How Do You Assist Clients in Balancing Short-Term Goals With Long-Term Wealth Accumulation?
Advisor Brief
How Do You Assist Clients in Balancing Short-Term Goals With Long-Term Wealth Accumulation?
Navigating the financial landscape is like mastering a complex symphony, where each note must resonate in harmony to create lasting wealth. From the insights of a seasoned Financial Planner highlighting the maximization of life energy, to the guiding principles of a Financial Advisor emphasizing the prioritization of short-term financial security, this article provides a thorough exploration with four distinct perspectives. Readers can expect to uncover innovative strategies and grounded advice to perfectly balance immediate financial stability with prosperous long-term growth.
- Utilize Maximization of Life Energy
- Prioritize Short-Term Financial Security
- Implement a Tiered Profit-Allocation System
- Address Basic Necessities First
Utilize Maximization of Life Energy
We like to utilize the "Maximization of Life Energy" approach as referenced in Bill Perkins' book "Die With Zero" when planning/balancing/partnering on our members' short and long-term wealth accumulation goals. We like to focus on the benefit of the "memory dividends" that the short-term goal can provide for our member over their life and combine it with financial planning to see how said goal would impact their longer-term goals. As long as our member is happy with the probability of either having to make a change or not make a change to their current accumulation objectives, then they have a "green light" from us to rock and roll.
Prioritize Short-Term Financial Security
Short-term financial security must always come first before long-term wealth accumulation. However, this does not always mean a large cash savings account. For folks who want both goals but only have enough funds for one, short-term financial security can come from credit cards or home equity lines of credit. While this is not an ideal solution, it does allow for long-term wealth accumulation. Plus, in the event of an unforeseen need for cash today, the line of credit can be used to bridge the gap. I would only suggest this route for high-income earners who can pay off the line of credit relatively quickly once the need for cash occurs.
Implement a Tiered Profit-Allocation System
One way I helped a client balance short-term financial goals with long-term wealth accumulation was by implementing a tiered profit-allocation system. We started by breaking down revenue into immediate needs, like operational costs and short-term investments to maintain liquidity and drive business growth. At the same time, I set up a portion of the profits to be automatically allocated to a separate account for long-term investments, like real estate and retirement funds.
This approach ensured they were meeting their immediate financial targets while also building wealth over time. As their revenue grew, we adjusted the allocations to increase long-term contributions without sacrificing day-to-day needs. This system gave them financial stability now and a strong foundation for the future.
Address Basic Necessities First
Everyone needs a roof over their head, food, healthcare, transportation, and a plan for what they will do when they can no longer work. Once those basic necessities have been addressed, it takes some soul-searching to decide what the rest of your goals actually are. What is your "why" for long-term wealth accumulation? What are your values? Let your values drive your goals, and prioritizing between them becomes much easier.
