I purchased this sketch of Carl Richard’s “Why” to hang on the wall in front of my office desk some months ago. I sat at that desk, struggling to write this blog post. I couldn’t decide what I wanted to write about! As I gazed at the big “Why,” I started to ask myself questions: Why did I like writing? To shed light on a topic or give a different perspective that is interesting to read and related to your financial life. Why do I write the way I write? I write to provide a non-technical voice in financial planning because plenty of those types of blogs exist (and it’s not very fun for me). And voilá!, A topic came to mind. Why not talk about the idea of “Why” itself and how it influences what we do with our money?

Since I’d been procrastinating, I asked myself “why” I like to write in the first place: to shed light on a topic or give a different perspective that is interesting to read and related to your financial life. I write to provide a non-technical voice in financial planning because plenty of those types of blogs exist (and it’s not very fun for me). And voilá!, A topic came to mind. Why not talk about the idea of “Why” itself and how it influences what we do with our money? 

The “Why” of Our Work

The “Why” sketch serves as a powerful reminder of the question “why?” in our lives and of course, in my work. I recently re-watched a Ted Talk by Simon Sinek on the power of “why” in organizations. In it, Sinek talks about how organizations that can clearly articulate their “why” are the ones most effective and successful in the world. By focusing on the why (and not the what and how, though those are important, too) and getting in touch with the passion behind a product or service, we all are more connected to the work being done or the product being sold. Sinek’s philosophy is: People buy why you do something, not what you do. 

I wanted to weave that philosophy into my everyday life, not just my company. Why am I a financial planner? I am here to help people understand and connect to the money in their lives. Money and people are a messy combination that we often deal with alone.  I want to help people feel a little better about that relationship. And I’m also here to help them go after the lives they envision living.  To ask “What’s possible?” 

The “why” of my work is to help people think bigger and bolder about their lives. I didn’t mention all the technical parts of my work on purpose. I enjoy them and the intellectual challenge they bring me, but they are not my “why.”  

Applying “Why” to Your Personal Finance

I love the concept of why especially in the world of personal finance. “Why” cuts through the noise of “shoulds” and help you understand what makes sense for you and your life. The information out there is often full of things you should be doing without much connection to why you should be doing them—or why they are right for you. 

Here are some questions I hear clients asking where I think “Why?” would be helpful:

• “You need to max out your 401k!” – Sure, but why? Is this actually right for me even if it saves me on taxes? 
• “You should save as much as you can so you can retire early.” – Really? Why is saving so I can stop working the goal? 
• “You should save as much as you can.” – I understand that saving is important, but why is it important for me?

This list goes on. You can also apply these to your money beliefs, too.  The insight that comes from this question is one reason we ask our clients the “whys” of how they think about money when we first begin our work with them. 

Do Technical Pieces Matter?

For me, all the technical pieces of financial planning (investing, cash flow management, tax planning, etc.) are just means to our ultimate goal: a fuller, richer life that is truly yours. So, before you simply do them, ask yourself, “What is my why? Are these technical aspects of my finances all working in a way that fits with my purpose?”  

Discovering your why may not always be easy or come naturally, but it will likely help unlock what you do with your money just like it helped cure my writer’s block.