When a Health Diagnosis is a Life Transition Event

Written by Susan Bradley

I spent some time speaking with the remarkable Fred Roth last week. He and his wife, Kathy, are the co-authors of “Fred’s Guide to Stem Cell Transplants,” which is at once informative, sobering, and delightful. When Fred was diagnosed with a rare form of leukemia shortly after his and Kathy’s 40th anniversary, they were suddenly having conversations they never dreamed of having and becoming experts in the many ways cancer affects your life. A cancer diagnosis is a life transition event.

Mindset Matters

A health diagnosis can be one of the most disruptive of life events. But Fred and Kathy are a perfect example of how it can be managed as a challenge rather than as a threat. Their story demonstrates how cancer can not only be survived, but can leave in its wake wisdom and connection and gratitude. It’s a lesson for us all in how to deal with adversity in the extreme. It’s a lesson in how mindset matters.

Valuable Lessons

Fred and Kathy are an extraordinary couple. They managed what they could control, continued with their routines in the worst and best of times, and were anchored in courage and persistence. They stayed connected to friends and family and learned that that connection was integral to the success of their outcome. They have personally given the book to 600 other patients and their families, and they travel the country telling their story, as they say, as a way of Paying It Forward.

Come See and Hear Kathy and Fred

Our community is honored to have Fred and Kathy at our 18th Annual Conference this year, and we look forward to learning more from both of them. An important detail of their story is that Kathy is a CFP® as well as a Certified Financial Transitionist® (CeFT®). Kathy’s knowledge and training bring a unique perspective to a health diagnosis as a major life event.

Supporting Your Client as a Patient is sure to be a session jam-packed with information that’s valuable for financial advisors not only in their practice but in their family life. If you can make it to West Palm Beach on Tuesday, November 6, we will be opening our unique conference to those outside of our community for the first time, and we are thrilled to do so. Here‘s the agenda for the day, here‘s a bit more about this first-time offer, and if you want to register right now, click here.  

If you are unable to join us and/or if you want to learn more about Financial Transitions Planning, click here.

And if you want to check out our on-demand CE webinars and Intro workshops, click here.