There's Always Another Level

Like most things in life, it’s impossible to live a perfect financial life.

But perfect was never the goal.

Instead, the goal is about continual improvement.

When we’re young, we learn to manage a small paycheck to cover a few bills and indulgences. Eventually we’re plunged into adulting, when demands on our financial skills grow further. But even as we catch up and learn to handle a larger set of expenses, more unknowns, longer term planning, and all the stuff that makes up managing your family’s money… then what?

What if you have your basic system down and things are running smoothly?

Then look further, because this job is never done.

There’s always a next level.

And that’s good news!

It means that as we simplify and automate one layer of our financial game, another awaits our attention. Not in an endless scourge kind of way, but in an ongoing opportunities kind of way.

Perhaps you finally got your insurances in order. You got an agent, you reshop your plan regularly, you keep it updated to ensure you have up-to-date, inflation-adjusted protection for home, cars, liability. You’ve got your life insurance squared away. Getting stuff like that handled regularly is worth a pat on the back.

But once such protections are in place, maybe it’s time to understand your long-term income plan better. What’s paying the bills after you stop working? When will that be? How will you get there? Will you have anything to pass down? Are there additional protections you need to put in place for yourself or your spouse if one of you is left alone?

Or maybe you and your financial planner have everything in good shape. Maybe it’s better management of your recent lifestyle inflation or other spending that deserves better attention to support more important dreams and goals.

The point is that no matter what you check off the list, there’s always more opportunity to learn, to grow, to keep building something more secure, more long-lasting, or more purposeful.

Perhaps you could retire sooner. Maybe you could get that dream property. Or maybe you could make a few strategic adjustments to give your kids a leg up later or support a cause important to you.

There is so much possible when we choose continual growth over complacency.

Complacency is tempting. Good enough is sometimes all we have the bandwidth for.

But when you get one layer of your financial house laid, keep looking up and decide what the next level is for you. Talk to friends and family and see what they’re working on, learning about, or planning.

Ask new questions. Study a new topic. Tinker with new tools.

You never know what you’re capable of making, if you don’t just keep on building.