Balancing out the schedule

With the demands of the job of a financial advisor, it can be easy to let the Whole Person concept, emphasizing the importance of work-life balance, fall by the wayside. That’s why I’ve taken steps to make sure that doesn’t happen.

Running a financial planning practice, my preference is to have spouses in the room together, and sometimes that’s off-hours. If I’m going to sacrifice time with my family for, let’s say a Tuesday evening meeting, the next day I’m going to be home early so I can be there for dinner and to play with the kids. I only do those evening meetings twice a week. I feel that’s a good balance to grow the practice and make sure the kids know what my face looks like.

I also work to find time to exercise. I know that if I carve the time to exercise, I feel better, which makes me more productive and more effective. Similarly, if I don’t see my kids four days in the week before they go to bed, I don’t feel good. It’s just sort of recognizing what makes me happy and productive and striking that balance. I think that’s a conversation for each household to have of what that balance looks like.

For more Whole Person ideas

•        “Well mind and body” (pdf)
•        “Don’t allow negativity” (video)
•        “Whole Person balance quiz” (pdf)

Written by Douglas Broekhof Miller, CLU CFP, a seven-year MDRT member from San Jose, California