Paralyzed by Fear or Uncertainty? Make a Plan!

As I meet with clients to present their financial plan, it is common to sense a figurative (and often literal) sigh of relief at the meeting’s end. Admittedly, some may just be glad to have survived the long presentation, but I’m fairly certain that most are relieved to have a path forward.

A recent article on Govexec.com (“From Voting to Writing a Will: The Power of Making a Plan”) struck a chord with me and added a little bit of science to my observation. In this piece, Todd Rogers and Adan Acevedo apply behavioral science to show how having a plan can reduce the “intention-to-action gap” that so many of us can relate to.

Ideally, we should have a plan in place before a crisis hits and we need to act. This is a central theme in all aspects of financial planning - do you have a Will, is your emergency fund sufficient, is your home adequately insured, are you saving enough for retirement? Thinking about these questions and then building a plan to address them can decrease some of the stress and anxiety in our lives.

During the recent Metro Washington Financial Planning Day, one of the presentations addressed the value of running a “financial fire drill.” As children we were taught to “stop, drop, and roll” during fire safety awareness events. As adults, a financial fire drill can help us assess whether we are prepared to address adversity in our financial lives.

An effective plan defines the desired end goal as well as the necessary steps to achieve that goal. We may need to adjust our initial path as “life happens,” but the planning process is iterative and can help keep us on track. I borrowed a bit of wisdom from my colleagues and now use it at the conclusion of each financial plan I write: “Financial planning is an ongoing process as opposed to a single event and your plan will need to change as your life changes.” Do you have a plan to push beyond life’s challenges and reach your goals?