Darren: All the time. Many clients expect to start with dollars and cents, but our first conversations are about what they want their life to look like. Do they want to travel more? Retire early? Start a business? Spend more time with grandkids? We run scenarios to see how their finances align with those dreams. Sometimes, couples discover, for the first time, that they have different visions for retirement, and we work through those differences together.

Alicia: You’ve said before that retirement today isn’t just about “stopping work.” Can you explain?

Darren: Definitely. Clients often start with, “Here’s what we have,” instead of, “Here’s what we want.” Retirement used to mean leaving your job at 65 and living off your savings. Now, it’s about retiring to something, not just from something. Many people want a phased retirement—working part-time, consulting, or volunteering. One client of mine left a corporate role but started consulting in his field, which gave him both income and a renewed sense of purpose. Eventually, he transitioned into mentoring younger professionals, which brought him tremendous joy. That’s the kind of fulfillment we’re aiming for.

Alicia: That aligns with something you’ve shared with me before – your trapeze analogy.

Darren:  The Trapeze Analogy is all about that moment of transition: you can’t reach the next bar until you’re willing to let go of the one you’re currently holding. There’s a period of uncertainty and vulnerability between the “known” and the “new.”

This same idea can be used to illustrate how people may feel as they prepare for retirement. You’ve spent years holding onto the “working” trapeze bar — earning income, building a routine, and accumulating assets. When the time comes to step into retirement, you need to let go of that bar and reach for a new one — one that relies on planning, careful distribution of what you’ve saved, and a different rhythm of life.

At EKS Associates, we act as the safety net and the experienced coach standing beneath our clients, helping them gauge when to let go, preparing them so the jump isn’t blind, and giving them confidence that the new bar will be within reach when the moment comes.

Alicia: That’s a powerful visual. What areas come up most in your planning conversations?

Darren: We always explore how clients want to live their daily lives. How will you stay active and healthy? Will you travel the world or stay close to home with your grandchildren? Where do you want to live? What gives your life deeper meaning? And then we look at how their finances can support those choices. Your wealth and your well-being are deeply connected.

Alicia: Beautifully said, Darren. Any final thoughts on redefining wealth?

Darren: Just this: Wealth isn’t a number. Wealth is the ability to live your life in a way that brings you meaning and joy. As Fee-Only Certified Financial Planners, our role is to help you structure your wealth to support your goals at every stage of life, because true wealth comes from aligning your money with your purpose.

Alicia: Thank you, Darren. I love how you’ve reframed wealth as something far greater than money alone.

How Do You Define Wealth?

We’d love to hear your perspective. What does wealth mean to you? Feel free to email Darren to start a conversation about how your financial plan can support your true definition of wealth.