Wondering What Silver Path and Football Have in Common?

Jill Marshall
Sep 8
2 min read

On February 4, 2018, with just 38 seconds left in the first half of Super Bowl LII, the Philadelphia Eagles called one of the boldest plays in football history: the now-famous Philly Special.

The result was a touchdown, and ultimately, the Eagles' first Super Bowl victory.

At a recent national conference for Certified Senior Advisors, we used this iconic football moment as a metaphor for something we care deeply about at Silver Path: helping families move from confusion to clarity as they navigate the complexities of aging.

Whether you are on a football field or supporting an aging parent, success often comes down to three things.

1. Seeing the Whole Field

A good quarterback does not just react to what is in front of them. They scan the entire field, looking for opportunities, risks, and patterns.

That is exactly what we do when a client comes to us for help.

Often, the first request is very specific:

“We need a caregiver.”

“Mom needs a will.”

“Dad just fell, and we don’t know what to do.”

But behind each urgent issue usually lies a bigger picture.

That is why we step back and look across what we call our Thoughtful Aging Wheel, which covers health, housing, finances, family support, and even meaning and purpose.

By seeing the whole field, we help families address today’s challenge while also anticipating what might come next.

2. Building the Team

No quarterback wins a game alone.

It takes a skilled and trusted group who each play a role.

The same is true when supporting older adults.

Silver Path maintains a strong network of attorneys, financial planners, care managers, organizers, real estate experts, and grief counselors so that families do not have to spend weeks researching specialists during an already stressful time.

Instead of searching online for “elder law attorney near me” at two in the morning, our clients get immediate access to vetted, trusted professionals who have their best interests in mind.

3. Calling the Play

Even with a clear view of the field and the right team in place, someone still needs to call the play.

Deciding what to do next gives everyone confidence to move forward.

That is often the biggest gift we can offer: prioritizing what matters most and breaking it into clear, manageable steps.

As one client put it:

“I have managed global teams, but I have no playbook for caring for my elderly mother.”

Together, we created a phased plan with clear roles and responsibilities that addressed her legal documents, bill-pay management, and health concerns.