Freedom without safeguards is only temporary. Your income gives you freedom. The freedom to spend. The freedom to invest. The freedom to live the life you want. But without safeguards in place, that freedom can disappear quickly.
Retirement isn’t about building the biggest nest egg. I’s about creating the most predictable income. Here’s how to design your strategy.
One of the most common questions I get, from entrepreneurs, professionals, and families, is: “How much life insurance should I get?” Most people either guess, choose a round number, or just do whatever their friend or coworker did. However, there are actually two clear, practical ways to determine this, one based on what the insurance company will provide, and one based on what you want the policy to do for your family. Let’s walk through both.
When most Americans arrive at retirement, their financial picture looks almost identical. Their money is sitting in three (maybe four) predictable places: Their 401(k) Their house Their bank account (And if you want to count it… Social Security) This is the typical playbook. It’s what everyone is told to do. And yet…
Every now and then, I get a call from a client that perfectly captures why personal finance feels so frustrating for high-performing professionals, and why structure matters more than willpower. Yesterday, one of my clients called me as I was walking into the gym. He sounded defeated. He’d been putting in extra hours on his family farm to prep for the Christmas rush, long days, long nights, and the kind of hustle most people never see behind the scenes. Over the last month, that extra work produced an additional $3,000.
If you’re an entrepreneur, you already know how much of your success comes from optimism, resilience, and the ability to make things happen even when conditions aren’t ideal. Those traits are the engine behind every long night, every pivot, every moment you bet on yourself. But here’s the uncomfortable truth I’ve been reminded of lately, especially through work in the Lifestyle Investor Mastermind: Entrepreneurs are usually not great investors.
*Disclaimer: Financial Advisors do not provide specific tax/legal advice and this information should not be considered as such. You should always consult your tax/legal advisor regarding your own specific tax/legal situation. Separate from the financial plan and our role as a financial planner, we may recommend the purchase of specific investment or insurance products or account. These product recommendations are not part of the financial plan and you are under no obligation to follow them. Life insurance products contain fees, such as mortality and expense charges (which may increase over time), and may contain restrictions, such as surrender periods.