From 30 Years of Financial Planning to 119 Cruises: Why This Travel Expert Says 'It's Later Than You Think"

Key Takeaways:

• Time is your most valuable resource: Approach travel with urgency because "it's later than you think" – don't postpone experiences waiting for the perfect moment

• Professional relationships deliver value: Travel advisors often save money through industry connections and provide personalized service that online booking can't match

• Travel insurance is non-negotiable: International medical coverage through regular insurance is extremely limited, and emergency medical costs abroad can easily reach six figures

Rodney thought he had it all figured out. After 30 years as a financial advisor, he took early retirement at 55, ready to enjoy the fruits of his labor. Six months later, his friends were laughing at him. "I'm the only guy they know that flunked retirement," he admits with a chuckle.

What started as "something to do" has become one of the most successful travel agencies in the country. Today, Rodney's Lux Travel Consultants ranks in the top 10 among over 3,000 franchises in the Cruise Planters system. His team of eight specialists has collectively logged over 240 years of travel experience, and Rodney himself has completed 119 cruises with number 120 on the horizon.

But this isn't just another success story about finding purpose in retirement.

Rodney's approach to travel planning challenges everything you think you know about booking trips, and his philosophy about time might change how you think about your own future adventures.

The Career Pivot That Changed Everything

From Financial Planning to World Exploration

The transition from financial advisor to travel consultant wasn't as dramatic as you might think. "Somebody asked me one time said, wasn't it a lot harder being a financial advisor? And I said, well, the financial advisor, you need to know the tax laws and you need to know the investments that are in your client's portfolio. But as a travel advisor, you need to know the whole world," Rodney explains.

The skills transferred beautifully. "As a financial advisor for 30 years, I learned to ask questions and listen to answers and God gave us two ears and one mouth for a reason. He intended for us to listen twice as much as we talked," he shares.

This listening approach became the foundation of his travel business. Instead of pushing predetermined packages, Rodney and his team focus on understanding what clients truly want from their travel experiences.

The "Experience List" Philosophy That Changes How You Think About Travel

Why "Bucket Lists" Are Holding You Back

Rodney has strong opinions about how we approach travel planning, starting with the language we use. "I don't like to call it a bucket list. I like to call it experience list," he explains.

The distinction matters more than you might think. "A bucket list is like a list of things you wanna do before you die, right? Well, that's kind of negative right off the bat," Rodney points out.

Instead, he advocates for what he calls an "experience list" – a more positive, life-affirming approach to travel planning that focuses on creating memories rather than checking boxes before death.

The Time Reality That Should Change Your Travel Priorities

"It's Later Than You Think" – A Life-Changing Perspective

Rodney's most powerful piece of advice comes from Dr. Philip Randall, whom he met 35 years ago. The message is simple but profound: "Enjoy yourself. It's later than you think."

To drive the point home, Rodney adds sobering context: "If you have any doubt about that, the Pope went to bed last night and he didn't wake up this morning, so it is later than you think. So get out there and quit putting stuff off. Quit procrastinating and find that, get that list out."

This philosophy shaped Rodney's entire approach to both life and business. A mentor early in his career taught him: "If anybody ever asks you for an hour of your time or a hundred dollars, give 'em the a hundred dollars because you can always get another a hundred, but you can never get that hour back."

The Luxury Travel Difference: Why Size Matters

Small Ships, Big Experiences

Rodney's clientele, typically aged 55 to 85, has moved beyond the mega-ship experience. "They've done the big ships and they know that they don't want to go hang out with 7,500 people, maybe four or 500 would be nice," he explains.

The difference in experience is dramatic. "The service level on some of the luxury cruise lines, the service staff is almost a one-to-one ratio per passenger. Whereas on the larger mega ships, it might be one to two or three passengers," Rodney notes.

For food enthusiasts, the distinction is even more pronounced. "If you're a foodie, you don't want to go on a mass market cruise line. If you're a foodie, you want to go on one of the luxury brands," he advises.

