Lifestyle financial planning can be likened to the ancient wisdom of ‘collect your own firewood and make your own fire.’ These words of wisdom emphasise ownership, preparation and strategic planning. The approach prioritises aligning your finances with the life you desire, rather than simply amassing wealth.
 
The first step involves understanding your personal values, goals and what truly brings you fulfilment. Just as selecting the right firewood ensures a healthy fire, identifying your financial needs, priorities and non-negotiables is crucial.
 
Building a lifestyle financial plan is akin to carefully arranging firewood. It involves budgeting, saving, investing and managing risks. The goal isn’t just to accumulate wealth but to do so sustainably, supporting your long-term aspirations. This includes creating an emergency fund for resilience in unexpected situations and diversifying your investments to balance risk and return.
 
Lighting and maintaining the fire reflects the ongoing process of managing and adjusting your financial plan. As life evolves, so do your financial circumstances, so regular reviews and adjustments are essential.
 
Active involvement in this process, much like tending a fire, ensures your financial resources continue to meet your needs, providing warmth and security throughout your life.
 
In essence, lifestyle financial planning is about taking control of your financial future to not only survive but thrive in the long run.

Remember that life is not a rehearsal, where we only get one crack at it. And although the money is important, it’s what we do with it that really counts.