At 64, Lane Easterling isn’t looking at this season of life as a time to slow down. If anything, he sees more opportunity than ever—to invest in the people he loves, use the wisdom gained over a 35-year career, serve others, explore the world with his wife, Teresa, and enjoy the family they’ve built together. A longtime Edward Jones financial advisor in Prattville, Lane has spent decades helping others prepare for their futures, but age has taught him that a fulfilling life is about far more than financial security or professional success. It’s about relationships, faith, purpose, and being intentional with the time you’ve been given.

BOOM: You’re 64, have been married to Teresa for 41 years, have three grown daughters and six grandchildren, and you’ve said this stage of life is presenting you with so many opportunities. What feels especially fulfilling about life right now?

Lane: I think what’s most fulfilling is having the opportunity to enjoy the people and relationships God has placed in my life. At 64, I have a greater appreciation for my wife, our daughters, our grandchildren, friends, and the people I’ve been fortunate to serve throughout my career. I’m also realizing that this season isn’t about slowing down as much as it is about being intentional with the time and opportunities God continues to give me.

BOOM: You and Teresa have been married for more than four decades. What do you enjoy most about your relationship in this season, and how has your marriage changed as the two of you have grown older together?

Lane: After 41 years, Teresa and I have a lot of shared history. We’ve raised a family, experienced successes and disappointments, traveled together, and walked through many different seasons of life. I think our relationship today has a deeper sense of gratitude and companionship. Our faith has been an important foundation, and I’m thankful that we still genuinely enjoy being together. There’s something special about looking back at where God has brought you while still looking forward to what He has ahead.

BOOM: Travel is one of your great passions as a couple, and you recently returned from Stockholm, Sweden. What do you love about experiencing new places together, and is there a trip that has been especially memorable?

Lane: Travel gives Teresa and me the opportunity to step outside our normal routines and experience something new together. I enjoy the history, the people, the food, and seeing how people live in other parts of the world. Stockholm was a wonderful experience, but honestly, some of my favorite memories aren’t necessarily about a particular destination—they’re about experiencing those places together. Travel reminds me what a large and diverse world God created and how much there still is to see and learn.

BOOM: You’ve spent 35 years as a financial advisor with Edward Jones. Take us back to the beginning—what drew you to this career, and what has kept you passionate about it all these years?

Lane: When I began 35 years ago, I was attracted to the opportunity to build a business while helping people make important decisions about their future. Over time, though, I learned that this profession is really about relationships and trust. You have the privilege of walking alongside people through some of the most important moments of their lives—retirement, raising families, losing loved ones, and leaving a legacy. I still enjoy the financial side of the business, but the opportunity to serve people and hopefully make a meaningful difference in their lives is what keeps me passionate about it.

BOOM: You’ve said this stage of your career may actually give you more opportunities to impact people’s lives because of what you’ve been able to build over 35 years. What can Lane at 64 offer people that Lane at 30 simply couldn’t?

Lane: At 30, I probably thought having the right answer was the most important thing. At 64, I understand that listening, asking good questions, and understanding what really matters to someone are often more important. Experience also teaches you that markets change, circumstances change, and life rarely goes exactly according to plan. I think I’m more patient today, more understanding, and hopefully a little wiser. My faith has also taught me that success isn’t simply about what you accomplish—it’s about how you use what God has entrusted to you to serve others.

BOOM: After spending your career helping people prepare financially for retirement, what have your clients taught you about what makes for a fulfilling retirement beyond simply having enough money?

Lane: My clients have taught me that financial security is important, but money alone doesn’t create a meaningful retirement. The people who seem happiest have purpose, strong relationships, faith, interests, and reasons to get up in the morning. I’ve watched people retire from something without thinking enough about what they’re retiring to. Having enough financially gives you choices, but having purpose is what gives those choices meaning.

BOOM: Your oldest daughter, Rachel, has now been running her own Edward Jones practice in Homewood for 12 years, and your son-in-law Ben joined your practice two years ago. What does it mean to see the next generation embrace a profession that has been such a significant part of your own life?

Lane: It means a great deal to me, and I’m very proud of both of them. But I’m probably most thankful that they have embraced the responsibility of serving people well. This profession has blessed our family in many ways, and seeing the next generation build relationships and help families make important decisions is very rewarding. I hope I’ve shown them that you can build a successful career while maintaining your faith, your integrity, and a genuine concern for the people you serve.

BOOM: You told me that you feel most fulfilled when you focus on relationships—with family, friends, and even peers in your industry. Has your understanding of the importance of relationships changed as you’ve gotten older?

