I was recently in a meeting with several other self-employed professionals, all of us motivated, ambitious, and passionate about our work. Each person – including the moderator, including yours truly – had the same lament: I wish I had learned about money when I was younger.
It's a common story. So many people carry around something they wish they had dealt with years (even decades) ago – if only they knew how. It might be lingering student loan debt, not knowing how to invest for retirement, or maybe an unhealthy lesson learned early in life continues to sabotage decision making.
Here's a secret hidden in plain sight: no matter what unique financial challenges you face, getting started now makes the process simpler and more manageable than waiting until some hypothetical better time in the future.
The sooner you take action – the sooner you let go of what was and embrace what can be – the easier everything becomes. Managing income & expenses, repaying debt, planning for retirement, and saving for a child's education all become easier to navigate by taking action early – and all become much more complicated by waiting.
Sure, it would be better if that debt was already repaid or if you had a fat retirement account waiting for you. But don't let the past stop you from taking control of your financial life today! It's never too late to start making better decisions.
To borrow from an old proverb: the best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago; the second best time is now.
What questions or concerns are keeping you up at night? Would you like help talking through the next steps? You can sign up for weekly office hours for honest answers in a low-stress setting.
Thanks,
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 lives. We'll help identify your current strengths and weaknesses, clarify and refine your long-term goals, and prioritize decisions to improve your financial well-being now and later. Reach out today to take the first step.