Evelyn Herzfeld Financial Planning

Redefining True Financial Wellbeing

A financial planner can improve investments, manage risk, and structure an estate plan. But even when the numbers look perfect, many people still experience financial anxiety.

That is because financial wellbeing is about more than money. It is shaped by our relationship with money, the future, and ourselves.

Drawing on a framework developed by Marius van der Merwe and highlighted by coach Hendrik Crafford, true financial wellbeing ts on four pillars:

Control: Feeling capable of managing daily finances.
Peace of mind: Living without constant financial anxiety.
Freedom of choice: Believing you have meaningful options.
A hopeful future: Trusting tomorrow can be better than today.

Two people can have identical finances yet experience them very differently. The difference lies not in the numbers, but in their mindset. As ontological coaching reminds us, we do not see the world as it is—we see it as we are. Our beliefs and emotions shape every financial decision.

Fear, resignation, and helplessness can undermine even the best financial advice. That is why effective financial planning must address both financial realities and emotional wellbeing.

Alongside retirement planning and investment strategies, we should ask: Do you feel in control? Do you believe you have choices? Are you hopeful about the future?

Emergency funds and cash-flow planning remain essential, but lasting financial wellbeing comes from combining sound financial planning with a healthy relationship with money.

Ultimately, true financial wellbeing is measured not by the size of your portfolio, but by how confidently and peacefully you live with it.

IT MAY NOT SHOW ON YOUR STATEMENT

When building a financial plan, we naturally focus on retiring comfortably, achieving financial independence, funding our children’s education, or leaving a meaningful legacy through structured long-term investments that withstand market volatility and grow over time. But in pursuing the summit, we often neglect the basecamp.

Short-term insurance cover for your home, car, and valuables is not just about replacing possessions. It safeguards your peace of mind and protects your long-term reserves or wealth from usage at the wrong time to cover short-term setbacks.

Return on Investment (ROI) is widely used to measure success in finance, driving investors to maximise returns, minimise costs, and celebrate portfolio growth. The challenge comes when we apply this same framework to our personal lives.

Viewed in financial terms, spending on a family holiday, a sabbatical, or a special celebration can seem like a poor investment. The money is spent and will never compound financially. Yet true lifestyle financial planning requires a different metric: Return on Memories (ROM).

When you invest in meaningful experiences, the benefits extend far beyond the initial cost. Think about a family trip from years ago. The expenses were paid once, but the stories, laughter, photos, and gratitude continue long afterwards. Experiences provide emotional and psychological dividends that can be enjoyed repeatedly over a lifetime.

Unlike financial investments, opportunities to create memories often have an expiry date. Children grow up, parents age, and our own health and energy change over time. If we postpone important experiences solely to maximise financial returns, those opportunities may disappear forever.

This is not an argument for reckless spending. Rather, it is a reminder to be intentional. Money is a tool designed to support a meaningful life. Once your future is secure and your financial boundaries are respected, give yourself permission to spend on what truly matters.

At the end of life, few people reminisce about outperforming the market. Instead, they remember the people, places, and experiences that shaped their lives.

Make sure you are investing enough in the memories that matter most.

The Number Won’t Change the Narrative

We often operate under the subtle assumption that financial peace of mind is waiting for us at a specific destination.

We tell ourselves that once the mortgage is settled, or once the portfolio hits a certain number, a switch will flip in our brains and the low-grade anxiety will finally disappear.

But experience tells a very different story

It is incredible common to see people whose income has doubled over a decade, yet their financial stress has remained exactly the same. That is because peace of mind is not a mathematical equation. It is an internal posture.

If your relationship with money is rooted in a scarcity mindset or a quiet fear of losing control, a flawless balance sheet will not help you sleep any better at night.

True financial wellbeing requires us to look beyond the spreadsheet. It asks us to examine the invisible narratives we hold about our wealth, and intentionally choose to relate to our capital from a place of grounded clarity, rather than quiet panic.

Need to review your narrative? Let’s chat.

The High Price of "Someday"

Many high-achievers fall into the trap of the deferred life: working relentlessly through their thirties, forties, and fifties, convinced they will finally relax and enjoy life once they reach a financial milestone.

The flaw in this thinking is that it assumes you'll still have the health to enjoy that future.