Lane: Absolutely. The older I get, the more convinced I am that relationships are one of life’s greatest blessings. Early in life, it’s easy to focus on achievement and what you’re trying to build. Those things have value, but over time you realize that the people you share life with matter far more. My faith teaches me to love God and love others, and I think I’ve come to understand that more deeply with age. Investing time in family, friends, clients, and colleagues has brought me far more fulfillment than any professional accomplishment.

BOOM: Being a grandfather is another big part of your life now, with six grandchildren spread between Prattville, Birmingham, and Madison. What do you enjoy most about being a grandfather, and what do you hope your grandchildren learn from you?

Lane: Being a grandfather is one of the great joys of my life. I love watching each grandchild develop his or her own personality, and I enjoy simply spending time with them. You get to experience childhood again from a different perspective—and maybe with a little more patience than you had as a parent! More than anything, I hope they know how deeply they are loved. I hope they see in my life the importance of faith, family, hard work, integrity, generosity, and treating people well. If they grow up knowing that God loves them and that their lives have purpose, I’ll be very thankful.

BOOM: Mission work is also important to you. You recently traveled with YUGO Ministries to help build a home in Mexico and have also served in Antigua, Guatemala. What draws you to short-term international mission work, and how have those experiences affected you personally?

Lane: Mission work has a way of changing your perspective. You may go thinking you’re there to help someone else, but often you come home realizing how much you’ve received yourself. Whether building a home in Mexico or serving in Guatemala, I’ve been reminded that joy isn’t determined by material possessions. I’ve met people with far less materially who demonstrate tremendous faith, gratitude, and generosity. Jesus calls us to serve others, and mission work gives me a tangible opportunity to live that out. It reminds me to be grateful for what God has given me and to ask how I can use those blessings to help someone else.

BOOM: Faith clearly influences the way you talk about your life and the opportunities you’ve been given. How has your faith shaped the way you approach success, service, family, and this season of life?

Lane: My faith really shapes how I define success. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve realized that success isn’t primarily about what we accumulate or accomplish. It’s about being faithful with what God has entrusted to us—our family, our relationships, our abilities, our resources, and our time. I certainly haven’t gotten everything right, but I try to live with gratitude and remember that I’ve been blessed so that I can be a blessing to others. At this stage of life, I find myself asking less, “What else can I accomplish?” and more, “How can God use me to make a difference in someone else’s life?”

BOOM: Golf is another passion of yours. Between golf, travel, family, mission work, and a career you still enjoy, how intentional are you about making room for fun and things that give you something to look forward to?

Lane: I’ve become much more intentional about it. I still enjoy my career, but I’ve learned that life needs some balance. Whether it’s playing golf, traveling with Teresa, spending time with our children and grandchildren, or participating in mission work, I like having something on the calendar to look forward to. I believe those opportunities are gifts from God and should be enjoyed. There’s a time to work and serve, but there’s also a time to enjoy the life and relationships we’ve been given.

BOOM: You mentioned that your parents didn’t get to experience life at this age in quite the same way you are. How has that influenced your gratitude for your health and your outlook on the years ahead?

Lane: It has made me much more aware that good health and time are gifts, and neither should be taken for granted. My parents didn’t have the opportunity to experience this stage of life in quite the same way I am, so I’m very grateful to be healthy enough to continue working, traveling, playing golf, serving, and enjoying my family. None of us knows how many years God will give us, so I don’t want to spend too much time worrying about the number. I want to be a good steward of the years I’m given and live them with gratitude, purpose, and enthusiasm.

BOOM: You’ve built your career and much of your life in Prattville and the River Region. What do you enjoy most about living here, and what has kept this community feeling like home?

Lane: The River Region has been home for a large part of my life, and what makes it special to me is the people. This is where we’ve raised our family, built friendships, been part of a church community, and where I’ve had the privilege of building a career and serving clients for many years. There’s a real sense of community here—people know one another, care about one another, and show up when someone needs help. When you’ve shared that much life with people, a community becomes much more than the place where you live. It becomes part of who you are.

BOOM: When you think about “aging well,” what does that mean to you—and what would you tell someone in their 50s or 60s who may be tempted to think their most meaningful or exciting years are behind them?

Lane: To me, aging well means continuing to grow rather than simply growing older. It means taking care of yourself, staying curious and continuing to have things you’re excited about. I don’t believe God gives us an expiration date on having purpose. In fact, I think experience can give us opportunities to encourage, mentor, and serve people in ways we couldn’t when we were younger. I would tell someone in their 50s or 60s not to spend too much time looking in the rearview mirror. Be grateful for what’s behind you, but keep asking God what He has for you next. Some of your most meaningful years may still be ahead of you.

We thank Lane for sharing his story with us! If you know someone who would make a great cover profile, please email jason@riverregionboom.co.