HOW TO FOLLOW YOUR
“ Way To Wealth ”
A
ll of our wealth advisors at Carson Wealth feel they have a calling to help clients in their pursuit of financial freedom . The Way2Wealth ® is the method with which we help them get there .
The Way2Wealth ®, developed by Scott Ford , our Managing Director and Partner & Wealth Advisor , is a journey we take with our clientele to help them reach a peaceful relationship with money . Let ’ s face it , discussing savings , retirement , and taxes can feel stressful . The complicated nature of different investment vehicles creates confusion . And no one likes to feel confused , especially about their money . With The Way2Wealth ®, we focus on making money simple through financial education , thoughtful advice , and simple tools to help bring confidence to financial decision making .
Architect and philosopher Buckminster Fuller once said , “ You can ’ t change the way people think . All you can do is give them a tool , the use of which will change their thinking .”
Recently , I was a featured guest on Scott ’ s podcast , The Way2Wealth ®, to talk about “‘ The Way ’ we approach money and life .” It was my first podcast , and I was honored that Scott asked me to share my insights .
The first question I was asked was , “ What does ‘ The Way ’ refer to ?” It ’ s based on the ancient Chinese philosophy , the Tao , which emphasizes living life in balance . To do that , you should focus on the present moment and what ’ s most important . Scott calls this fully living now . If we keep reaching for a future goal , we ’ ll always live in pursuit of something rather than enjoying our lives in this moment . Since we are not guaranteed a tomorrow , this moment is all we truly have .
We can never be happy now if we ’ re always looking towards tomorrow . It ’ s so important to soak up as much living as you can today and enjoy the journey instead of worrying about getting to the destination . If you keep focusing on the horizon , you will find you never actually arrive because the horizon is always moving . I recommend viewing the Alan Watts video Living in the Present to get a better understanding of this beautiful philosophy .
Financial planning programs across the country teach professionals all about cash flow , investments allocation , insurance , etc . These are all the quantifiable things we need to know as wealth advisors , but it does not delve into the psychology of decision making or planning . What I have learned through working with clients is , it is my job to get under the surface , to get to the root of what clients are trying to accomplish . Most often , the issue runs so deep that the clients don ’ t even know themselves . We start by giving them space to work through their thoughts and gain clarity on what their real goals are .
Scott has developed a set of tools based on The Way2Wealth ® that helps clients make decisions in six key areas of their financial life . These tools came from issues he identified in his 30 years of experience .
In the world of finances :
1 . There is way too much advice given without having a complete picture of someone ’ s life . Advisors jump into solutions mode because they want to help , but advice without a thorough understanding of the real goal can lead to solutions that don ’ t help and can hinder the desired result .
2 . There is a serious lack of education around financial concepts which makes decisions complicated .
3 . There is often a lack of teamwork when it comes to financial professionals . Instead of working together , a client ’ s “ team ” of experts work independently of one another . This often results in clients receiving mixed messages and conflicting advice .
This is why we spend a lot of time with clients asking questions that go beyond just their financial situation . For example , I ask about plans for family members , retirement goals , and any other hopes and dreams they may have for the future along with what ’ s meaningful about life now . It ’ s so important to get the whole picture .
During our interview , Scott offers the following example : “ If I offered you an investment that would return all the money you would ever need for the rest of your life , would you take it ? Most people say yes . However , if I told you that this would mean you would suffer health issues , poor relationships , and generally live miserably and unfulfilled , would you still take it ? Life is about a lot more than money ! Be sure that you are learning to enjoy the journey and not race to the destination .”
Scott also refers to the well-known phrase stated in the United States Declaration of Independence , “ Life , Liberty , and the Pursuit of Happiness .” What ’ s interesting is that “ pursuit ” in this context is not defined as “ chasing after ” your happiness . In fact , Scott has found that what Thomas Jefferson meant was to “ practice ” happiness . I just love that . It takes work to keep focused on your dreams and important relationships that truly bring joy and happiness to life . Practice your happiness now !
I know that ’ s not always easy to do . Every day brings its own set of challenges , but I like to say to myself on a tough day , “ Yes , this isn ’ t great , but I ’ ve accepted it , and I ’ m going to move past it .” How much will this moment of frustration really matter in a week , a month , or a year ? Not enough to bring down the joy and love I feel from people who truly matter to me .
One great way to practice happiness is to set a morning routine . Scott advises this is the best way to get into the right headspace . Start each morning with a routine to make you feel good right from the start . For some , that is exercise or quiet time to meditate or journal . I prefer to listen to some positive messages , get some yoga in or take a walk , and meditate for 15 minutes before I start my day . Whatever your routine is , set yourself up for success by focusing on what matters most to you . Live Healthy , Wealthy , Wise and Happy !
Bonnie Bailey , CFP ® Wealth Advisor & VP , Business Development
If we were handing out awards , there is no question that Bonnie would receive the one for positivity . Her infectious enthusiasm is spread as she finds ways to make people smile and she often bounces into the office singing good morning to everyone she sees . She discovered at a young age that she felt happiest when helping others reach their full potential . So , as our VP , Business Development & Wealth Advisor , she finds great joy in coaching partners as they grow their businesses and learn how to use the tools and resources offered through Carson .
Bonnie attended Shepherd University and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration where she concentrated her study on Financial Planning . After graduation , she obtained her Series 65 and Series 7 registrations and the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER TM certification . She joined Carson Wealth in 2016 and has loved every minute of it !
In her spare time , Bonnie enjoys oil painting landscapes , knitting with beautiful yarns , hiking through the woods , and doting lovingly on her husband and their two grown children .
Bonnie is a non-registered associate of Cetera Advisor Networks LLC . THE HEALTHY , WEALTHY , WISE AND HAPPY JOURNAL | 5