If this could be done while reducing risk, wealth erosion and financial costs, then all the better. Getting organized around this powerful desire is more difficult than it may appear. Life doesn’t occur in a vacuum and our financial decisions shouldn’t be made in one as well. Every one of us makes financial decisions throughout our life at different times, with different people, all under different circumstances. This typically leads to feeling confused, unorganized, and not sure if we’ve made the right decision for us or our family. Every decision we make has an impact on other decisions in ways that are not always apparent. Understanding the basics of how money works is critical to moving ahead with confidence.

We must start then by evaluating the challenges that threaten our financial potential and how best to overcome them. Without a complete view of how all of the elements of our financial choices work together, we may end up losing our wealth unnecessarily, taking on greater risk and falling short of reaching our full financial potential.