Wealth, Well-being and Anxiety

A new client, who is bold in much of what she does, mentioned to me that she was excited and anxious to make her financial transition. As a practitioner with many decades of experience, the anxious stood out to me as a reminder that clients are on a journey, and their experience with money and feelings about money will shift over time.

While every client is unique, there are patterns, disciplines, and processes in this field that support serving clients well and providing the best advice. Essentially, the more a client engages in a positive advisory experience over time, the more the fundamentals and routines in the work of financial planning and investment management should reduce anxiety.  

I stand on the “systems” side of money, but I realize that a lot of clients don’t have the same base of knowledge. It’s important for me to acknowledge the experience that they may have in managing the “anxious” side. The most productive advisory relationships are designed to build trust; consistent, open communication helps facilitate that. So, I consider it an honor when a client feels confident enough to tell me when, where, and how they’re feeling anxious.

Over the years, some clients have communicated in various ways that anxiety held them back for many years. As we work together, they tell me they feel more confident with money and don’t feel as burdened or anxious. This is a huge win for me and for them.

Without calling financial discussions “therapy sessions,” it’s clear that most of us carry some kind of money baggage. There are assumptions about money we picked up, and often they are inter-generational lessons (from our parents and grandparents). It’s critical to see how some lessons are productive, and others may need to be “unlearned” or discarded on the individual journey each person faces on the road to financial well-being.  

As people I work with move through and past anxiety, I notice they come to the realization of “Where would I be if I got started sooner.” I tell them it’s key to stay focused: The time is now, and let’s celebrate our progress big and small. Money regret and the feeling of futility can’t hold you back from making improvements that are under your control.

Sometimes anxiety can signal that something exciting and invigorating is in motion. It’s the slightly nervous feeling of starting down a new path, learning something new, taking a risk to pursue a new opportunity, and changing things up. Status quo can be easy to manage, but stale is no fun! 

A great example of this was the natural anxiety I felt launching my own firm. After working for decades inside corporations, contemplating what launching something new would bring carried a healthy blend of excitement and nerves. I embraced the nerves as a signal that I was on the right path of exploration, plowing new ground in a field I knew well. Furthermore, I had a plan and stayed focused on execution and the daily activities required to bring the plan to life.

I aim to take what I’m doing for AegleWealth and my family and introduce it to clients. Together, we can craft a clear understanding of your Vision (where you’re heading), your Mission (your why), and your Values which will go a long way toward framing optimal financial decisions. From there, a strategy and plan drive your tactics. Anxiety tends to fade into the background once you know your tactics and can focus on the work.

We all would do better to embrace and honor anxiety as a part of the human experience; it means we’re alive. With a plan in hand, anxiety won’t control your journey and determine your destination; you can focus on the day-to-day execution and realization of your goals.