We spend years building our financial capital, carefully tracking returns and growing our investments, yet often neglect our physical capital—our health, energy, and mobility. Unlike investments, physical health doesn't compound over time; it naturally declines if ignored.

It's easy to picture retirement filled with hiking, travel, cycling, or other adventures. But decades of long hours, poor sleep, and little exercise can leave you unable to enjoy the very lifestyle you've been saving for. A healthy pension cannot replace healthy knees or a strong heart.

Retirement is often described in three stages: the Go-Go Years, when you have both time and energy; the Slow-Go Years, when activities become less demanding; and the No-Go Years, when health limitations take over. Many people postpone their biggest dreams until retirement, only to find their Go-Go years are shorter than expected.

A successful financial plan isn't just about preparing for tomorrow—it should also allow you to live well today. That means balancing saving with experiences, investing in your health, and making memories while you're physically able.

Don't reach your financial finish line with a full bank account but an empty tank. Your health is your greatest asset. Give it the same attention and care you give your investments.

Enter the Rule of 72.

The Rule of 72 is a mental shortcut that helps us quickly (but roughly) calculate how long it will take for our money to double. You simply take the number 72 and divide it by your expected annual return.

If your portfolio is project to grow at a steady 8% a year, you divide 72 by 8. The answer is 9. This means that without you adding another penny, your money is likely to double every 9 years.

It is a neat party trick, but the real value of the Rule of 72 is not the mathematics. It is the emotional relief it provides.

When we don't understand how compounding works, we tend to panic. We feel like we constantly need to be saving more, hustling harder, or chasing high-risk, high-reward investments just to reach our goals. We view wealth creation purely through the lens of our own effort.

The Rule of 72 proves that you do not have to do all the heavy lifting. Time is actually your most powerful asset.

When you realise that a steady, boring, well-diversified portfolio will naturally double your money over a decade, it removes the pressure to take reckless risks. It gives you permission to be patient. You don't need to outsmart the market; you just need to stay in it.

This is the heart of lifestyle financial planning. Your money is supposed to work for you, not the other way around.

When you trust the quiet, relentless math of compounding, you stop checking your portfolio every day. You stop stressing over short-term market dips. You realise that your capital is on a dependable, predictable trajectory.

And when you no longer have to spend your cognitive energy worrying about whether your money is growing fast enough, you can redirect that energy back to where it belongs: your family, your community, and the life you are actually meant to be living.

Make your money work for you. And if you need any help or a bit of advice, I'm always here to help

THE SHIFT FROM REACTIVE TO INTENTIONAL WEALTH

There’s a distinct feeling that comes with being out of control financially—a quiet anxiety that lingers in the background of daily life.

Without a plan, you spend your time reacting: to unexpected bills, late fees, and the pressure to keep up with others. Money begins to dictate your mood, limit your choices, and leave you feeling like you’re always playing catch-up.

But everything changes when you take back control. Instead of reacting to your money, you start directing it with intention. Here’s how:

1. Define your non-negotiables
If you don’t know what matters most, your money will be spent on whatever demands your attention in the moment. Identify your priorities—whether it’s funding your children’s education, travelling, or giving back to your community. When your values are clear, it becomes much easier to say no to distractions.

2. Create an intentional cash flow plan
A budget doesn’t have to feel restrictive. Think of it as a plan that gives your money purpose. By deciding where your money goes at the start of the month, you can spend confidently on the things you’ve prioritised, knowing the rest of your finances are covered.

3. Build an emergency fund
Unexpected expenses are inevitable, but they don’t have to become financial crises. An emergency fund acts as both a financial and emotional buffer, protecting your long-term goals when life throws you a curveball.

Taking control of your finances isn’t about being perfect. There will be months when you overspend or drift from your plan. What matters is having a clear foundation to return to. With defined priorities and a structured approach, setbacks become temporary detours—not permanent derailments.

If you'd like to chat further about this, or any other financial planning issue, I'm always here to assist.

THE NUMBER WON’T CHANGE THE NARRATIVE

We often operate under the subtle assumption that financial peace of mind is waiting for us at a specific destination.

We tell ourselves that once the mortgage is settled, or once the portfolio hits a certain number, a switch will flip in our brains and the low-grade anxiety will finally disappear.

But experience tells a very different story.

