‘I START THE DAY WITH AN ICE PLUNGE’: ON THE BRINK OF 65, WEALTH MANAGER SEEKS OUT PHYSICAL CHALLENGES
Willy Gevers takes exercise as seriously as he takes his job as president of his own wealth-management company in Washington state.
He takes on physical challenges to push himself to succeed in life and in business. He admits he’s “a little addicted to working out,” but he sees exercise as the perfect outlet for the stresses of work.
His wife, son and daughter are all on staff at his firm, Gevers Wealth Management. The unique family dynamic of the company makes it even more enjoyable to go to work every day — and even more important to succeed, he said.
Gevers, 64, is part of a demographic phenomenon known as Peak 65, which will see more Americans turn 65 this year than ever before — as many as 11,200 per day, according to some estimates.
He loves the outdoors and is an avid mountain biker, hiker and fly fisherman. He and his wife also teach classes at their church.
MarketWatch: How do you feel about turning 65?
Willy Gevers: I have over 30 years of experience working with successful families. It’s astonishing to me that I’m the same age now as the families were when I started out. I really enjoy what I do. I have really successful and highly productive clients, and almost all want to use their gifts to better the world. I like doing this and I have no plans to make changes.
Life has these big arcs that we follow. In school, you try to get good grades. In sports and athletics, you try to succeed. You get married, have children and have an arc of a career. We have these paths we follow. When you get to 65, it doesn’t become clear what you’re supposed to do next. Some of us want to continue professionally — keep being productive, having passions that drive us. But it’s not really clear what the arc is at this point.
MarketWatch: What are the biggest goals you want to tackle in the next chapter of your life?
Gevers: My take on it is that as long as God has blessed us with good health, you need physical challenges. Not everyone feels that way. But I start the day with an ice plunge every morning. I lift weights. I go on week-long backpacking trips with my wife. Every birthday, I have a new challenge. Last birthday was 64, and I did things like 64 push-ups and 64 pull-ups and a three-hour bike ride. You need more physical challenges as you get older. It’s good for your body and your mind.
MarketWatch: What to you is the most surprising aspect of aging?
Gevers: As long as I can do 100 pull-ups and backpack like I want to, I don’t feel slowed down by aging. I get to work with a lot of fabulously successful people and I try to emulate their lessons. Father Time is undefeated. I know life is pretty challenging. Hard things happen to all of us. But the hope is to have grace and strength when we get to that point.
MarketWatch: Do you have any regrets about life?
Gevers: Youth is wasted on the young. Life has not been perfect, but I don’t think about regrets. Some people ask why I’m still working. I had an old friend at the athletic club, and they asked me, ‘If you’re so smart, why are you still working?’ So it caused a little self-reflection. I’m fortunate enough to have financial autonomy to do what I want. But we’re big practicers of what we preach: We drive older cars, we’re big savers. I don’t have to work at this point. But the team I get to work with is amazing. They’re a joy. Plus, I’m a nerd about investing. My job allows me to be immersed in investing. And I’m on the board of local charities. So my self-evaluation answered that question of why I’m still working, and it’s family, amazing clients and community.
MarketWatch: Do you have a legacy you want to leave behind?
Gevers: My wife and I talk about this a lot. There’s a verse in Proverbs that says a good man leaves a treasure chest for his children’s children. What we’re trying to leave behind is a legacy of experiences and memories. We’ve gone to Peru and gone trekking in the Andes, gone to Indonesia, Central America. We don’t spend money on cars, but we have a treasure chest of memories. I hope my kids and grandkids have good memories of me. On a company level, we have a 10% promise, where we leave 10% of our income to charities and community groups.
MarketWatch: What’s the best financial advice you ever received, and who gave it to you?
Gevers: The best advice I got was probably life advice. When I got out of college, I was going to the athletic club twice a day. I had too much time on my hands. There was a real-estate developer who kind of got in my face and said, ‘You work out too effing much. Go make something of yourself.’ I never forgot that conversation. I lost touch with him until many years later, when I had the opportunity to see him in a building he owned. I revisited the conversation with him and thanked him for the advice. It was gold given at the right time.
If you’re turning 65 this year and want to share your story, contact us at [email protected].
More Peak 65 stories:
How this jet-setting tutor made her retirement years ‘more fulfilling’ than her 35-year career
This boomer has worried about retirement since 1981. Here’s what she’s learned.
‘Don’t let your regrets hold you back’: This song-writing journalist has no fear of aging