Not long ago, Trish and I did something we hadn’t done in quite a while, we sat down with one of our advisors to update our Signature Life Plan. I’ve helped hundreds of families build theirs over the years, but carving out time to do our own, really do it, taught us more than we expected. Here are a few of our biggest takeaways.
Clarity on “Enough”
As an entrepreneur, my default setting is usually “grow.” More clients, more impact, more opportunity for our team and the people we serve. Trish brings her own energy, passion, and commitment to her work as well.
That mindset is healthy in many ways, but it can also be a trap. When “more” becomes the goal, it’s easy to lose sight of enough.
Going through the planning process forced us to talk honestly about what enough looks like for our life, priorities, and future. That clarity brings peace, and permission. Without it, it’s tempting to keep pushing the finish line further away. But when you know what “enough” is, you can fully enjoy the life you’re living now.
The Gift of Perspective and Timing
We spent time reflecting not just on our goals, but on the timing of life experiences. Right now, my mom is healthy and active, time with her is precious, and we know these years are gifts we won’t always have. And as a couple, Trish and I are in a unique and special window: all four of our boys are old enough to travel, hang out, and share experiences with us, and they still want to. But we’re also aware that in the not-too-distant future, they’ll start building lives and families of their own.
These seasons don’t last forever. Updating our plan helped us recognize that if we want to prioritize meaningful experiences during this stage… now is the time. And having clarity around our financial picture gives us confidence to say yes to moments that matter most, without sacrificing tomorrow.
How Spending Choices Shape Freedom
We modeled several future-spending scenarios, and the impact surprised us. The more we expect to spend later, the disproportionately more we must save now. That insight made us more intentional about our spending, not frugal or restrictive, but purposeful.
Keeping long-term recurring expenses manageable, means we can direct more resources toward one-time, memory-rich experiences that bring lifelong meaning. Experiences with our boys… adventures as a couple… time with family… those investments generate a return no spreadsheet can quantify.
Risk Isn’t Everything
One of the more interesting discoveries came when we evaluated investment allocation. Even though we’re relatively young, shifting to a more aggressive portfolio didn’t increase our confidence score, it lowered it. The lesson? Sometimes taking on more risk doesn’t create more freedom.
For us, a more moderate allocation provided the right balance between opportunity, stability, and peace of mind. Our plan proved that we don’t have to chase every extra percentage point of return to live the life we want.
Freedom Through Intention
Ultimately, updating our Signature Life Plan reminded us that financial planning isn’t just about dollars and projections, it’s about designing a life with intention. It’s about freedom. Freedom to invest in people and experiences. Freedom to make meaningful memories during irreplaceable seasons. Freedom to face the future with confidence because the decisions being made today support it.
Our plan didn’t just help us prepare for retirement, it helped us appreciate right now even more. And to us, that’s the most meaningful return on investment there is.
The foregoing information has been obtained from sources considered to be reliable, but we do not guarantee that it is accurate or complete, it is not a statement of all available data necessary for making an investment decision, and it does not constitute a recommendation. Any opinions are those of Chip Munn and not necessarily those of Raymond James.
You should discuss any tax or legal matters with the appropriate professional.
