- \ Gerard Gruber
- May 24, 2022
Relieve Financial Stress for a Healthier, Happier Life -- When you think about the traditional benefits of financial planning, you think about numbers. Learning how much to save for retirement, how much to invest each month, how much to pay...
Relieve Financial Stress for a Healthier, Happier Life
When you think about the traditional benefits of financial planning, you think about numbers. Learning how much to save for retirement, how much to invest each month, how much to pay towards debts, how to save in taxes, and more. But, the numbers only tell half the story.
The truth is that there is so much more to financial planning than the actual numbers. That is because money is highly personal. How we feel about it, how we manage it, and the ways we prioritize our spending are just a few examples.
Financial Stress is On the Rise
Because money is so ingrained in who we are, what we do, and the lifestyle we live, it should come as no surprise that it can be the root of a lot of our daily stress, as well.
In fact, recent studies have shown that financial stress is on the rise:
Americans’ stress levels are higher than last year. 84% of Americans report feeling stressed weekly, up from 78% in March 2021.
Money remains consumers’ top stressor, with consumers increasingly worried about their finances over their careers. 32% now say money is their biggest source of stress, up from 22% last year. Work takes the next spot at 11% (down from 14%).
Chronic Stress Can Lead to an Array of Health Problems
Even though most of us know that chronic stress can lead to a wide range of physical and mental health issues from high blood pressure to heart disease and anxiety, Americans can’t seem to escape it.
If money matters are out of control, it can be hard to think about much else. This constant stress wears away at us, eroding our physical bodies as well as our minds.
From a financial perspective, many of us are worrying about whether we will be able to fund all of our life goals like retirement and our children’s education while also caring for aging or sick parents and, well… living a little!
Healthier Financial Life = Healthier Physical and Mental Life
If money is one of the main sources of stress, then it stands to follow that relieving stress around your finances will lead to an all-around happier, healthier life.
Think about it. Maybe you’re currently working with an advisor. Maybe you’re not. Either way, take a moment to close your eyes and imagine your top three financial goals. Now imagine that they are all taken care of. How does that make you feel? Relieved? Like a weight has been lifted off your shoulders?
I know when our clients go through this exercise with us, we can see them immediately transform. From tightly wound and stressed out to relaxed and smiling, we see their whole demeanor change.
In our industry, you hear the term “peace of mind” a lot, and this is the exact feeling they are referring to. The feeling of relief and confidence. The feeling of financial stress leaving your body. When you complete this exercise, you envision what it feels like to have that peace of mind. The goal is to put a plan in place that makes that peace of mind permanent, and not just a momentary exercise. But, hold onto that feeling as you go, because it will be a great motivator as you implement the actions needed to achieve a stress-free financial life long-term.
A Holistic Approach to Financial Planning
At Harbor West, we believe in a holistic approach to financial planning. That means we don’t see your money matters as a separate part of your life that can be managed in isolation. Your financial well-being is very much wrapped up in your personal, spiritual, mental, and physical well-being, as well. None is mutually exclusive of the other. So, when you work to improve one of these areas of your life—like your finances—all of the others are enhanced, as well.
What if hiring a financial advisor is one of the greatest life hacks of all time?
For a small fee, you enlist the help of experts whose guidance can completely turn your life around. This is true of many service-based professionals, but especially true in financial planning as it helps to eliminate potentially injurious anxiety from your finances.
They say peace of mind is priceless, but in reality, it only costs a small fee. To us, and the clients we’ve helped, the tradeoff seems like a no-brainer. Plus, it makes our jobs pretty rewarding. Who can argue with the benefits of that?
Leave Your Stress at Our Door
Leave your money stress at our door. After learning about you and your unique circumstances, we will put actionable investment, tax, estate, and life plans in place to help you recapture and keep the peace of mind we spoke about (and hopefully you felt) earlier in this article. Ditching money stress is possible, and it’s all within your reach. You might just need a little guidance to get there and we’re here to help. Schedule a complimentary call with our team of advisors today to learn about how our holistic planning services could contribute to a healthier, happier life and a healthier, happier you.
This information is for general purposes and is not intended to provide specific investment advice or recommendations. Opinions, estimates, forecasts, and statements of financial market trends are based on current market conditions and are subject to change without notice. Individuals should always consult their own financial or tax advisor regarding their specific situation before acting on any information provided. Harbor West and Geneos Wealth Management, Inc. do not provide tax or legal advice.
Securities and investment advisory services offered through Geneos Wealth Management, Inc. Member FINRA/SIPC