It is incredibly common to see people whose income has doubled over a decade, yet their financial stress has remained exactly the same. That is because peace of mind is not a mathematical equation; it is an internal posture.

If your relationship with money is rooted in a scarcity mindset or a quiet fear of losing control, a flawless balance sheet will not help you sleep any better at night.

True financial wellbeing requires us to look beyond the spreadsheet. It asks us to examine the invisible narratives we hold about our wealth, and to intentionally choose to relate to our capital from a place of grounded clarity, rather than quiet panic.

Need to review your narrative? Let’s chat.

The Opportunity Cost of ‘Inbox Zero’

Many of us start the day determined to clear our inboxes, believing everything must be read and sorted before we can focus on meaningful work.

We carefully manage our time, yet often overlook our most valuable resource: cognitive energy. In today’s hyper-connected world, the biggest threat to productivity may not be a lack of time, but the mismanagement of focus—and the pursuit of "Inbox Zero" is a prime culprit.

When you check email first thing in the morning, you’re opening a list of other people’s priorities. By responding immediately, you spend your freshest mental energy on reactive tasks instead of strategic, high-impact work. By the time you reach your most important responsibilities, your focus and energy may already be depleted.

This isn’t just psychological. Former tech executive Linda Stone coined the term "email apnea" to describe the tendency to hold your breath while processing emails and messages. This triggers a mild stress response, reducing focus, emotional regulation, and overall energy.

To protect your cognitive capital:
Do your most important work first. Reserve your peak energy for complex, creative, or strategic tasks.

Batch communications. Schedule specific times to process emails and messages rather than keeping them open all day.

Build in recovery time. Give your brain space between deep work and meetings to recharge.

As designer James Victore observed, we’ve blurred the line between what is urgent and what is important. Reclaiming your focus means setting your own priorities before allowing others to set them for you.

Protect your bandwidth, invest your energy wisely, and spend your best hours on what matters most. The result is not only greater productivity, but better health, happiness, and long-term success.

And please don’t hesitate to speak to me about anything financial. I’m here to help.

Keeping Money in Its Place

Many people look to their investments for security, hoping financial growth will bring peace of mind. While money is important, relying on it entirely for confidence and stability can be risky.

A timeless principle of financial planning is that money should serve you, not control you. When wealth is aligned with your values and goals, it becomes a tool rather than a source of stress.

Here are five principles to help keep money in its proper place:

1. Start Early
Wealth grows through patience. Compound interest rewards those who begin early and stay committed over time.

2. Diversify
Diversification reflects humility—it acknowledges that no one can predict the future and helps protect against uncertainty.

3. Review Regularly
Focus on whether your investments still align with your goals and values, rather than chasing short-term returns.

4. Stay Disciplined
Avoid making decisions driven by fear or greed. Long-term success comes from sticking to a well-considered plan.

5. Create a Budget
A budget gives your money direction. It helps ensure your spending supports your priorities instead of controlling them.

When your financial foundation is rooted in the right values, investing becomes less about anxiety and more about stewardship and purpose.

The Shift from Reactive to Intentional Wealth

Being out of control financially creates a constant sense of stress. When your money is unmanaged, you spend your time reacting to bills, late fees, and pressure to keep up with others. Money begins to feel heavy, limiting your choices and leaving you stuck in a cycle of catching up.

But everything changes when you take control. Instead of reacting to money, you begin directing it with intention. Here’s how to start building that control:

Define your non-negotiables
If you don’t know what matters most to you, your money will automatically flow toward convenience, impulse, or status. Decide what truly matters—whether it’s your children’s education, travel, or supporting your community. Clear priorities make it easier to avoid unnecessary spending.

Give your money a purpose
A budget shouldn’t feel restrictive. An intentional spending plan is actually freedom. When you decide in advance where your money should go, you can spend guilt-free on the things you’ve already planned for, while keeping the rest of your finances stable.

Build an emergency buffer
Unexpected expenses can quickly disrupt your finances. An emergency fund acts as protection against life’s surprises, helping you handle sudden costs without damaging your long-term financial goals.

Taking control of your finances is not about perfection. There will always be setbacks and months where things don’t go according to plan. What matters is having a clear foundation to return to. A bad month is only a detour, not the end of the journey.

If you'd like to chat more about financial wellbeing and how to get there, please drop me a line at your convenience.