Staffing & Culture | 07.16.25

Simplified, Holistic Financial Planning: Integrating Wellness and Life Coaching for a Happier, Longer Life

by: BISA Staff

What if financial planning could help clients live longer, healthier, more meaningful lives? That was the question at the heart of “Simplified, Holistic Financial Planning,” a session led by Paul Haines, executive director of financial institutions at Atria Wealth Solutions. Drawing on research from Harvard Medical School, the Stanford Center on Longevity and the MIT AgeLab, Haines made the case for a more human approach to advice — one that goes beyond money management to focus on wellness and connection.

From Expert to Coach

Haines opened with four traits shared by high-performing financial planning programs:

1. A simplified, repeatable process
2. A client-centered approach
3. A coaching — not expert — mindset
4. The ability to close business in one or two appointments

“In financial services, it’s more of a coach approach,” he said. “You ask a lot of questions — not so much tell them what to do.” He contrasted this with the medical field, where expertise is critical in emergencies, but noted that in planning, clients want to be heard and guided — not lectured.

This distinction is especially important in a world where AI can generate financial plans in seconds. “If your value proposition is just the plan, you’re in trouble,” Haines said. “What clients want — and what AI can’t replicate — is connection.”

The New Value Proposition: Adding Active Years

“What if I told you that using data science and modern research, we can help extend people’s active life expectancy by an average of seven and a half years?” Haines asked. That figure, he explained, is backed by research and tied to five key areas:

1. Finding meaningful purpose
2. Improving overall health
3. Maintaining adequate retirement savings
4. Strengthening social connections
5. Seeking new adventures

“What good is having a lot of money if you don’t have the health to enjoy it — or the relationships to share it with?” he asked.

To bring these ideas into practice, Haines recommended a simplified discovery process when working with clients, built around three questions:

• What’s your life like right now?
• Who do you support financially?
• What do you want your life to look like in the future?

This approach, he said, replaces the traditional seven-page questionnaire with a more human, engaging conversation.

Retirement Planning Reimagined

Haines also encouraged advisors to rethink how they approach retirement income planning. Considering humans may now live up to 100 years with increasing frequency, this means many could spend 35 or more years in retirement. He broke this into three phases — the “bucket list” years, the “maintenance” years and the “long-term care” years.

Rather than focusing solely on achieving a 100% probability of success in not running out of money in retirement, Haines urged advisors to consider the trade-offs. “Are we doing our clients a disservice focusing too much on 100% probability he asked. “Sometimes that path to 100% leads to regret.”

He shared a case study of a client who sold his business at 50 and planned to retire on $500,000 a year. A Monte Carlo analysis showed only a 40% chance of success. Rather than sugarcoat the math, Haines used it as a coaching moment — helping the client explore his purpose, health and social connections. This resulted in a more realistic plan and a stronger advisor-client relationship.

Wellness as a Business Strategy

Haines also pointed to the concept of “lifestyle medicine,” a growing field focused on preventing chronic disease through behavioral change. He outlined seven pillars — backed by Harvard research — that can improve longevity:

1. Increasing energy
2. Regular exercise
3. Adequate sleep
4. Healthy eating
5. Mindfulness and stress reduction
6. Cognitive engagement
7. Strong social networks

He encouraged advisors to think about how these principles could be woven into client conversations — and even into their own team culture. “Wellness isn’t just good for clients,” he said. “It’s good for business.”

Takeaways for Advisors

• Simplify the process: Use a client-friendly, conversational framework to guide planning meetings, instead of a long questionnaire
• Coach, don’t prescribe: Ask questions, listen and help clients discover their own answers
• Incorporate wellness: Help clients connect financial decisions to their health and relationship goals
• Challenge assumptions: Don’t default to 100% success as the only goal — explore what trade-offs clients are willing to make
• Redefine value: In a world of AI and automation, your greatest asset is your humanity

“Our business is helping people find meaning, purpose — and more enjoyment out of life,” Haines said. In that light, financial planning isn’t just about retirement. It’s about living well, now and in the future.