Planning for the Long Term
versus
Saving Event by Event

The prospect of saving for a special event can be a daunting task, especially if you are not used to saving at all.  Many of us find ourselves in the position of cutting back on some of the little extras we enjoy each day, to save up for events such as weddings and vacations.  While it is very worthwhile to save up for these events, we often return to our ‘old ways’ once the event has come and gone.  Much like dieting, when we deprive ourselves we cause a sling shot effect once we no longer ‘need’ to save.  Once the event has passed, not only do we revert back to enjoying our little daily extras, such as lattes and dinners out, we might find we are spending money on things, just because we went ‘without’ for a few weeks or a few months. 

In order to be successful with a savings plan; it has to become a life habit.  It requires taking a look at the big picture and determining not only what near-term events we would like to participate in, but also where we want to be financially 3, 5 and 10 years from now.  When you plan for the long-term, many of the near-term events are automatically funded.  It’s true!

Our wealthiest clients tell us, they were taught how to plan their expenditures at a very young age.  Their parents advised them they could immediately have whatever their hearts desired, but if they were patient, they could have much more in later years.  They admit planning and saving for the future seemed surreal at first.  However, their early planning habits led them to better things in the future.  They tell us, when it came time to buy their first car, they did it with ease.  There was no struggling to buy the car because they had saved more than enough.  Of course, my first question for them was “Did you buy a new or used car?”  “Used, of course!” they tell me. You see, they had even bigger things they were planning to acquire in the future, such as purchasing their first home or starting their own companies.

In nearly every case, the wealthiest clients we have came from modest beginnings; they were not handed their fortunes.  So, as they grew up, their savings grew with them and they became more and more adept at handling their finances; planning their finances to be exact.  I point this out because so many people wish, with all their might, they could win the lottery.  That would be nice wouldn’t it?  What would you do with the money?  What steps would you take to make sure it lasted you the rest of your life?  Or, were you even thinking that far ahead.  No matter how your money comes to you; be it through inheritance, lottery or dollar by dollar, you must learn how to manage it.  Statistics show most people who inherit large sums of money or win the lottery have lost most of the money within 2 years.  Just a little bit of financial planning could prevent this every time.  When you don’t have a plan, you plan to fail.

My partner Jerry and I work with a number of real estate investors.  They have confided that they wish they had met us when they started investing.  They tell us the first few years of investing were much like hitting the lottery; they were flush with cash and they could buy anything they wanted.  Then, sadly, the real estate market ‘turned’ on them and they could not weather the storm.  They either lost many of their properties or they were forced to borrow heavily on credit lines just to keep their heads above water.  Some of them came through all right and others suffered setbacks that would take years to recover from.  They all agree that with a little planning, they could have avoided all this drama.  These individuals are some of our most devoted clients as they know the power of financial planning; and they won’t be caught trying to run their savings and investment businesses with out it; ever again.

If you want to learn how to amass wealth quickly and safely, with little impact to your current lifestyle, you will enjoy reading our financial planning book, “Create Wealth on Auto-Pilot”.  Let us show you how to save in layered time frames – long-term, mid-term, short-term so your dreams of wealth can be brought to reality with ease.  When you plan with us, you win!