Financial Behaviour

"Try not to become a man of success, but rather try to become a man of value". Of all Albert Einstein’s many quotes, this is one of his most profound.

I ask others what success looks like and of course the concept is different for everyone. Usually, it’s considered in the context of material measures…the biggest house, the newest car or the highest salary. What I also find is that acquiring these types of success usually gives a person satisfaction for a relatively short period.

By far the better question is: “what will make my life more valuable?”

This is the question we ask clients to consider as financial planners. It won’t necessarily be in these words. It may not even be in this one succinct question. But it will involve genuine conversations which, at their core, uncover the real motivators each of us have in our lives. And motivators are what get us out of bed each morning. 

Caution: there is no universal answer!

Our clients will have different measures of what will add value to their lives; spending more time with their families, doing volunteer work, getting into shape…again the list is endless.

The important thing to remember is that before you can truly move in a direction which helps you to become more complete - more “happy” – you have to articulate what makes your life more valuable, and whether you have enough of it. But what next?

After articulating what is valuable, we can assess where we are today, where we want to be tomorrow and finally, how we can get there. And guess what? It relates back to what we do every day – how we allocate our time, our money and our focus.

It seems contrived to say the financial planning process achieves this, but only after opening up and having these honest conversations with a neutral third party is there hope of finding the clarity needed to identify what truly matters. A financial planner isn’t the only professional who can do this, but they’re the only professionals qualified to give holistic advice to help you achieve what you want to achieve.

This is what a financial planner is:

An accountable professional who can add real value to your life…not just your bank account.

So, ask yourself:

• Have I spoken to anyone about what I like about my life?
• Have I had an honest discussion about what I want more of in my life?
• Have I reviewed how I allocate my time, money and energy?
• Do I maintain a plan for my life which helps me to achieve happiness?
• Or am I hoping for the best, and achieving short term satisfaction from things that don’t add value to my life?

Most of us would answer yes to this final question without realising the first, small step to independence and happiness could be as simple as a candid discussion with a neutral third party.

Need some help getting started?

No matter your dreams, sometimes getting professional advice and a plan of action in place can be life changing. Why not call us for advice on how to achieve your goals on 02 9328 0876.

General Disclaimer: This article contains information that is general in nature. It does not take into account the objectives, financial situation or needs of any particular person. You need to consider your financial situation and needs before making any decisions based on this information. Please seek personal financial advice prior to acting on this information.