Pausing to reflect on this new year ahead, I’m grateful for this collaborative group of professionals at All About Estates who blog daily on estate planning matters. The purpose of the All About Estates blog is to provide fellow specialists and the general public with information and resources related to our bloggers’ areas of expertise. And as a group, we have a diverse set of experiences to share with our readers: elder care, capacity, tax and estate planning, litigation, and fiduciary roles. Today begins my fourth year of contributing to this group, and I’m grateful for the learnings and collaboration.

In January 2023, I wrote about the Year of the Rabbit, the symbol of longevity, and how we are in the midst of a longevity revolution as the landscape of aging is transformed. Fast forward to 2026, and the phrases longevity and longevity planning seem to be everywhere. Is it truly a cultural shift, or is this another fad?

Global marketing strategists will often comment on cultural shifts to proactively position their clients and brands. Upon further exploration, the global marketers have indeed picked up on a cultural shift. CBA is a leading global branding agency with offices around the world, and they have some interesting comments about longevity being a “fundamental consumer evolution.” [1]

How do you define the longevity revolution? CBA’s definition is succinct:

Forget fleeting fads – this is a fundamental consumer evolution. People aren’t just passively accepting the aging process; they’re actively taking control, fuelled by a desire to live longer, healthier, and more fulfilling lives.

And what’s driving this longevity era? According to CBA, there are four key trends:

• Demographic: populations are aging at a rapid rate
• Personal access to health data and other tools, such as technology and wearables, to support your own health decisions
• The rise of a “pro-aging” mindset celebrating aging and experience, with a focus on living well at any age, and
• The emerging realization is that the Longevity Economy, as described by Dr. Joe Couglin in 2017, will, in fact, deliver significant economic benefits to companies that refocus and enhance their products and services to better serve an aging demographic.

So, how will the longevity evolution impact our work? In our practice, we see many positives with the shift to the longevity era. For over a decade, we have been focused on teaching and empowering individuals to actively plan for their post-retirement years. The basis of our planning methodology has been to integrate the three foundational components of personal and care planning with financial preparedness and legal preparedness. Without these three pieces in place, individuals and their families do not feel prepared for their post-retirement years, especially in the event of a sudden health event or declining capacity. Optimal planning for our clients incorporates significant lifestyle planning outlining where and how to live, how to use resources to care for yourself until the end of life, and how to be empowered to fulfil your wishes, in addition to the traditional estate planning activities such as financial, tax, wills, and power of attorney documents.

In the year ahead, we explore this cultural shift unfolding before us and share, from our expertise and experience, more about longevity and longevity planning. Wishing you quiet moments, health, and success in the New Year!

[1] https://cba-design.com/longevity-craze/