Are You Living for “Someday”?
If you’ve ever said, “Once I retire, then I’ll finally live the life I want,” you’re not alone.
Many people build careers and financial plans around a future dream — freedom, travel, more time — without pausing to ask: Why am I working so hard in the first place?
After more than a decade of working with clients on their financial lives, I’ve noticed something consistent — most people are on a journey, but without a clear purpose.
They have goals, income, and assets… but often lack a deeper sense of direction.
It’s not really about the money — it’s about what the money is for.
That idea has been stirring in me for a while now, and it’s what inspired this new journey.
I’m setting aside time to pause, reflect, and ask deeper questions — about what truly matters, and how our financial lives can align with that purpose.
As financial expert Michael Kitces puts it, a “statement of financial purpose” becomes a living document — something that keeps your plan aligned with what matters most over time.
What You’ll Take Away from This Journey
A framework to clarify your financial and business priorities
Insight into how your money can serve your goals, not the other way around
Reflections from leading books on purpose, habits, and financial decision-making
Questions to help you rethink your plan with more clarity and less complexity
A sharper way to filter decisions through strategy and values
Why the Shift?
In the past, I’ve shared reflections on business and finance books — and those insights still matter. But more and more, I’ve seen that people aren’t just looking for better strategies — they’re searching for something more: clarity, direction, and alignment between their money and their goals.
That’s why I’m turning my attention to the question behind every plan: What’s the purpose?
Not in a philosophical sense — in a practical one:
Why are we doing this?
What’s the outcome we’re really aiming for?
In Drive, author Daniel Pink explains that one of the greatest human motivators isn’t compensation — it’s purpose. It’s what gives our efforts energy and our achievements meaning.
We’ll continue to address business, financial, and tax strategy — but with sharper focus. Because when purpose is clear, decision-making gets a whole lot easier.
Purpose Is a Strategic Advantage
Purpose isn’t just a feel-good idea — it’s a critical business and financial tool.
In my work with business owners and entrepreneurs, one thing has become clear: next to cash flow, the lack of purpose is one of the biggest killers of momentum.
Without it, businesses drift. Teams disengage. Leaders burn out.
And in our personal finances? The same pattern applies.
Whether you’re buying a business, building one, or managing your household like a well-run company — clarity of purpose helps you allocate time, energy, and money in smarter ways.
A recent Kiplinger article put it this way:“True wealth encompasses time, meaningful relationships, personal fulfillment — and purpose.”That resonates deeply with what I’ve seen in both planning conversations and real-life outcomes.
The Purpose Reading Journey
Over the next few months, I’ll be reading and sharing insights from some of the most impactful books on purpose, money, and planning — including:
Start With Why by Simon Sinek
Life on Purpose by Victor Strecher
The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel
Atomic Habits by James Clear
30 Lessons for Living by Karl Pillemer
Each book will guide us through a simple process:
Discover your purpose — identify what truly matters
Design your life — align goals with those values
Align your money — so every dollar serves a direction
Build habits — that reinforce smart decisions
Leave a legacy — that reflects who you are, not just what you’ve earned
I’ll post one reflection per book — roughly one per month.
Feel free to read along, skim the summaries, or simply use these insights to evaluate your own plan. There’s no obligation — just strategic value.
Why This Matters
When your purpose is clear, your financial decisions become easier.
Saving isn’t just about sacrifice — it’s about freedom
Investing isn’t about chasing returns — it’s about funding what matters
Retirement isn’t the finish line — it’s just another chapter to design intentionally
Purpose isn’t something abstract — it’s a practical filter that helps every financial and business decision make more sense.
It also brings us back to stewardship — a principle that’s at the heart of great planning.
Stewardship means being intentional about how we use our resources — not just money, but also time, energy, and talent — to support the outcomes that matter most.
When your plan reflects stewardship, it works for you, not just because of numbers, but because it reflects your values.
A Guide Through the Journey
Like many of my clients, I’ve found myself asking deeper questions about what success really means — and what it’s all for.
As a CPA and financial advisor, I’ve had the chance to truly dissect people’s financial lives — especially when I’m doing their tax work. Most clients, even if it feels a little uncomfortable, have no problem answering questions about what they’ve saved, what they earn, when they want to retire… even the house they want to live in, the boat they want to buy, or the trip they’ve always dreamed of.
But too often, those dreams start sounding like a checklist for keeping up with others — instead of a plan built around what truly matters to them.
When I ask, “What’s the bigger purpose we’re planning for?” — that’s the question that stumps them.
And that’s okay. That’s where the real work begins.
That’s why we’re taking a pause — to go back and make sure we’re answering the purpose question clearly.
Because once that’s in place, we can build a stronger foundation — one that supports all the other financial pieces and ensures those things are actually working for you.
This is something I explored in a past blog — The Collector and the Guide: Why Lifestyle Matters More Than Assets— and it continues to shape how I advise today.
There’s no single “right” answer here — only the one that’s right for you.
This isn’t a shortcut, and there’s no hack. It takes time, reflection, and realignment. But if you’re willing to do that work, you’ll come away with more than a better plan — you’ll come away with a clearer purpose.
How This Ties to Financial Planning
At Adair Advisory Group, our mission is to help clients move from chaos to clarity. That clarity isn’t just about the numbers — it’s about creating financial strategies that support your business, your life, and your long-term goals.
Whether you're preparing for retirement, growing a company, or making your next big move, purpose helps align the path forward.
This journey is especially for those who believe financial success is about more than just numbers — and less about chasing benchmarks.
That’s the kind of work I love doing — and who I love doing it for.
Let’s Talk
If you're ready to explore how your purpose fits into your personal or business financial strategy — let’s talk.