Former Financial Advisor Publishes Personal Memoir

Susan Haag writes about her career and health challenges in a new book.

Updated on Oct. 29, 2026 in Financial Planning

Gouache-painted illustration of a sunflower growing through a stone plinth, representing personal resilience and life transitions.
Former financial advisor Susan Haag explores the intersection of professional demands and personal health struggles in her new memoir, Life Like a Sunflower. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Former financial advisor Susan Haag recently published her memoir, Life Like a Sunflower. The book draws on her professional background and personal health struggles to offer readers a unique perspective.

Why it matters

The book details how Haag navigated the professional demands of a long-term career while simultaneously managing significant health crises. Her story provides a narrative bridge between financial discipline and the unpredictable nature of personal health.

Haag served as an Edward Jones financial advisor for 24 years before retiring at age 58. She previously survived a heart attack involving a 99 percent blockage in her heart artery.

The players

Susan Haag

She is a former Edward Jones financial advisor who spent 24 years in the industry before retiring at 58 and becoming an author.

Edward Jones

This is a multinational financial services firm that provides investment, retirement, and insurance products and services.

The details

Inspired by her experiences, Haag authored the book to reflect on challenges including a heart attack and a subsequent Parkinson's disease diagnosis. The work is currently available in multiple formats through Amazon.

Timeline

  1. June 28, 2022: Haag experienced a heart attack.

  2. May 2023: Haag was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease.

  3. October 15, 2026: Life Like a Sunflower was released.

Market Dynamics

Haag's transition from the finance industry to authorship follows a documented trend where long-term professionals leverage their careers to provide a foundation for personal memoirs. This reflects a broader shift in retirement behavior where former advisors seek to translate decades of market experience into consumer-facing creative work.

Readers can gain insight into the planning strategies Haag used during her 24-year tenure at a major financial firm. The memoir offers a personal view on how to balance long-term financial stability with the sudden emergence of significant medical or health costs.

The takeaway

Haag's story highlights the importance of maintaining personal resilience alongside long-term financial planning. Her experience serves as a reminder that preparing for the future requires addressing both wealth management and potential health challenges.

Further reading

Learn more about managing your assets during life transitions at the Financial Planning section.

More information

For additional context on the book and the author, visit the author information and book website.

Source note: This article includes information reported by Main Street Media of Tennessee -.

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Do you believe it is possible to maintain a positive outlook after a life-altering health event?