The Shawshank Effect

We get to meet some terrific people in our line of work but more often than not there is a common theme. One of the most frequent comments to us is: - I wish I'd done "this" sooner.....

We are all busy people and sometimes 'life" can just get in the way of dealing with all the conflicting priorities of family, work and just time for ourselves. But sometimes it can just be too late to put our good intentions into action.

Priority over Procrastination

The old adage "tomorrow never comes" is true for many - not by design but often by default - it just gets too hard right?

There is certainty however that can be gained by getting guidance from those that have the experience and knowledge to assist you. Often it may be a friend, family member or from your own learnings however my experience has shown that actively engaging a professional adviser produces a better outcome. The rationale for me is "accountability".

If you're like me and trying to stay fit it's hard to motivate yourself sometimes to do "the workout" and often you can excuse it away. But if you have a personal trainer that keeps you focused and on track and makes sure "you do, do the work" when you are supposed to, then you are most likely to reach your fitness and health goals.

Getting your finances into shape is no different - a professional financial planner will do for your financial life what a personal trainer will do for your fitness - a disciplined approach for better outcomes.

Red in The Shawshank Redemption movie

These times and events with our clients often remind me of one of the best scenes in movie history - I'm a little biased, as The Shawshank Redemption is my favourite movie, and Morgan Freeman one of my favourite actors.

Red, (Morgan Freeman's character), is attending his 3rd parole hearing having been declined in his previous 2 attempts and the scene plays out like this

1967 Parole Hearings Man:
Ellis Boyd Redding, your files say you've served 40 years of a life sentence. Do you feel you've been rehabilitated?

Red: Rehabilitated? Well, now let me see. You know, I don't have any idea what that means.

1967 Parole Hearings Man: Well, it means that you're ready to rejoin society...

Red: I know what you think it means, sonny. To me it's just a made up word. A politician's word, so young fellas like yourself can wear a suit and a tie, and have a job. What do you really want to know? Am I sorry for what I did?

1967 Parole Hearings Man: Well, are you?

Red: There's not a day goes by I don't feel regret. Not because I'm in here, or because you think I should. I look back on the way I was then: a young, stupid kid who committed that terrible crime. I want to talk to him. I want to try and talk some sense to him, tell him the way things are. But I can't. That kid's long gone and this old man is all that's left. I got to live with that. Rehabilitated? It's just a bullshit word. So you go on and stamp your form, sonny, and stop wasting my time. Because to tell you the truth, I don't give a shit.

So if you had the time to look back at your younger self wouldn't you be telling yourself to get your finances organised earlier?

After all "time" is the one part of our life that is in continual decline, so seek some quality advice now and benefit from your planning at some stage in the future - and importantly - at the time you will need it most and before it's too late.