Meet Maria (and Goldie.)
Maria, a retired teacher and grandmother of five, came to Flourish Financial Life Planning feeling uncertain. She had enough to live on, but the noise of comparison and fear had crept in. “I just want to be wise,” she said. “Not anxious. Not greedy. Just faithful.”
As we walked through her retirement financial plan, Maria’s golden retriever, Goldie, often curled up under the kitchen table by Maria’s feet. “She’s my reminder,” Maria smiled. “Every time I start to worry, Goldie just looks at me like, ‘We’re okay. We have each other. We have enough.’”
In the past, Maria’s financial plan had focused only on how much money she had. To experience true peace, her plan needed to honor both the tangible and the intangible. Together, we used a value-based financial planning approach rooted in three of her core values. Goldie, in her gentle way, embodied each one: contentment, generosity, and thankfulness.
Maria felt deeply joyful to include these values in her faith-based financial planning. Each time she met with her advisor, she’d share stories of her walks with Goldie, her giving moments, and the things she was feeling grateful for—turning each meeting into a celebration of her faith and Christian stewardship.
Contentment
Maria began each morning with a walk, Goldie trotting beside her, tail wagging. They’d pause to notice the changing leaves, the sunlight through the trees and look forward to the warmth of home waiting.
“I stopped chasing sales and looking to accumulate more stuff. Instead, I started savoring blessings I have already,” Maria said. “Goldie never asks for more, she just wants to be with me.”
Generosity
Maria created a small account as a “Blessing Fund” for spontaneous giving. Whether it was a neighbor’s utility bill, a special offering at her church, or a stranger at the grocery store, she gave with joy.
“It’s not about the amount. It’s about the heart behind it.”
Thankfulness
Each night, Maria wrote down three things she was thankful for in a small notebook she kept by her bed. “At first, I wrote down the usual stuff…my house, Goldie, my family. But, as I recorded my gratitude each day, my thankfulness extended outward to deeper things. After several months, I found myself giving thanks even when difficult situations would arise. I knew even in hard times, things could be so much worse.”
“I used to track expenses. Now I also track blessings.”
What do you value most?
Maybe you’ve been feeling like Maria—wanting to be wise, not anxious. What values would you want to include in a values-based financial plan? One rooted in peace, passion, and purpose. If that’s stirring something in you, I’d love to talk with you. Contact me using the form below and let’s talk about how to incorporate your values into your plan.
