Is Money Stressing You Out?

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process: embrace, educate, empower. This progression helps clients learn how to think about money, communicate about money with the right people, and to feel confident in their financial plan.

“How you spend your money is intrinsic and affects your health, your experiences and your relationships,” Soltysiak says. “We are intentional in developing a comprehensive plan for every family we serve.”

Takeaway Tip: Experts recommend spending money on healthy activities or experiences, versus purchases that leave you wanting the next big thing.

Financial planning isn’t about accumulating a magic dollar amount, Soltysiak says. How much you should save and for how long is different for everyone.

As a certified financial planner, she has seen young families in well-paying high-stress jobs save aggressively and live modestly to have the ability to retire early and live simply. At the same time, she sees aging couples with a desire to make their money last beyond their years, taking care of their children and grandchildren.

“Their investment and saving strategies look very different,” she says.

New clients preparing for retirement will often joke, asking, “Where were you twenty years ago?” There is a cost to waiting to take control of financial stress, Soltysiak adds. The anxiety can cause desperation and a lack of focus on long-term goals.

Takeaway Tip: By addressing the issue that brings you the most stress and building a team of support to guide and educate, the burden can be lifted.

“With our financial guidance, we encourage clients to go after the things that will make them happy, now and later in life,” Soltysiak says. “Money is a resource or a tool to obtain fulfillment and joy in all phases of life—it’s not the end goal.”