Financial planner Louis Barajas argues that saying you lack time or money is usually a priority problem. He shows how people find resources for concerts but claim they can't afford estate planning or investing. His approach, Finanzas con Corazón, starts by clarifying your values, because values shape where your time and money actually go.
People tell me all the time, "Louis, I just don't have the time," or "I don't have the money." And actually, I don't believe them. Why? Because I've got enough experience in this. Not because they're lying, but because time and money always flows to our most important priorities. Think about it. When your favorite artist comes to town, you somehow find the time, you buy the tickets, you buy a new outfit, you make dinner reservations, you pay for parking, you post the pictures. And yeah, I know one night can easily cost $1,000 or more, but when it's time to invest in your future, Well, suddenly there's no time, no money for an estate plan, no money to start investing, no money to pay down debt, no money to protect your family. Now here's what I've learned after almost 40 years as a financial planner. People rarely have a time problem. People rarely have a money problem. More often, it's a priority problem. That's why Finanzas con Corazón doesn't begin with budgets or investments. It begins with values, because your values determine your priorities, and your priorities, well, they determine where your time goes. So where your time and money go, your future's always gonna follow. So here's my challenge to you: don't tell me what's important. Show me your calendar and your bank statement, and they'll tell me your priorities. If your future isn't showing up there, maybe it's time to make it one.
