Are You Living Your Authentic Life?

"Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it."

Ferris Bueller’s famous words have always stuck with me. Not just because Ferris Bueller’s Day Off was one of my favorite movies growing up, but because this idea—being intentional with your time—defines how I approach life and financial planning.

Are You Prioritizing What Matters Most?

It’s easy to let life fill up with the small stuff—emails, errands, and obligations that don’t truly matter. But if you aren’t intentional, the things that do matter—your relationships, passions, and purpose—can get pushed aside.

You may have heard of the jar analogy. A professor gives students a jar and asks them to fit large rocks, pebbles, and sand inside. If they start with the sand (the little things), the rocks (the most important things) won’t fit. But when they start with the rocks, then add the pebbles and sand, everything fits perfectly.

Your life works the same way. If you don’t prioritize your “rocks” first, they may not fit at all.

The Role of Life Planning

Life planning is about identifying your rocks—the people, pursuits, and experiences that matter most—and making sure they come first. It’s about structuring your life and finances in a way that supports what’s most essential to you, rather than squeezing things in when you can.

This is where financial planning becomes truly powerful. Building wealth for its own sake isn’t the goal—money is just a tool to help you create the life you want. As a financial life planner, I help my clients not only define their Authentic Life but also align their finances to make it a reality.

So, what are your rocks? And are you putting them first?