Skip to main content

McKinley Carter Named One of America's Best Workplaces!

Freedom sign with road background

Equip Yourself for a Good Life

Photo of author, Brian Gongaware, CFP®, SE-AWMA™.
Brian Gongaware, CFP®, SE-AWMA™
Director of Advisory Services

Preparing for a lifelong financial journey requires an understanding of the possibilities, potential resources, and identification of contingency plans. The journey likely will require navigating a series of obstacles through varying conditions. You don’t have to sacrifice a Good Life today for a Good Life solely in retirement. How can we live a Good Life now and in the future? Today we unpack six critical actions required to equip yourself for a Good Life, financially.

  1. Gird Yourself with a Comprehensive Financial Strategy
  2. Design and Articulate a Realistic Set of Financial Goals
  3. Stand Firm in the Face of Diversity and Threats
  4. Build a Defense System to Protect Your Resources
  5. Craft a Commitment to Developing the Practices Required
  6. Accumulate Resources and Be Opportunistic in Changing Environments


In life no route map is provided. However, we can learn financial truths and practices to stock ourselves with the greatest possible probability of success. As you acquire new skills, you will become comfortable making financial decisions. In time, you can begin to look ahead and understand how to adjust accordingly.

So, how do you define a “good financial life”? Your specific description will be unique to your priorities, values, and desires. Our experience is that most people could use some help articulating and testing realistic financial goals. The most common goals include basic living expenses, automobiles, travel, education, weddings, home renovations, vacation home, charitable intentions, and/or a major purchase.

There likely will be times in which your financial security or expectations will be threatened. Having a well-grounded and rational approach will help you stand steady, be prudent, and act boldly and confidently. Financially there are threats in which we can diversify our risk and others in which are non-diversifiable. We must design a fortitude to protect our resources from harm.

There are also times when it seems like we are on a downhill coast and others where the climb will never end. Rarely is our financial life a smooth, level journey. You will be tested to call upon different experiences and strategies. We can find ourselves unsure as to how many resources are necessary for the entire journey and how we should manage our reserves for the uncertainty.

The Final Mile - Unfortunately, or fortunately, none of us know where or when we will reach our finish line. However, we will need to successfully navigate such key financial matters such as Financial Autonomy, Tax Planning, Estate Objectives, Debt Management, Career & Business, Investments, and Risk Management.

Your professional advisor can spot financial blind spots and help you successfully circumnavigate the landscape.

We invite you to learn how our leadership, expertise, and support empower families, businesses, and non-profit organizations to take great care of their total financial situation. In so doing, we help you navigate economic and financial uncertainties, attack the unknown obstacles that are inevitable, and pace yourself to maximize your resources for the entire journey.

Related Insights
JAB Blog SS Fairness Banner image

Social Security Fairness Act: More Money Today, But What About Tomorrow?

The Social Security Fairness Act was signed into law in January 2025. It repealed the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO), which had previously reduced Social Security benefits for public sector workers receiving pensions from non-Social Security-covered employment. Beginning in April 2025, public servants (teachers, firefighters, police officers) will begin seeing an increase in their monthly benefit payments. Learn more about the possible tax implications of the Social Security Fairness Act.

Read More
Crypto Blog 2 Image AMH 800px

A Simple Guide to Buying, Storing, Protecting Your Cryptocurrency

Whether you’re excited about diving into Bitcoin or exploring the vast range of altcoins, understanding the essentials of buying, storing, and protecting your digital assets is crucial. Here we break down the steps to safely purchase your first cryptocurrency, explore the different options for securely storing it, and provide you with practical tips on how to keep your crypto safe from theft or loss.

Read More
CJB Blog 2025 Kickoff Banner

5 Steps to Kick Off 2025 with Success

As we say goodbye to 2024 and welcome 2025, it’s the perfect time to reflect on where we’ve been and set the stage for where we want to go. The beginning of the year is all about starting strong. This is your chance to set priorities, take decisive action, and create momentum for the months ahead. Here are five actions we recommend to help you start 2025 with clarity, confidence, and purpose.

Read More
Play