Susan's Scoop

Your Ingredients for a Rich Life

When I early-retired over 3 years ago, I was focused on the financial numbers – was our nest egg big enough, did we have enough cash flow coming in, could we financially survive a downturn, etc. But I had spent very little time thinking about the intangibles that would actually make my life FEEL rich.

Identifying these has very little to do with whether you're working full-time, retired, taking a career break, or just starting out. The ingredients of a rich life can exist in every season. In fact, identifying them now can help you make better decisions with both your time and your money.

Over the past few years, I've spent some time thinking about what those ingredients are for me. Here are my top 4:

Time autonomy. I value having control over my schedule. It's less about having endless free time and more about being able to decide how I spend my days without having to punch a time clock. Whether that's taking a weekday hike, meeting a friend for coffee, or rearranging my workday to enjoy beautiful weather, having that flexibility is something I really appreciate.

Novelty. I love learning, exploring new places, and trying experiences I've never had before. Travel certainly fills this need, but so does reading about a new topic, taking on a challenge, or simply saying "yes" to something different.

Meaning. I want my life to matter. For me, that means helping women feel more confident with their finances and building something that genuinely improves people's lives. Meaning doesn't have to come from a career, though. It can come from mentoring, volunteering, raising a family, supporting your community, or any number of things.

Community. Relationships give our lives context. Family, close friends, colleagues, neighbors, and the communities we intentionally build all contribute to a life that feels full. This is the area that I have struggled with the most in my middle-aged adult life; most of our family members live far away, and it’s been tough to commit the amount of time needed to establish new friendships with all of the ‘busyness’ of life these days. But it’s a current goal of mine to continue to work on this one and create more community around us.

Your list may look completely different from mine, and that’s perfectly fine. Maybe creativity fills your cup. Maybe it's adventure, lifelong learning, faith, health, or simply quiet mornings with a good book. There isn't a ‘right’ answer to your own rich life.

If you're not sure what belongs on your list, here are a few questions to consider:

· When do you feel most like yourself?

· What activities make you lose track of time?

· If your income were taken care of, how would you spend an average Tuesday?

· What experiences leave you feeling energized rather than drained?

· Looking back five years from now, what would make you think, That was time well spent?

Financial planning isn't really about accumulating the biggest portfolio possible. It's about creating a life that reflects what matters most to you. Once you know the ingredients that make your life feel rich, your financial decisions become easier. Money stops being the destination and becomes what it was always meant to be: a tool for creating more of the life you want, no matter what season of life you're in.

What I'm Reading

​📕 Meet All The Middle Aged Women Who Don't Exist (Medium)

I get these ridiculous targeted ads all of the time, and surprise, surprise, it turns out these youthful, perfectly-sculpted middle-aged women aren't even real people.

Join us for free the first Wednesday of each month for an informative money conversation!

Next Up:

August 5th, 1pm CT

​​Building Your Financial Team

Get ready for a breakdown of the key players, roles, and expectations you should (or shouldn't) have on your financial team. We'll discuss what roles advisors, planners, bookkeepers, accountants, attorneys, and CPAs can play in our lives.​
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This session will help us ramp up for a new season, new school year, and an opportunity to take major financial action before summer comes to a close.

Missed one? Check out the recordings HERE!​