THREE PIECES OF ADVICE I WOULD GIVE MY YOUNGER SELF

Have you ever had the thought, “If only I knew then what I know now?” Hindsight is 20/20, and whether or not we have regrets from our younger days, there are plenty of things we probably wish we did differently. While I can’t change the past, I am dedicated to growing and learning from the experiences life has brought my way and want to share the wisdom I’ve gleaned through the years in the hopes that others can make better decisions going forward. Here are the three pieces of advice I would give my younger self:

1. You Can’t Please Everyone – No matter how hard you try, you can’t be all things to all people. You will only burn yourself out, lose your sense of purpose, and not offer your best to those you care about most. Instead, narrow in on what you are passionate about and what you excel in. Then surround yourself with those who are like-minded and be the best you can be in that niche.

When it comes to your finances, it’s essential to have goals and align your financial plan with your values. Instead of spending or saving in ways that others expect, work with someone who will help you set up your financial life based on your individual needs and circumstances.

2. Put Others First – Both personally and professionally, I believe that putting others first reaps benefits in the lives of everyone involved.  While I have always been an advocate of the “win-win” attitude in business, I have come to realize that when I put on my “advisor hat” I must make decisions with the client in mind.

The simple question to ask is “Would I want this if I were the client?” If the answer isn’t yes, then the idea needs to be reconsidered. The win-win relationship occurs when I do what’s right for the client to the best of my ability, and the client perceives this and is ultimately happy with the work that’s put in. As advisors, we can only control so much of the outcome so having my clients understand that we truly put their interests ahead of our own goes a long way to a true win-win relationship.

3. Process Makes Perfect – I believe that developing processes for all areas of life makes things run smoothly and ensures that nothing slips through the cracks. At Cypress Wealth Services, our systems and processes give our clients peace of mind and certainty that their needs will be met. For example, our Second Growth Process™ has four steps that let us work through your financial history and personal values and goals and create a blueprint that addresses any gaps we find, reviewing regularly to make sure we are still on track.

If we aren’t intentional about the processes we create to organize our lives, we might find ourselves reinventing the wheel and wasting precious time and energy. That’s not something we want to look back on and regret.

Looking Forward – Can you relate to these pieces of advice? What would you tell your younger self if you had the chance? As you enter the Second Growth stage of your life, look ahead with excitement as you apply your own life lessons and make these years the best you’ve ever had.

If you want to set your Second Growth years up for success, call our office today at 866.888.6563. Visit us in The Wellness Village. Members since January 2017.

Cypress Wealth Services, an independent RIA firm providing financial planning and investment management to high net worth individuals, families, business owners, and institutions. CWS is comprised of professionals with diverse backgrounds and extensive experience and qualifications. CWS is uniquely qualified to serve a broad range of client needs. Their experience and expertise act as a foundation for their client service process, The Second Growth, which focuses on efficiently protecting, growing, and transferring to their loved ones the wealth and legacy a person has already built. With offices in Palm Desert and Anchorage, the firm serves clients across the country.