One of the things I have always looked forward to most during the Thanksgiving Day celebration is pie. Apple is my favorite, but I do not turn my nose up at blueberry, pumpkin, coconut custard or pecan.
I am oddly indifferent to sweet potato and cherry pie and, to be honest, I do not care for minced pie. I think no one really likes it and believe my father-in-law, whom I love dearly, eats it only to gross me out.
In my practice, as a financial services professional, I like to serve my own kind of P.I.E., year-round. I work hard to make things Pleasant, Interesting and Easy.
Pleasant:
Improving your financial life can and should be fun. Contrary to popular belief, it does not have to be boring. One of the ways to keep it light is by remembering that planning should make your life easier now and long into the future.
The results of a sound plan should please you and make your life better. Another route to enjoying the process is to work with someone who has a sense of humor, along with subject matter mastery.
If I had to choose between someone who knows their subject or someone who has a good sense of humor, I would, of course, choose the knowledgeable person. Thankfully, things do not have to be one or the other. You can have both.
Complex subjects often become more understandable when a knowledgeable person injects humor into their presentations.
Interesting:
It has been said, “The body of all knowledge is one.” The attributes and actions that make a person skilled and knowledgeable in one area, are often the kind of traits that would lead them to being successful in other endeavors.
To be sure, landing a plane, administering anesthesia, and performing a piece of music are vastly different skills, requiring distinct types of training. However, the discipline, focus and passion required to do them at a high level are similar.
Relating what you know best, with what you are seeking to accomplish in a less familiar area of study, like financial planning, can make a big difference. Providing interesting but relevant anecdotes and tailoring analogies to you as an individual can turn what might seem a boring chore into a pleasant and informative interaction; one that, most crucially, results in accomplishing what you want for yourself, your family, your business etc.
Easy:
We do everything we can, so you do not have to. I feel strongly that the financial services industry is, or certainly should be, a service centered industry. There are more financial resources available to people today than ever before. So why does the financial services industry continue to grow?
I suspect it is because there also lots of carpentry, electrical, medical, horticultural, and every other type of resource available to folks, as well. Yet most people do not have the time or inclination to become plumbers, electricians, lawyers, landscapers, or medical practitioners, in addition to their current fields of endeavor. Instead, they wisely want to hire people skilled in those professions, so they can enjoy a better quality of life and have more fun in their time off.
If you are good at something or if you just like doing it, do it! Re-point the chimney, finish the basement, paint the house, or formulate and implement a sound financial plan. If you want to, you can do it. I believe we can do all, or at least many, of these things ourselves.
If, on the other hand, you would rather remain focused on your profession, so that you may excel in it, and enjoy your life away from work by doing fun stuff with your family and friends, consider working with a financial planner who can make things as easy as P.I.E. for you.
Scott R. McGimpsey November 29th, 2021
This material was prepared by Scott McGimpsey and does not necessarily represent the views of the presenting party, nor their affiliates. All information is believed to be from reliable sources; however, we make no representation as to its completeness or accuracy. Neither Cetera Advisor Networks LLC nor Scott McGimpsey is engaged in rendering legal, accounting, or other professionally services. If such assistance is needed, the reader is advised to engage the services of a competent professional. This information should not be construed as investment, tax or legal advice and may not be relied on for the purpose of avoiding any federal, state, or municipal tax penalty. Moreover, a diversified portfolio does not assure a profit or assure protection against loss in a declining market.