Financial Planning Is About Making Your Life Plan a Reality

7 October 2020

Do you have a vision of an achievable future?

Do you know what you want and is your why strong enough to get you to take action?


A key part of our job is to build a financial plan that will help you see the “how and when” that makes your life plan a reality.


Of course, building wealth that will provide for your family and keep you comfortable today and in future is a part of that plan. So is monitoring your income, outgoings, assets and liabilities.


But we believe maximising your Return on Life is just as important, if not more so, than the return on your money. People who view money as an end in and of itself never feel like they have enough money. People who learn to view money as a tool start to see a whole new world of possibilities open in front of them.


Feeling free. One of the most important things your money can do for you is provide a sense of freedom. If you don’t feel locked into chasing after the next pound, you’ll start exploring what more you can get out of life than just more money. Chances are that when you enjoy what you’re doing, more money usually follows.


Feeling free to use your money in ways that fulfil you is going to become extremely important if you plan to fully retire. After all, you’re going to have to do something with the 40 hours every week you used to spend working! But you’re also going to have to allow yourself to stop focusing on saving and start enjoying the life that your assets can provide.


Again, having money and building wealth is a part of the plan. But it’s not THE plan in and of itself.


The earlier you start thinking about how you can use your money to balance your whole life, your sense of personal and professional progress with recreation and pleasure, and the demands of supporting your family with achieving your individual goals, the better you’re going to feel.


And achieving that kind of freedom with your money isn’t just going to help you sleep soundly at night – it’s going to make you feel excited to get out of bed the next morning.



What’s coming next? So, when does the planning process end? If you’re like most of the people we work with, never.

What if?

We monitor progress and make adjustments throughout the life of your plan in response to events and any major transitions in your life. ‘“What if......”

Some transitions we’ll be able to anticipate, like a child going to college, a big family holiday you’ve been planning for, and, for many of you, the actual date of your retirement. Other transitions, like a sudden illness or a big geographic move for work, we’ll help you adjust for as necessary.



In some cases, your life plan might change simply because you want something different out of life. You might start contemplating a career change. You might decide home doesn’t feel like home anymore and start looking for a new house. You might lose yourself in a new hobby and decide to invest some time and money in perfecting it. You might decide it’s time to be your own boss and start a brand new company.

How we can help

Planning for and reacting to these moments where your life and your money intersect is what we do best.


Come in and talk to us about how Life-Centred Planning can help you get the best life possible with the money you have.


We can model the financial impact of all of your “what if scenarios” will be on your short term and lifetime cash flow and consequently plan to remove any obstacles.


We want to keep you inspired and focussed on achieving and living your desired lifestyle by demonstrating that this can be maintained through a robust financial plan.


Your Financial Plan provides the how and when to support your what and why goals.

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Spring-Cleaning Financial Clutter

4 May 2021
Is a financial check-up on your Spring-Cleaning list? Once you've tidied your lawn and emptied that out-of-control closet, let some fresh air into your home office and use these six tips to freshen up how you spend, save, and plan for the future. In our experience ensuring that clients remain confident in their financial situation now and going forward is important and setting aside some time, maybe a morning, is well worth it for peace of mind. By drawing a financial line in the sand, we can model the impact of your “what if scenarios” on current and future finances. We would advise doing this once a year in “normal” times anyway, but the events of the last year have almost certainly impacted upon your finances and may indeed have completely changed the way that you think about your future. 1. Pay yourself first. Making automatic contributions into your insurance, savings, investment, and pensions is a small budget adjustment that can go a long way towards building wealth over time. Is there extra money in your monthly cash flow that you could use to increase those investments? Do you want to save/invest more now - or enjoy a treat, break, holiday? How much extra could you contribute per year if you went from five coffee shop visits per week down to two, or started packing your lunch every day? Your life - your choice. 2. Review your monthly statements. Automating your investments and bill payments doesn't mean that you never have to check on them. Get back in the habit of reviewing your monthly bank and credit card statements. Make a list of all your recurring charges and subscriptions and consider cancelling anything you're not using enough to justify the expense. Also review the terms and conditions of your accounts and be sure you understand what fees, if any, your financial institutions might be charging you and what benefits you might be overlooking 3. Shop around. And if you don't like those fees? Of if the cost of your Satellite/Internet/Streaming TV bundles have shot up unexpectedly? Or if you never get near the data cap on your mobile phone/tablet service? There might be better deals elsewhere. Do a little comparison shopping, and don't be afraid to play some hardball if you can find ways to save a few pounds every month. 4. Check your credit report and score. You can also use a free credit score service to see where you stand with potential lenders and check for any major fluctuations in your score, which could be another indicator of fraud. Together, these reports will help limit any surprises if you're preparing for a big purchase in the coming year, such as a car or new home. Many such services also offer key services and options for loans, credit card rates etc 5. Scan and shred. Digitising your financial records can save space and simplify tax season. There are many apps and online services that can help you replace your filing cabinet with a cloud-backed folder, but snapping pictures of important documents with your cell phone is an easy way to get started. Once you've backed up your statements and receipts you can shred anything that's over three years old. Also review your hard copy filing system and make sure that your birth and marriage certificates, National Insurance cards, insurance policies, and Will are stored safely. 6. Talk to your financial planner. How have your short-term and long-term financial goals changed in the last year? Are you thinking about making a career change? Are your teenagers scouting colleges and universities? Is there a new baby on the way? Do you want to start making a bigger impact in your community through sustained giving? Is this the year you’re finally going to start your own company? Do you or your spouse have any new health care concerns? We use your answers to these kinds of questions to guide our Life-Centered Planning process. Annually, it’s a good idea to check if dust is settling on some out-of-date plans or if the path to any of your financial goals is feeling a little cluttered. Give us a call and we’ll schedule a meeting to shake off some cobwebs and put a fresh shine on the year ahead.
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