What could eschewing the non-essential mean for your life? A quicker path to financial freedom? A reduced environmental footprint? More joy while living and less regrets on your deathbed? Yes, yes, and (hopefully) yes.
In the most basic sense, minimalism is about intentionality: promoting the things that matter most while discarding the distractions. It’s a way to help us identify and actually prioritize what we deem to be of utmost importance.
Finances: A minimalist lifestyle is less expensive and creates room to either earn less or increase savings – both paths that speed up the journey to financial independence. A less expensive lifestyle means it’s also easier to create, and alter, an intentional/purposeful budget and to payoff bad debts (i.e. credit card debt).
Environment: Financial minimalism and environmental stewardship are often (but not always) intertwined. When you need less, you buy less. By buying less, you consume less.
A minimalist lifestyle should naturally lessen your environmental footprint, however completely abstaining from new purchases is not realistic for most. So, when buying, consider prioritizing quality over quantity and purchases that are energy efficient. While not always the case, these buying strategies can also be f inancially prudent ones over the long haul.
Happiness: You can’t buy your way to happiness. Minimalism is simply a tool that can assist you in finding freedom. Freedom from avoidable stresses, burdens, and fears. Freedom to prioritize your health and relationships. Freedom to reclaim your time, or to live in the moment. Freedom to create more, to grow as an individual. Real freedom.
Final Thoughts:
Minimalism is not about searching for happiness through things, but through life itself. Thus, it’s up to you to determine what is necessary and what is superfluous in your life.
Today, as co-founder of wHealth Advisors, I find immense fulfillment in knowing that we use our platform as a force for good. As a firm, we’re founded on the industry’s highest standards for ethics and transparency while also offering pro-bono services to those in need. Financially, we donate a portion of our gross revenue annually to qualified 501(c)3 organizations (which are nominated + voted on by our clients).
Personally, though, I find the greatest satisfaction in helping my clients gain financial peace of mind through prudent money management.
Prudent money management is like a positive feedback loop: when we are no longer burdened by finances, other dimensions of our lives also tend to improve. As we continue to grow we realize that as important as money is, those other dimensions of life are equally (if not more!) important.
As modern philosopher Naval Ravikant reminds us:
“The three big ones in life are wealth, health, and happiness. We pursue them in that order, but their importance is reverse.
A calm mind, a fit body, and a house full of love. These things cannot be bought.”
My life’s mission has been dedicated to helping others use money to close the gap between who they are today and the best version of themselves that awaits ahead.
I am excited to meet you and look forward to the opportunity of working together on your journey to financial independence!
Designations:
- Certified Financial Planner™
- Chartered Financial Consultant®
- Accredited Investment Fiduciary®
- Certified Student Loan Professional®
Featured in:
- Forbes
- U.S. News & World Report
- Financial Advisor Magazine
Outside of wHealth Advisors:
- Educating myself more on: Stoicism, permaculture, climate justice, systemic racism, health & longevity science
- Happiest when: outdoors with wife, Arabelle, and son, Manny
- Stays active with: strength training, functional range conditioning, hiking, cycling, surfing, and yoga
- Financially splurges on: Single-origin coffee
