Not a Mid-Life Crisis — A Mid-Life Clarity

That was the most common reaction I received when people found out I was leaving the firm I had been with for 16 years.

It’s not an unreasonable question. After all, it’s not every day that someone in their 40s walks away from a stable, comfortable, and familiar role to start over somewhere else. But the truth is, it wasn’t a crisis that spurred the change.

It was clarity.

The Quiet Questioning

Like many people in their 40s, I found myself quietly questioning things. Not loudly, not dramatically—just a gentle, persistent wondering that lingered under the surface.

“Is this it?”

“Am I growing?”

“Am I making the kind of impact I want to make?”

The questions didn’t come all at once. They arrived gradually—moments of reflection during long walks, conversations with trusted friends, and, in particular, during a 9-month ontological coaching course I took that turned out to be one of the most transformative experiences of my adult life.

I had signed up for the course because I’ve always been passionate about helping people, and I believed that coaching would be a meaningful skill to integrate into my work as a wealth adviser.

What I didn’t expect was how much the course would challenge me. It wasn’t just about acquiring new tools—it was about discovering new truths. I began to see myself more clearly—how I showed up in the world, what I truly valued, and what fears had been quietly holding me back. My coach challenged me—not with answers, but with deeper questions. And, perhaps most importantly, with the encouragement to dare.

Clarity, Not Comfort

The decision to leave wasn’t easy. I am not a natural risk-taker. I liked where I was. I was good at what I did. But something inside me had shifted. I no longer wanted to simply be comfortable—I wanted to be useful. I wanted to stretch, to grow, to contribute in ways that felt meaningful and aligned.

I wanted to live my potential—not die with it.

So, I took a leap of faith.

I wanted to be part of a firm whose values I deeply respected, whose thought leadership had long inspired me, and whose commitment to putting clients first aligned deeply with my own. A firm guided by purpose rather than profit—one that prioritised transparency, trust, and the things that truly matter.

That firm was Providend.

And so, with equal parts excitement and trepidation, I stepped into the unknown—into a new chapter that would challenge me in ways I hadn’t anticipated and reward me in ways I hadn’t imagined.

A New Chapter

Since joining Providend, I’ve had the opportunity to do what I’ve always loved—journeying with individuals and families through their financial lives. But now, I do it in an environment that encourages deeper conversations and bigger questions. We don’t just ask clients what they want to achieve—we help them explore why it matters.

It’s about helping clients uncover what truly matters to them—their ikigai goals—so that their money becomes a tool to live more meaningfully and intentionally.

It hasn’t been easy—I knew it wouldn’t be. The scope is wider. The expectations are high. I’ve had to learn new systems, unlearn old habits, and reorient myself in many ways.

But it has been worth it.

I’m proud of the decision I made. Proud that I listened to the still, small voice within. Proud that I didn’t let fear dictate the next chapter of my life.

Most of all, I’m proud of the risk I took—because the real risk would have been staying where I was and ignoring what I knew deep down to be true.

The Providend team and I at our Annual Client Event, 2025.

Redefining Success

Along the way, one of the deepest shifts I experienced was in how I understood success.

For many years, success meant stability. It meant being good at what I did, achieving recognition, and having a clear, predictable path forward. But over time, I began to sense that something was missing. I was ticking the boxes, but I wasn’t feeling fulfilled.

Was it about climbing higher—or going deeper? Was it about status—or significance? Was I living in a way that was aligned with the kind of legacy I wanted to leave behind?

Through many quiet reflections—and some uncomfortable conversations—I began to realise that the real measure of success wasn’t how far I had come, but how much value I was still capable of giving. I didn’t want to look back one day and realise I had settled. I didn’t want to wonder what could have been if I had dared to try.

That redefinition of success gave me the conviction to move forward—not in search of something shinier, but something more meaningful. A path that aligned not only with who I was professionally, but with the person I was growing into.

For Those Who Feel Stuck

If you’re reading this and feeling stuck, uninspired, or quietly restless in your own journey, I want to offer this perspective: maybe it’s not a mid-life crisis you’re going through.

Maybe it’s a mid-life clarity.

Maybe what you’re feeling isn’t the start of a breakdown, but the beginning of a breakthrough. A reawakening. A reframing.

Sometimes, all we need is a new lens—one that helps us see where we are with fresh eyes. And when we do, we may find that the path forward isn’t as daunting as it seems. That the “grass” on the other side isn’t necessarily greener—but it might be more meaningful.

The Courage to Begin Again

I’ve come to realise that clarity doesn’t always come with a grand revelation. Often, it arrives gently—like a whisper. And when it does, we have a choice: to dismiss it, or to listen.

And if we listen long enough, we may just find the courage to take that first step.

For me, that step led to Providend. To new colleagues, new challenges, and a renewed sense of purpose.

And for you?

Well, that’s the exciting part.

You get to find out.