by Maryann Keith, CFP®, CIMA®, CDFA®
Welcome back to the Beden Wealth Management blog! I’m excited to return and look forward to sharing quality content in 2026. To kick things off, I want to talk about the new year and fresh starts—the inspiration behind my return to blogging.
When January rolls around each year, I always find myself in conversations about New Year’s resolutions, setting intentions, starting anew, and every iteration imaginable of this concept. Discussion about personal aspirations, professional goals, and achieving work-life balance can feel so overwhelming that many people avoid the goal-setting process altogether. Social media is full of seemingly perfect influencers shouting their ambitions from the rooftops that may leave some feeling inadequate. It can result in someone wondering how they can set themselves up for success while still protecting their peace.
Why did I end up on a long hiatus from my blog writing journey? Because I failed to plan appropriately. I firmly believe that failure is one of our greatest teachers. I didn’t block out enough time in my schedule to write without interruption. I didn’t break the approach into manageable steps to make it feel achievable. Before resuming writing, I took time out to reflect on what has and has not worked well in the past and used it to inform my method going forward. Will it work? Only time will tell. And if I fail again, I will continue to fail forward and learn from my mistakes.
As a financial advisor, sometimes I see clients fall short of their goals and objectives. Procrastination is something that holds a lot of people back. It’s important to step back and be honest with yourself about why you’ve put off the task at hand. Recently, after asking a client on a quarterly basis for nearly two years why they haven’t completed their estate planning documents, I asked what was holding them back. The honest truth was they simply didn’t like thinking about it. Family dynamics were complex and in general, it was hard for them to think about their own mortality. This type of fear is completely normal. It’s hard to move forward until you get to the root cause for your pause, but when you do it can leave you feeling very empowered about taking next steps that work for you.
Readers who know me well know that I often set lofty targets for myself. I signed up for a full Ironman triathlon in 2026. When I talk about my aspirations with others, I hear a common thread in many of my discussions. Many people are completely shocked that I would aim for something so big and talk about how they could never do anything big. I like to engage further in these conversations by asking about goals that other people have and what’s stopping them from moving forward. It’s all manner of things like feeling intimidated, worrying about what other people will think and what happens if I fail? My response: What happens if you never try? When I set a goal, I know there is always a chance it won’t work out and I’m ok with that. I don’t want to live with the regret of never having taken the chance.
When I speak to prospective clients, I often hear that now is not the right time to engage in financial planning. Timing is an important concept to explore when setting goals. An individual may feel called to speak with a financial advisor because they know they need to get their financial house in order. After learning what is involved in the financial planning framework it can be very easy to say it’s not the right time. When you find yourself not pursuing a goal because the timing isn’t right, challenge yourself to take a closer look. If I meet with someone who wants to engage in financial planning but is concerned about completing the full process because they have a big life event coming up, for example, having a baby or moving a parent to assisted living, I meet them where they’re at. We prioritize the most immediate concerns and work through their plan at a pace and timeline that works for them. Time is a scarce commodity, but it can work in your favor when you align with trusted partners who help you prioritize the most effective ways to use it.
At BWM, we carve out time each quarter to for everyone on the team to share their personal and professional goals. These meetings are some of my favorites each year. Hearing about goals that run the gamut in size and scope along with their importance to each individual is something I truly enjoy. It’s an honor to cheer my teammates on when they succeed and lift them up when they face challenges. As a result of being in tune with our own paths, I’ve found that my team has become more engaged with our clients’ goals. When was the last time you had an honest conversation with your financial advisor about your hopes and dreams? BWM is fully committed to sticking with you through life’s ups and downs to help you achieve your goals in a way that is authentic and attainable to your journey. We welcome the opportunity to hear from you!
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