You Can Do This
We are in the process of reviewing and revamping our two websites (this corporate website at AltusWealth.com and our free resource website at RichAndFulfililng.com). In that process I have been reviewing older blog posts - a lot of work when you consider I have been posting weekly articles for over four years.
I found I use one phrase more often than any other in my writing. That phrase is, "You Can Do This."
Why would I write this phrase so often?
It's a response to the number one objection I hear from people over why they don't want my help (or any other professional personal finance advisor). The objection is a mix of denial, frustration and anxiety.
Denial
The denial part is that they don't see the value in having a financial plan or a relationship with a Wealth Coach even though many studies show that people who pay for comprehensive financial planning advice have greater confidence in their financial decisions, less stress and fewer financial worries.
Even a great athlete can improve their game with some advice from a professional coach. Likewise you can improve your financial choices by working with a Wealth Coach.
Frustration
The frustration comes to every person when they begin to actually look at their current financial situation honestly. When you examine your income and expenses in detail, it is natural to compare what you have to what you wish for - and we always want more.
Your income may be good, but it could be better, right? Let's be honest - We have ALL made boneheaded purchase decisions before, too.
"Wealth Care" is like Health Care - nobody that I know LIKES to go see the doctor. Doctors are always finding things that are wrong and need to be fixed: cholesterol, body-fat, diabedes, heart-rate, diet, skin blemishes, cancer, etc.
If you ever doubt that humans are not perfect - go see a doctor. They will tell you exactly how imperfect you are.
Anxiety
I think most people look at financial planners the same way ... which makes them anxious.
"Why would I want to go see a financial advisor? He's just going to point out that I should be saving more and spending less. How much fun will that be? What can I say? I LIKE SHOPPING! It feels good."
It doesn't help that "free advice givers" (like Dave Ramsey and Suze Orman) chastise their listeners for getting themselves into financial train-wrecks. That makes for good entertainment, but lousy advice - and adds to your anxiety about seeking out help from a personal finance expert.
Changing Expectations
I will bet that most of my readers - even those who have heard my message for years - still believe my work is all about telling people what to do. yes, that's how we're trained and many advisors fall into the "I'm a professional and know better" trap.
But the simple truth is that you will never do ANYTHING because somebody else tells you to to it. That didn't work when you were a child (just ask your parents). It doesn't work in fitness, sports or medicine ... and it doesn't work when it comes to personal finance.
The only way you'll make different and better choices is when you can see how those choices will get you more of what is most important to you in life.
"When your values are clear, your decisions are easy."
Roy Disney said that. What he didn't say but is even more true is that your decisions are better, too.
You Can Do This
So here I am at the end of another blog post imploring you to accept the fact that you CAN do this. You can get more of what's important to you. Nobody is stopping you except yourself.
Just as we must all accept that people don't like to be told what to do (teachers and parents - are you listening?), we must also accept that getting help from a professional is ... well ... helpful.
Work with someone who will see what you're doing well and help you do even better at that. That is what a good financial planner should do ... and that is what a Wealth Coach will do - help you make better financial choices every day, but without making any of those choices for you.
John