Last week I had the opportunity to guide a church youth group or young men, ages 12-17 to a beautiful waterfall and series of pools that very few people know exist in Arizona.

When you first think of Arizona you think of the Grand Canyon, then Phoenix and maybe even some desert landscape with horses and tumbleweeds.

However, from the picture below you would never guess we were in Arizona. You might think we visited a cenote in Mexico or a cave in Hawaii.

The catch is to get to this spot is an 8.4 mile hike you have to conquer.

The first 4.2 miles are all downhill. We started earlier when it was a little cooler out and had plenty of snacks and water.

Then after playing in the pools for a while it was finally time to make it back up to our cars.

And I tell you what, the 4.2 miles all uphill, running out of water in the heat of a summer Arizona afternoon was not for the faint of heart.

It was a physical feat of mental capacity and endurance.

While we were hiking back up one of the boys said, “gheez, if we didn’t get to swim by the waterfalls, this hike would have been a big waste of time.”

It got me thinking…

I actually enjoy hiking, but really the only reason the group wanted to do the hike in the first place was for the reward of swimming in the crystal clear pools under the waterfall.

So when you think about your “reward” in retirement, what is it that drives you…

What drives you to sacrifice enjoyment today for a hope for a retirement in the future?

What are you going to do with that money you set aside?

Go on trips?

Visit your kids and grandkids more often?

Give to charities, research and causes you believe in?

There is always an incentive.

Is it worth it to leave that “reward” up to chance, where we are hoping and praying that the market doesn’t crash, the Fed doesn’t mess with interest rates, that there isn’t any election turmoil, or new wars started?!?

Because if you are leaving your retirement up to just hope, it might turn out to be a “big waste of time”.

If you need help ensuring that you get to the cool crystal clear pools of retirement glory, just reach out and let us know, we can help you scientifically engineer your success.