If you know the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Steven Covey, you have heard this phrase before. It speaks to a habit of intentionality. If you clarify your destination, it’s easier to chart an efficient course to get there.
And so it is for your financial life. If you are clear on your values and priorities, then the choices needed to serve those values are clearer and easier to commit to. When you know WHY you want to retire in five years, the choices to put in more overtime and/or save a bit more each month are clearer.
Regular readers will know that I completed the Behavioral Financial Advisor training this summer. A central part of this training is to recognize how important behavior is to the success of a family’s financial plans. And how powerful values can be in helping to guide better choices. That’s why I ask every client to complete a values exercise to help clarify the values that are important for each family.
Maybe you would like to see what your guiding values are. If so, follow this LINK to complete the Values Exercise. If you would like, you can forward your results to me and we can visit about them.
With a clear understanding of the clients’ values, we can all better understand the choices the clients need to make to move closer to their values. From there a plan of action emerges. We see gaps in the clients’ current situation that need to be filled. We can calculate what we need to do now to reach our goals on time.
Soon it becomes clear what financial tools make sense for this family. Then it’s easier to select exactly the right products to create the outcomes that the clients need.
And over time, as the process unfolds, the clients move closer to ultimate success and fulfillment. Doesn’t that sound great?
If this has you thinking about your situation, maybe we should visit about it. If you want to talk about how your values impact your financial planning, I would be honored to visit with you. As a fiduciary financial planner, I’m always an advocate for my clients. I love talking with new people. Reach out and we can have a get-acquainted visit. Just follow this LINK to find a time that works for you.
Yes, I am a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional. I’m always a fiduciary and I work on a fee basis. And yes, I’m still taking on a few great families to be part of my financial planning practice.
If this article has you thinking about your own circumstances, contact my office at rdunn@dunncreekadvisors.com. I am always happy to meet with people who are working on their retirement plans. Dunncreek Advisors does not provide legal or tax advice, nor is this article intended to do so.