Shelves groan beneath personal finance books. Investment pundits pontificate on the airwaves. Blogs and websites inundate us with money management tools and tips. But what does it all come down to?
I asked financial advisors on Naznet (an online community of life planners and advisors who are committed to exploring their clients' emotional, spiritual and financial needs) to take a little flight of fancy. If they could send up a plane trailing a banner to fly over every American city and town, what would the banner say?
Here are their messages to America:
1. Seize the Moment
"Life is not a dress rehearsal."
Christopher L. Dowley, Dowley & Company, Inc.
"Plan for the future – live in the now!"
Holly Hunter, Hunter Advisor LLC
"Inspired living - sweet, with no bitter aftertaste."
Robert V. Bolen, Bolen | Dodson & Associates
This was inspired by a sign I saw prominently displayed on a dive boat: "No Whining, Shut Up and Dive!"
"No whining; shut up and live!"
Anonymous
2. Keep Your Eyes on the Prize
"Focus and sustain what's important. It matters."
Bhaj Townsend, Bhaj Townsend/Legacy Plus
3. Think Long-Term
"Remember, your children are watching!"
Christopher L. Dowley, Dowley & Company Inc.
"This too shall pass."
Janet Tyler Johnson, JATAJ Wealth Management , JATAJ Life Planning, JATAJ Wealth Advisors Network
"Financial freedom … start young, finish strong."
Bobbie Munroe, Fraser Financial
4. Take Charge of Your Money
"Money moves. What's your motivation influencing the direction?"
Gayle K. Colman, Colman Knight Advisory Group LLC
5. Get Sound Financial Advice
"Good advice, better decisions."
Kevin P. Condon, Myfinancialadvice.com
I do believe people who have advisors have better rates of return. They make smarter financial decisions, have their estate plans in place and have proper amounts of insurance.
"Getting there is easier with a trusted financial advisor on your team."
Mary Malgoire, The Family Firm
There is a need for a fiduciary standard, and it plays well into a mantra like that of Rotary International: Service above self.
"Fiduciary = clients above self."
Robert Laura, co-founder of RetirementProject.org
6. It's Not All About Money
"Money is like gas and electricity. It is fuel for your life's journey. It isn't the journey."
Wayne Lear, Madison Financial Group (Australia)