When it comes to financial planning, few topics are as important—or as overlooked—as longevity. We know people are living longer, healthcare costs are rising, and retirement isn’t a neat “end point” but a decades-long chapter of life.

Yet many financial plans still fail to account for one of the most significant risks: long-term care.

A recent report from the Morningstar Center for Retirement & Policy Studies (2025) found that 52% of single women who need long-term care in retirement are projected to run out of money. 

This isn’t just a statistic—it’s a wake-up call.

For advisors, it highlights the need to guide clients through both the financial, practical, and emotional realities of aging. This is where the Longevity Mindset comes in—combining foresight, empathy, and proactive planning.

Why This Matters Now

The math is clear: women often live longer and face higher medical costs, frequently without a partner’s income. Add escalating long-term care costs, and many clients face uncertainty.

But the challenge isn’t just financial. Clients struggle with fears around independence, family caregiving, and quality of life. Without these conversations, advisors can leave families vulnerable.

The good news? What isn’t inevitable can be planned for.

Start Early, Start Human

Too many advisors delay LTC discussions until retirement approaches. By then, options are limited, savings patterns are harder to adjust, and fears are entrenched.

Data shows impact: Without LTC costs, retirement failure risk for single women drops from 52% to 34%.

Starting early isn’t about scaring clients—it’s about empowering them. Begin with questions like “How do you imagine your later years?”  “What support system do you want in place?” 

Frame discussions around independence and choice, not just expenses.

Go Beyond Numbers with The Passport Package™

Traditional planning focuses on income and returns. But the human side of aging can’t be ignored.

This is where The Passport Package™ transforms conversations. Our patent-pending 5-minute assessment captures mindset data, which enhanced by your conversation, reveals:

• How clients feel about aging
• Attitudes toward caregiving responsibilities
• Living arrangement preferences
• Health and wellness priorities

When you discover a client prioritizes staying home, it informs LTC insurance planning. When you learn they’re more worried about burdening children than running out of money, you can address both concerns strategically.

You give a client a voice, you surface unspoken concerns, you provide a roadmap to align their financial plan with their real values. 

Make It a Recurring Ritual

Longevity planning isn’t check-the-box. Needs evolve, health changes, family dynamics shift.

Make these discussions recurring rituals in client reviews. Add one “longevity question” to every annual review. Reassess plans every 3-5 years. When you commit to revisiting these conversations, you create an experience that feels ongoing and deeply personal.

The Real Opportunity

Advisors who embrace the Longevity Mindset become more than financial advisors—they become partners who anticipate needs, surface sensitive conversations before crises hit, and provide clarity when uncertainty looms.

The business case is strong: These conversations build stronger retention, increase referrals, and differentiate you in an industry too focused on numbers alone.

Because longevity planning isn’t just about protecting assets—it’s about protecting independence, dignity, and the ability to live life fully.