The Life Audit: Grabbing Life By the…Plan
Many wealth management and other professionals I’ve spoken with—from independents and wire house advisors to money managers, private bankers—express substantial worry about their own financial futures.
In fact, their worries are often so limiting that they hold people back from really experiencing all that life has to offer.
If you have dedicated your life’s work in service to your clients well being, today is the perfect time to look in the mirror and create a successful, satisfying life plan. It’s only too late if you wait.
Stop worrying, start planning
“Life Planning” is thinking in a purposeful way about how you want to work and live in your life. It’s the only life you get, so why not make the most of it?! I’ve written previously about the importance of committing time and energy to strategic planning—even if you don’t feel like it. Life planning is really just bringing yourself into the process.
In the words of George Kinder, “life planning is about the ‘human dimension of money.’”
Too often, as investment professionals, we’re hung up on investment results and financial targets. By taking on your own life planning, you encounter an opportunity to think more holistically about what you want for you, your family, and your clients.
Just imagine the possibilities if you choose action and satisfaction over unnecessary worry.
Intentionally align your financial planning skills with your own desires
What do you REALLY want? Understanding the answers to these questions is key to connecting to your most deeply held and heartfelt values. They get to the core of what you want at this time in your life. So, take your time answering! Deep consideration of your goals is not only a Win-Win-Win, but a starting point for creating your own living legacy.
When you have clarity around what you want for your next chapter, as well as for your business, you can begin to design your transition strategy as a key component of your personal financial life plan.
Of course, it’s not quite as easy as it sounds. It takes time to take a real look at ourselves, peel the layers, and get to the heart of what we’ve kept buried.
Enter: The Life Audit
Find your why
If you’re ready to grab life by the…plan, start with a “Life Audit.” This is the first critical step in creating a vision for yourself, for a successful transition, and for the legacy you will leave behind. A Life Audit will help you gain clarity around:
- Your personal “why” (why you get up in the morning!)
- Your business “why” (why you do the work you do)
Ready?
Get rolling with your Life Audit by considering the following questions honestly:
- What are your dreams, goals, and aspirations for your second half?
- Do you have a strategic plan for the transition of your business?
- If you had 48 hours to live, what would your legacy be? Is there anything you might regret?
If you focus on what you want in your life now—as well as after your succession transition—you can begin to experience more of what is truly meaningful to you in your life. By waiting for “someday” or an arbitrary financial target, you are unnecessarily delaying your own peace of mind and an ideal life.
It’s daunting for just about everyone to square up to the mirror and ask what matters most. But don’t let that anxiety be another roadblock.
Don’t be afraid to reach out for guidance and support on the journey ahead!
Click here to download our complimentary report- “5 Questions Business Owners Never Ask and Should, to Create a Succession Plan that Works ”
