I had the privilege of being part of the Outlook Money 40 After 40 Conclave held on 20th and 21st February 2026 (Friday and Saturday), participating as a financial advisor in the Financial Well-Being Zone, an initiative curated and executed by Network FP. The overarching theme of the conclave was retirement - planning for it, preparing for it, and re-imagining it in the context of longer lifespans, changing career trajectories, and evolving family structures.
While retirement formed the central narrative across panel discussions and sessions at the conclave, the Financial Well-Being Zone translated this theme into practical, individual-centric conversations. Visitors were first offered a Financial Well-Being Check-up, designed on the lines of a health check up. The intent was straightforward: before talking about solutions, take stock of the current position. This check-up helped participants assess their overall financial readiness for retirement by reviewing core aspects such as income stability, savings behaviour, investment alignment, protection adequacy, liabilities, and clarity of retirement goals - without overwhelming them with technical jargon or product-led conversations.
As part of the Network FP team, my role along with other participating advisors was to engage with visitors in a neutral, structured, and empathetic manner. Where participants felt the need, the check-up was followed by a one-on-one interaction of up to 30 minutes. Each visitor could discuss two specific personal finance or retirement-related life situations, either challenges they were currently facing or scenarios they anticipated in the years ahead. These discussions commonly revolved around retirement income sustainability, transitioning from accumulation to withdrawal, managing healthcare costs post-retirement, or aligning existing investments with long-term retirement objectives.
A defining feature of the initiative was the clarity of mandate given to all advisors. Every advisor in the Financial Well-Being Zone was an experienced professional, qualified as a Certified Financial Planner (CFP) or Qualified Personal Finance Professional (QPFP). Equally important was what advisors were not expected to do. There were explicit instructions not promote personal advisory services. The focus remained firmly on guidance, awareness, and helping individuals think clearly and independently about their retirement preparedness.
For visitors who wished to explore engaging a financial advisor beyond the conclave, a separate and transparent advisor directory was made available. This allowed participants to make an informed choice based on details such as qualifications, experience, areas of specialisation, and nature of practice entirely at their own discretion.
Over the two days, the initiative proved to be a clear success, surprising the participants and visitors alike. The retirement theme resonated strongly, and the absence of any sales pressure created an atmosphere of trust and openness. Conversations were candid, thoughtful, and grounded in real-life concerns. In many ways, the Financial Well-Being Zone demonstrated how retirement planning, when approached with integrity and professionalism, can genuinely empower individuals to take confident and informed steps towards their financial future.