The Most Valuable Asset in Your Financial Plan Isn’t Money
You’re not just building wealth - you’re buying time. Here’s how to protect both your future and your present.
Most people have a relationship with money.
Very few have one with time.
And that's the problem.
Because if your financial plan only focuses on the future, you'll miss the entire point of building wealth.
The best financial plans don't just prepare you for retirement. They create space for life right now.
Here's why that distinction could be the difference between building wealth and actually enjoying it:
In today's newsletter, I'll break down:
Why time is your most valuable asset (and how to treat it like one)
The sustainability problem killing most financial plans
Why experiences compound differently than investments (and why that matters)
A simple framework to enjoy life now without sabotaging your future
Let's dig in ↓
Time Is Your Most Valuable Asset
Jesse Itzler said it best:
"If you see your parents once a year - and they're 65 - you don't have 10 years left. You have 10 visits."
When you start thinking in terms of time, not just years or dollars, everything changes.
Wealth isn't just about what you build. It's about how you use the time and freedom it gives you.
This isn't feel-good philosophy. It's mathematical reality.
You can always make more money. You can't make more time.
Every financial decision is ultimately a time decision. Every dollar you save is future time you're purchasing. Every dollar you spend is present time you're prioritizing.
The question isn't whether you should save or spend. It's whether you're being intentional about the time trade-offs you're making.
Sustainable Wealth Requires Sustainable Living
Every financial spreadsheet says the same thing:
Save more
Spend less
Max out every account
Optimize everything
And yes, those steps are important.
But I've watched too many high earners burn themselves out chasing more - more income, more savings, more optimization - without stopping to ask what any of it is for.
Wealth isn't just a math problem. It's a momentum problem.
If your plan drains your energy, it's not sustainable. If it's not sustainable, it's not effective.
You can't white-knuckle your way to financial freedom for 30 years. At some point, you'll crack. And when you do, you'll make emotional decisions that destroy years of progress.
The most successful wealth builders I know aren't the ones who sacrifice everything for their future selves. They're the ones who found a way to take care of both their present and future simultaneously.
Memories > Margins
That extra 1% you squeeze from your budget or investment strategy?
It won't beat:
A weekend with your kids before they're too old to want to hang out
A hike that clears your head and prevents burnout
A trip that reshapes your perspective on what matters
Experiences compound, too—just in a different currency.
And the returns they deliver often matter more in the long run than anything on a balance sheet.
I've never met a wealthy person who regretted spending money on meaningful experiences. I've met plenty who regretted missing them in pursuit of an extra few basis points.
The ROI of Joy
Joy pays dividends that don't show up in your portfolio.
A short vacation can reignite your career trajectory
A meaningful moment can restore your motivation for months
A shared memory can outlast decades of market returns
Not all wealth is financial. And the most valuable returns don't always show up in your brokerage account.
This isn't permission to be reckless with money. It's recognition that being reckless with time is often the bigger mistake.
Permission > Guilt
Here's the framework we give clients to enjoy life now - without guilt or regret:
Hit your baseline savings goals (20% minimum)
Maintain a healthy emergency fund (3-6 months expenses)
Spend freely on what matters most to you
Ignore everything else
In other words: Intentional ≠ Irresponsible
When your financial foundation is solid, the rest is freedom.
Too many people think they need to optimize every dollar to build wealth. In reality, you need to optimize the big decisions and automate the small ones.
Get the major categories right (savings rate, investment allocation, insurance coverage) and you've won 90% of the game. The other 10% isn't worth sacrificing your present for.
Don't Wait for "Someday"
You don't need to be debt-free, retired, or "set for life" to start enjoying it.
What you need is a system that does both:
Protects your future
Fuels your present
Too many people plan for a version of life that's 30 years away... while letting the best moments slip past them in real time.
Your kids won't be this age again. Your parents won't be around forever. Your energy and health won't always be what they are today.
The perfect financial plan executed 30 years from now is worthless if you missed the life you were trying to fund.
Bottom Line
You're not just building wealth. You're building a life.
So:
Track your numbers
Hit your savings targets
Maximize your long-term compounding
But also:
Be present with the people who matter
Prioritize joy and experiences that fuel you
Spend time where it creates the most meaning
Don't just plan for later - be intentional about now.
The goal isn't to have the most money when you die. It's to have the most life while you're alive.
See you next week.
Whenever you're ready, there are 2 other ways we can help you:
30-Day Strategy Sprint: Got a specific financial challenge holding you back? In just 30 days, we'll tackle 1-3 of your biggest money roadblocks and hand you a personalized action plan. Perfect if you want expert guidance without a long-term commitment. Limited spots available.
Ongoing Wealth Partnership: We'll work with you month after month to slash your taxes, find hidden income opportunities, and build lasting wealth. You set the life goals. We handle the financial strategy to get you there faster.
Opulus, LLC (“Opulus”) is a registered investment advisor in Pennsylvania and other jurisdictions where exempted. Registration as an investment advisor does not imply any specific level of skill or training.
The content of this newsletter is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, tax, legal, or accounting advice. It is not an offer or solicitation to buy or sell any securities or investments, nor does it endorse any specific company, security, or investment strategy. Readers should not rely on this content as the sole basis for any investment or financial decisions.
Past performance is not indicative of future results. Investing involves risks, including the potential loss of principal. There is no guarantee that any investment strategies discussed will result in profits or avoid losses.
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