Rewriting the Rules of Financial Planning: Why Should You Listen to Me?

So, here I am, telling you that financial planning needs a complete overhaul. You might be thinking, “Why should I listen to you?”

I get it. The old way of financial planning—focused on selling products—has become the norm. It’s all about pushing financial products, often with little regard for what truly benefits you. You might be wondering who I am to challenge this approach. Maybe you’re thinking I’m just another person with a grudge against the system, someone who hasn’t made a name for themselves. Why should you care about my perspective when everyone else seems to be saying otherwise?

Here’s why: the new way I’m advocating for is holistic financial planning—planning that considers the whole person, not just the products that can be sold to them. This approach leads to real outcomes: wealth, wellness, wellbeing, and a life of significance. It’s not about selling you something; it’s about empowering you to achieve a richer, more fulfilling life.

At first, you might ignore what I’m saying. Maybe you’ll even laugh it off, thinking it’s just another idealistic notion. But I believe that as you explore this approach, you’ll start to see, as I did, the value. Eventually, you might find yourself agreeing with me.

I’m not just sharing ideas; I’m inviting you to experience this new way of thinking for yourself. Through my articles, you’ll find a wealth of examples and evidence that back up these concepts. This is not just theory—it’s practical, and it works.

Before you dismiss this, consider the following insights from some of the most respected institutions:

• McKinsey Health Institute emphasising that true wellbeing encompasses mind, body, heart, and spirit. And explaining how we can lift the global population above the empowerment line.
• Gallup reminds us that wellbeing isn’t complete without spiritual wellbeing.
• Harvard Business Review advises that we should use lessons from corporate strategy to create the life we want.
• The CFA Institute Research Foundation highlights that total wealth is a combination of financial and human capital, with human capital being the present value of your future earnings—something that must be factored into your cash flow forecasts.
• London Business School provides tools to understand that human capital is an intangible asset, and suggests that retirement is a gradual transition rather than a sudden stop, stressing the importance of extending productivity and health into old age to address the pension crisis.
• The United Nations advocates that to eliminate world poverty, we must identify productive assets, leverage entrepreneurial opportunities, and create sustainable livelihoods.
• Stephen R. Covey spoke about The 8th Habit: “Live, love, learn, and leave a legacy.” Nurturing mind, body, heart, and spirit, while Richard Barrett expanded on this with a new psychology of human wellbeing, building on Abraham Maslow’s journey from basic needs to self-transcendence. And Raj Sisodia, founding member of the Conscious Capitalism movement, demonstrated that a focus on purpose, people and planet, yields profit in organisations.

These insights have all been woven into a comprehensive approach to financial planning that I call the GAME plan. It’s designed to help you thrive—not just financially, but in every aspect of your life.

I’m not just telling you what to do; I’m showing you how to do it and providing real-world examples along the way. If you’re looking to live longer, live better, and take control of your future instead of just handing over your hard-earned money to financial product companies, this is for you.

Take the time to read these materials, absorb the insights, and apply them to your life. It’s time to rethink financial planning—not as a means to an end, but as a holistic journey towards a richer, more meaningful life.