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"Too much of a good thing can be wonderful." - Mae West
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I understand Mae West's idea, and for the most part agree with it. Many people come to a financial advisor in the expectation that the advisor will get them more money. And while that is certainly a major goal in any client relationship, I often find that the best assistance I can provide to a client is to demonstrate to them that they actually have enough money, often more than enough, to do the things they want to do. That, after all, is the entire purpose of financial planning – to compare goals with financial resources to see how they measure up with each other while avoiding taking unnecessary risks.
We all have things in our lives that we want more of. I have my own to be sure. But it is important that we take a deeper look at reality and make sure that what we truly lack what we are wanting in greater abundance. If the reality is that we in fact have enough, even more than enough, of what we want more of, then there is a good possibility that our wanting is actually a craving.
Craving more of what we already have sufficiently or abundantly can be unhealthy, and can lead to pain and suffering, occupying our thoughts, and misdirecting our efforts, time, and energy. It can cause us to make very poor decisions, like harming our physical health, destroying our relationships, missing our own opportunities, or harming our financial stability. Finding the right balance between true need and extreme craving is an important part of maturing as a human being.
Now that the mid-term elections are past (about which I will comment under separate cover), the end of the year is approaching when many people take stock of their blessings through the wonderful holiday traditions of Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas, Rohatsu, Kwanzaa, New Years, etc. As this time arrives in 2018, may each of us count our blessings, and may we truly and honestly reflect on whether that count produces a result that is "enough." Such an assessment, after all, is the foundation of financial and lifetime success.
New Capital will always focus intently on delivering market returns to our clients at low costs. We will also always focus intently on helping clients recognize and appreciate the useful value of existing capital and existing returns on capital.
Leonard Golub, CFA
Fiduciary Financial Advisor