Out family can provide an endless source of joy, love and sharing, comfort and support. We are there for each other in both challenging times and times of celebration, whether it be a birthday, wedding, graduation, Christmas or Easter. Some of us are blessed with beautiful caring friends and we open out arms and hearts to them and they become family.
Sadly, in this fast-paced and often demanding world we live in, some people have lost contact with their family and choose to walk away, instead of working out their differences.
In my roles as a financial planner, I have seen familites fall apart over disagreements about (can you guess?) MONEY! When working with my clients, I often find couples who obviously love each other and are committed to the famil ynit, yet they have very different approaches and ideas about their finances. This can cause disharmony, tension and stress.
I ask couples to write seperate wish lists, including their goals and dreams for the short, medium and long term. This is where we find out if they are on the same page when it comes to discussing the things they want to achieve, either individually or as a family.
Many of our ideas and beliefs about money are inheirated from our parents, or have been passed on from previous generations. Some of those beliefs may be beneifical and supportive, or alternatively, they are based on fear and doubt. Do you feel stuck and don’t know how to make a difference in your own life or change the negative patterns of the past?
If you have every said to yourself (or others), “I am hopeless with money”, take a moment to reflect if that is the truth, or just a crutch to lean on, so you don’t have to make any changes to your current situation. It is incredibly empowering to see couples address their issues and beliefs and take on new learnings and diminish their fears.
If you are in the habit of saying those negative words above, a powerful way to make a changes is by adding “In the past, I was hopeless with money”. Then decide to do something about it. I have had so many clients over my 30 + year career as a financial planner, say to me that they didn’t know what the didn’t know. They share that they wished they had this knowledge when they were younger and started on the path 10, 15 or 20 years eariler.
They then send their child and grandchildren to see us at “Goals & Dreams”. I feel so honoured and blessed to have many generations and branches of Family Trees under our care and guidance. It is amazing to receive a postcard from Disneyland, where three generations celebrated life and love of family – together.
Written by Kath Orman. Originally published in Holistic Bliss Magazine – June 2019 issue.