Finding the Balance Between Planning and Being Present

Our guest today said it best: “It’s important to have your eye on the horizon, financially, but also to have your feet very grounded in the present.” On this episode, we’re joined by Tony from Philly, who has spent the last four years on a coaching journey with Coach Don Edlin. Together, we reflect on their coaching relationship, the importance of recognizing financial misinformation, and how our backgrounds shape our personal money scripts. Tony shares why staying grounded in the present is a key focus in his money management journey and highlights the impactful steps he’s taken with Don’s guidance. We dive into the role of stress in financial decision-making, the power of role modeling in shaping the financial habits of friends and family, and unpack what a good financial plan allows you to accomplish! We also leave listeners with words of encouragement to take control of their own financial futures. If you want to learn more about finding the balance between planning and being present, don't miss this episode! 

Key points from this episode:

• Today’s guest, Tony, shares what prompted him to call the financial coaching line four years ago. His coach, Don, shares what he recalls about that first call.
• Rewind four years: The importance of being aware of the dangerous information out there. 
• How Tony’s background impacted his money script: your money should be working hard.
• Tony delves into his habits and patterns for managing money: grounded in the present. 
• Don shares the journey of his own money script evolution.
• Key actions Tony has implemented over the past four years, inspired by Don’s coaching and support. 
• Tony highlights the most challenging aspect of his journey, so far.
• Don chimes in on Tony’s plans to buy a house.
• How this coaching relationship with Tony has impacted Don over the four years.
• A major topic in coaching: stress and its impact.
• Don’s go-to stress reliever and the mindset that’ll help.
• How role modeling can play in the financial journey of friends or family. 
• Tony’s aspirations and the opportunities he envisions for his future.
• What good financial planning allows you to do (and why it’s best to write it in pencil!).
• Final words of encouragement from Don and Tony to our listeners. 

Quotes:

“It’s extremely valuable, not just from [a financial] aspect, but in a lot of aspects of life, to have an extra set of eyes to take a look and bounce things off of.” — Tony [3:41]

“People have questions, and if they’re not provided a sound, vetted resource to find the answers, they’re going to search it out from anywhere — but there’s just so much dangerous information out there.” — Don Edlin [4:16]

“People are inclined to follow what they want to believe.” — Julie Everett [6:15]

“Your money should work at least as hard as you do!” — Tony [8:31]

“It’s important to have your eye on the horizon [financially], so to speak, but also have your feet very grounded in the present.” — Tony [10:58]

“Financial coaching doesn’t happen in a vacuum, or just once.” — Don Edlin [21:18]

“It’s the [financial] plan that allows you to be spontaneous or to take diversions without wrecking the long-term goals.” — Don Edlin [35:06]

Links mentioned in today’s episode:

Liz Davidson on LinkedIn

Don Edlin on LinkedIn

Julie Everett on LinkedIn

Financial Finesse