Some years ago at a Christmas barbeque I met a man named Alex who told me about his plans for a road trip from Sydney to Melbourne.

“A slow, easy drive through the country, visiting local pubs and eating quality local fare,” he smiled.

“Sounds amazing, when are you going?” I asked.

“In February, after schools starts again,” he replied.

A few years later I caught up with Alex at another BBQ and asked him how his trip was.

He sighed and explained that two days before he was due to leave a good friend asked him to come and celebrate his birthday, so he delayed the trip until the next Monday. Then he was hung over so postponed until the Tuesday. Then his mother’s good friend passed away and he felt that he should stay and attend the funeral. At the funeral, his best friend invited him out to go out clubbing with some single girls.

Three years later he still hadn’t done the trip.

“I guess one day I’ll do it,” Alex laughed bitterly.

I couldn’t resist asking him if he’d actually made plans for his trip.

“Did you book any accommodation; did you plan your route? Did you pack clothes, money, gear to take with you, or organise how long you will stay in each place?

“Sort of… not really,” he replied.

This is exactly what happens with our lives and our financial planning.

Financial Planning Process
We have the best intentions of creating financial planning strategies. To go somewhere, somehow, some time, but we fail to plan where we want to go, in what time frame, and how to get there.

Life gets in the way.

By deciding to go on a road trip you have completed only one third of the task. You have developed a loose target – to visit Melbourne. By deciding how to go: car, plane, bike, train, it enables focus to prepare the vehicle that will take you, the route you will take and the time frame for the journey.

When people ask me “What does a financial planner do?” This is the analogy I offer them.

We help you develop financial planning strategies to provide you the right vehicle to plan your journey inside your available time frame.

We are just the tools to achieve your goals as part of the financial planning process. The desire, the commitment and the determination must come from you. With those, you can have a comfortable journey, at your pace, to your preferred destination.

Do not be like Alex who every year dreams that one day he will go on his journey.

Contact us for a free financial planning strategy consultation.