Money is weird, right?
It touches almost every part of our lives, but we don’t talk about it. From the work we do, to our homes, to where our kids go to school, money plays a part. But we don’t talk about it.
People love talking about their jobs – the way they get money. And most are happy to talk about the things they do with money – the vacations they take, the kind of car they drive, even sharing photos of the food they eat.
But talking about money is off the table. It’s tacky. It’s disrespectful. It’s passé. It’s a private matter.
If you have money, you risk sounding privileged or entitled.
If you want money, you risk coming across as greedy.
And if you need money, you risk revealing a potentially embarrassing secret to the world.
Disagreements about money cause relationships to end. They drive friends apart and create rifts among family members that last generations. People would rather suffer in silence for years than discuss difficulties with money.
Something so ubiquitous, that impacts nearly every part of our lives, should not be so off-limits that it prevents us from moving toward our goals. Sure, maybe don’t put your bank account balance on Facebook – but does it really need to be so stressful?
So let’s talk about money.
Money is potential, plain and simple. It’s opportunity. It’s the ability to trade something you have now for something you will have later. It’s a tool, a means of getting what you want and need.
That’s not so scary, right? A drill is a tool for making holes. Drills aren’t scary. A car is a means of getting from one place to another – also not scary. Toasters, vegetable gardens, gym memberships – they are all just ways to change what have now into what we want to have later. Money is no different.
A healthy relationship with money isn’t about greed or doing what your parents did or pinching every penny. It isn’t about measuring up to your neighbors or driving an expensive car or having the right spreadsheet.
It’s about recognizing what is, what you would like to be, and how money can bridge that gap. Some money is used for things you want or need now. The rest can be saved for things you will want or need later. The difference between what you earn and what you spend represents more options in the future.
Aligning your money with the life you want – both today and twenty years from now – is our primary goal in working together. Spend too much now, and you may comprise your options in the future. Save too much now, and you risk a life devoid of pleasure. Balancing your quality of life now and later is the key to a successful client-advisor relationship.
Reach out now to find out how we can work together to align your money with your values to build the life you want over years and decades. It’s your journey – but we can help you along the way.
Timothy Iseler, CFP®
Founder & Lead Advisor
Iseler Financial, LLC | Durham NC | (919) 666-7604
Iseler Financial helps creative professionals remove stress while taking control of their financial futures. As both advisor and accountability partner, we help identify current strengths and weaknesses, clarify and refine your long-term goals, and prioritize understandable, manageable, and repeatable actions to bring long-term financial well-being. Reach out today to take the first step.