“We need to lay the foundations, envision the systems and ignite the changes necessary to realize 100 years of quality living.”

This is the unique challenge that MIT’s AgeLab founder and director Dr. Joseph F. Coughlin will issue to the 300 multi-generational attendees at Laird Norton Wealth Management’s Thought Forum on this October evening. Every year we host the Thought Forum to bring together our clients, colleagues and friends for an exchange of ideas and to hear new perspectives from notable guest speakers. We also do this as part of our commitment to developing the human side of the personal wealth equation that includes relationships, intellect, health… basically all the things that make our lives meaningful. We call this work our ReGenU initiative.

Over the last few months, we’ve been asked by clients and colleagues why we chose Dr. Coughlin as this evening’s keynote speaker. We chose Dr. Coughlin and this topic because we find that more and more current and potential clients are wrestling with how to live life to the fullest as they age and are seeking creative ways to achieve this goal. This is one of the principal reasons why we created ReGenU. We view ReGenu as a “GPS system” to help people navigate life’s twists and turns. And since there are many twists in the aging process, we wanted to bring one of our nation’s premier experts here to speak about this inevitable transition.

Named as one of Fast Company Magazine’s ‘100 Most Creative People in Business’ and to quote the Wall Street Journal, a “pioneer inventing the future of aging and how we will all live, work and play tomorrow” – Dr. Coughlin is the perfect voice to address our collective wish to not only live longer, but better.

Tonight, he will urge us to not only start visualizing the innovations we will need to help us achieve a satisfying future, but also give us a warning. If we don’t start visualizing our needs now, our scientists, engineers, architects and city planners will not be able to build the adaptations that can fulfill our desires.

As this ReGenU blog hosts a running dialog about how life can change for the better, we would like you to share your vision of a satisfying future. For those in attendance, we encourage you to voice your thoughts from Dr. Coughlin’s presentation. It is our hope that your words will inspire others to start planning for a colorful and meaningful continuation of their lives.