Why I Trust Freedom Financial with My Own Financial Planning

As the Director of Operations and Chief Compliance Officer at Freedom Financial, you might think I have all my financial ducks in a row. After all, I’ve spent over 20 years in the financial services industry, and I oversee day-to-day operations and compliance at our firm. But the truth is, financial planning is personal – and sometimes being too close to the industry can make it harder to step back and look at your own situation objectively.

That’s why my wife Ruby and I recently decided to go through their propriety planning process:  Freedom Roadmap. Despite both working in the industry (Ruby works at a different firm), we faced many of the same challenges that our clients experience: uncertainty about retirement savings, different spending habits, and the complexity of planning for two careers with an eight-year age gap between us.

The Wake-Up Call

Like many couples, we had fallen into the trap of managing day-to-day finances without truly planning for the future. While we were confident we weren’t spending more than we earned and were contributing to retirement accounts, we hadn’t taken the time to answer the bigger questions: Were we saving enough? What would our retirement look like with our age difference? How protected were we if something happened to one of us?

Finding Clarity Through the Process

What made our experience at Freedom Financial transformative was the structured approach to addressing these questions. We started with the Empowering Conversations exercise, which helped us identify and align our financial values as a couple. This was particularly important given our different approaches to money – I tend to be more conservative with spending, while Ruby enjoys being generous with family and friends.

The process helped us discover something surprising: many of our dreams were more achievable than we thought. Through careful planning and modeling of different scenarios, we found ways to incorporate goals we had previously dismissed as impractical, including dream travel destinations and Ruby’s passion for animal rescue work.

The Power of “What If” Planning

One of the most valuable aspects of the process was exploring different scenarios for our future. We mapped out various retirement timing options, considering everything from my potential semi-retirement to Ruby’s interest in volunteer work with rescue dogs. Having these conversations forced us to think beyond the day-to-day and envision what we truly want our future to look like.

Taking Action

The planning process led to several immediate actions that have already improved our financial well-being:

• Updated our will and healthcare directives
• Adjusted our investment portfolio to align with Freedom Financial’s recommended portfolios
• Created a clear spending plan that allows us to track our “danger zones”
• Set specific savings targets for both retirement and travel goals
• Added protection planning to our financial strategy

The Unexpected Benefits

Perhaps the most significant outcome wasn’t financial at all – it was the sense of unity and clarity we gained as a couple. The process helped us get on the same page about our goals and values, transforming money conversations from potential sources of stress to opportunities for planning our future together.

As someone who helps oversee the operations at Freedom Financial, I’ve always believed in our process. But experiencing it firsthand with my wife has given me an even deeper appreciation for the impact we can have on our clients’ lives. It’s not just about the numbers – it’s about creating clarity, confidence, and excitement about the future.

The weight of financial uncertainty has been lifted from our shoulders. While we know life will throw us curveballs, we now have a clear plan and a team to help us navigate whatever comes our way. And that’s exactly what I want for every client who walks through our doors.

If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re truly on the path to achieving your goals, I encourage you to take the first step – have an Empowering Conversation. You might be surprised by what’s possible.