Financial Planning - Why You Shouldn't Wait to Ask for Help
The sirens are blaring.
Brakes screech as cars hastily pull to the side of the road to get out of the way of the oncoming ambulance. With lights flashing, the emergency vehicle barrels down the road, lurches into the hospital parking lot, and pulls up to the ER doors.
The paramedics rush to the back of the truck, fling open the doors…..and help a fully healthy person walk into the emergency room.
Wait… this isn’t how it happens.
Your brain is probably trying to figure out what is wrong with this story. It doesn’t make sense. Why would a perfectly healthy person be going to the hospital for an emergency?
The truth is a healthy person with nothing wrong is not something you see in your local hospital. Our healthcare facilities are for people fighting all kinds of disease, illness, and other setbacks.
There can be all sorts of reasons why you would end up in a hospital. The cause could be genetic, an accident, or something you caught from a stranger.
One point we can all agree on is no one gets sick, waits at home to recover on their own, and THEN goes to the emergency room after they return to normal.
It appears to be simple. If an issue with our health comes up, we go to the doctor, receive help, and try to get better.
However, this logical pattern is not followed in other areas of life.
When it comes to needing help, we often try to clean ourselves up first before seeking assistance. I say “we” because I do it as much as anyone else.
It starts early. As students, we are reluctant to ask for help on our homework because we don’t want to look dumb. In adulthood, we eschew counseling since only “people with issues” need that. At work, we struggle to finish the project alone even though it could be done faster and better if we asked Steve and Sue to assist, but we don’t want to look weak.
This trend carries over into our financial lives as well. Finances are often one of the largest stress factors in our lives. Many people lose sleep, get into arguments, and damage relationships because of financial uncertainty. Unfortunately, this can lead to mental, physical, and emotional pain, which is difficult to overcome.
It is not an understatement to say how you feel about your money can ruin your life.
Even if we feel confused about our finances, we want to wait until we “have it more together” until we reach out to a financial planner. Although it may seem illogical, it is quite natural.
The reason for this is we are scared of being judged. We all attempt to put our best foot forward in front of others. Revealing we don’t know as much as we think we should about a topic is scary. What if people think less of us?
The reality is we cannot control how others view us. When we realize this it unlocks the door for countless breakthroughs in our lives. What we CAN control is how we respond to our circumstances.
If you feel like your finances are confusing and you aren’t sure of the best path forward, you owe it to yourself and your family to discover what help is available to you.
Guess what? You are not alone or weird for wanting assistance. Money, retirement, investing, taxes, and many other financial topics are complicated!
The key is recognizing when you feel most confused and unclear is the BEST time to talk to someone. This is not only true in financial planning but also applies to other areas of your life such as relationship, work, and faith.
Interestingly enough, the judgment we think we will receive for revealing we don’t know everything about finances actually isn’t as bad as we build it to be. Professionals know most people who use their services are doing so because of that very reason.
Sure you might run into one here or there who can be condescending or not have great people skills. For the most part, planners get into their field because they want to help people just like you!
The results can be life-changing. Imagine a future where you have a plan in place for your money and someone to help guide you along the way. Think of how much more time you could spend doing what you really enjoy instead of worrying about your finances.
Don’t wait out the emergency and hope you can call 9-1-1 when it’s all over. You can have clarity and confidence when it comes to your money. Take the first step and start planning for your future.
To discuss how to have clarity and confidence in your financial plan, you can schedule a time to meet with us by clicking here. Also, take advantage of our FREE DOWNLOADABLE GUIDES such as Five Tax Strategies Retirees Often Overlook and Six Mistakes Grandparents Often Make.
And remember, education is worthless without the willingness to act, so be proactive and plan your financial future with confidence!