The $7,700 Phone Call That Proves Professional Value

Why Travel Advisors Beat Online Booking Every Time

One of Rodney's most compelling examples involves a client who thought she could save money by booking herself. She had visited 133 countries and liked to book her own trips, then immediately call Rodney's team to take over the booking.

"She called us one day about two months ago and said, I booked this trip overnight. Would you claim it? And so Theresa, one of my top associates, went on to the cruise line and came back and said I saved you $7,700," Rodney recalls.

The savings were possible because of industry relationships. "It was because they had cut a great deal with Signature Travel Network," one of the largest travel consortiums in the world, where Rodney's agency holds membership.

The Relationship Advantage

Beyond financial savings, Rodney emphasizes the personal relationship factor. "When you call our office, if you're my client, you get me. And that's a huge plus because I know you, I probably met you face to face a number of times. We may have even gone to dinner together. I know your children, maybe your grandchildren," he explains.

Compare this to online booking: "When you call one of those places you were talking about, you're calling the toll free number, and every time you call, you're probably gonna get somebody different."

The Hidden Travel Insurance Crisis You Need to Know About

When Six-Figure Medical Bills Become Reality

One area where Rodney sees dangerous misconceptions involves travel insurance, particularly international medical coverage. "The coverage, if any with any insurance company, even Medicare, very limited once you cross across the border of the United States," he warns.

The financial exposure is staggering. "Our biggest claims are in the 250 to $350,000 for medical and for transport back to the US," Rodney reveals.

A Real-World Example That Changed Everything

Rodney shares a story that illustrates the stakes perfectly. "I had a client years ago, he was an Iron Man triathlon participant and onboard the ship. The first night he couldn't walk up half a flight of stairs, so his wife knew, obviously something's bad wrong here," he begins.

The situation escalated quickly. "The physician on the ship believed that he had a pulmonary embolism. And so he said, we're gonna put you off the ship in Monaco tomorrow and take you directly to the hospital. Well, sure enough, he had a pulmonary embolism, was in the hospital for several weeks before he was transported back home in a special aircraft."

The lesson is clear: "You say it can't happen, but I tell you it happens all the time."

Destination Highlights: Where the World Opens Up

George's Most Beautiful Place on Earth

When pressed for his number one destination recommendation, Rodney doesn't hesitate. "Number one most beautiful place on earth as far as I'm concerned, is the Society Islands French Polynesia in particular, Bora Bora," he states.

What makes it special? "It's the most beautiful, pristine, clear waters. You can see 50, 60 feet down in this water. It's so clear and so beautiful and it's so blue, it almost hurts your eyes," he describes.

Africa: The Land Before Man

For land-based travel, Africa holds special significance. "It's the land before man got there and messed it up. When you can see giraffes and antelope and impalas and leopards and lions and all that, all in a hour and a half or two hour period of time in the wild, in their own natural habitat. It's just spectacular," Rodney explains.

The Post-COVID Travel Explosion

Record-Breaking Demand

The pandemic created unprecedented pent-up demand. "Last year, our agency did double the amount of business that we've ever done in our best year, and it was just an explosion of pent up demand," Rodney reports.

While economic uncertainty has created some slowdown, travel remains strong. "This year's coming back almost as strong. Although the economy in the US with the uncertainty of the stock market has slowed us down just a little bit," he notes.

Rodney's journey from financial advisor to travel expert proves that it's never too late to find your true calling. His "experience list" philosophy and emphasis on the value of time serve as powerful reminders that the best investment you can make might be in creating memories while you still can.

Ready to start building your own experience list? Remember Rodney's mentor's advice: you can always make more money, but you can never get back the time.

Author Bio:

Ken Connolly is a licensed life and health insurance broker and host of the "Talking Retirement" podcast.

Rodney George is the Founder & Managing Partner at Luxe Travel Consultants. He also hosts the Luxury Travelers Podcast.

To learn more about Medicare, life insurance options and other supplemental health insurance options, talk to NJ Life and Health. Visit us at www.njlifeandhealth.com or call their Toms River, NJ office at 848-226-6897.