Where Is Your Treasure?

Take a moment and just imagine that you could waive a magic wand... what would you wish for?

I've been working the financial services space for nearly 2 decades, and I have had 1000s of conversations about money. Here are some of the lessons that I've learned along the way.

Health is wealth. Many of us neglect our health. We all have various reasons--- we're busy, we're tired, it's too hard, etc. However, a bad health diagnosis or a significant reduction in quality of life due to poor health can immediately shift one's perspective. Prioritize your physical and mental health. You'll be grateful that you did.

​Consistency Over Time Wins. Our culture often promotes "Get Rich Quick" programs and social media influencers who subscribe to hustle culture. If you just grind, you'll win...and not just win, but win big. The problem that I've found with these kind of actions is that they often thrive on short term motivation, yet they tend to fail in the long-run. Instead-- discipline and consistency tend to be proven winners in the long-term.

​Experiences > Things. I like nice things. I'm sure that many of you do as well. But, nothing competes with my favorite memories. The new clothes become worn and fade. The new cars become used cars. But... that trip to Italy? That cruise? That golf trip w/ your friends? These are the places we can go back to each and every time we share those stories.

​Wealth = Funded Contentment. This will be different for all of us. There is no magic or universal guide to contentment. However, the people who have learned to be content no matter the circumstance are wealthy. There's a myth that says more money is the answer. Yes, more money and more resources do make things easier. But, there are tons of "rich" people who are miserable and stressed. So--- there's something to being able to find contentment in every season of life.

​Energy Is Expensive. Many of us, myself included, spend our energy on things that don't matter all that much. We get worked up about something we heard on the "news" or a post we read on social media. We spend our energy being frustrated about circumstances or events that are beyond our control. Every year, we should do an ENERGY audit and look for areas where we can redirect or save our energy.

​Time Is Your Most Valuable Asset. There's a popular interview on social media where the interviewer asked a man on the street, "If I gave you 10 million dollars today, but you would die tomorrow... would you take it?"

The man immediately said, "No, of course not." The interviewer then said, "So waking up tomorrow is worth more than 10 million dollars."

This is such a powerful thing, and I must admit that this is an area where I want to improve in my own life--- Being fully present, especially when I'm with my family, clients, and friends. We only get 24 hrs in a day... 7 days in a week..52 weeks per year... and each of us only has a certain number left. Let's stop wasting our time and SPEND our time on things that really matter!

Returns Are Relative. Yes, returns on your capital are important. But, they are not the main thing. Wall St spends billions of dollars every year on marketing. Wall St doesn't care about your personal goals or values. It doesn't care about your race. Returns are often marketed as the main thing--- but the main thing is Funded Contentment (see above). Can you fund your life? Are you running your race? These are the real questions.

​Time, Energy, Talent, and Attention are extremely valuable. We often think about these concepts in financial terms. How are you spending them? wasting them? These are valuable resources that should be used and invested wisely.

​The Treasure Is Not the Money...It's the Meaning. This is one I heard recently...and I'm including it here b/c I totally agree. I'm still marinating on it, but it was too good of a thought to leave it off of this list.

​The Struggle - One of the biggest struggles for some people is identifying what REALLY matters to them. What's truly important? How do we identify that? Are we orienting our lives and our resources in a way that aligns with what really matters? This is the way.

Hopefully, some of these resonated with you. I'd love to hear your thoughts. Do you agree with these? Do you disagree with any? Let me know!

Investment advisory and financial planning services offered through Advisory Alpha, LLC, a SEC Registered Investment Advisor. Insurance, Consulting and Education services offered through Vertex Capital Advisors. Vertex Capital Advisors is a separate and unaffiliated entity from Advisory Alpha, LLC. All written content on this site is for information purposes only. Opinions expressed herein are solely those of Michael H. Baker, unless otherwise specifically cited. Material presented is believed to be from reliable sources and no representations are made to another parties’ informational accuracy or completeness. All information or ideas provided should be discussed in detail with an advisor, accountant or legal counsel prior to implementation. This website may provide links to others for the convenience of our users. Michael H. Baker has no control over the accuracy or content of these other websites. Please note: When you access a link to a third-party website you assume total responsibility for your use of linked website. Links and references to other websites and third-party content providers are offered for your convenience. We do not necessarily prepare, monitor, review or update the information provided by third parties. We make no representation or warranty with respect to the completeness, timeliness, suitability, or reliability of the referenced content.