Life goals and financial planning again

Much of today was spent helping a couple from London make difficult decisions about whether to move to another country and if so what to do with their London house in the context of a very difficult property market.

As usual the decision was made much more simple by referring back to the client’s profound life goals and applying fundamental financial planning principles relating to debt, financial security and financial stability.

The clients were already emotionally ready and willing to move; the conversations today were about the practical “buts” including realising a loss and early redemption penalties if they sold their house now rather than rented it. The number crunching was easy and we had a numerical assessment of all the options. However, the discussion about attitudes to money was more important and when the clients moved from “money leading life” to “life leading money” we concluded that although it was the wrong time to sell in market terms, it was the right time to sell in life goals and financial planning terms.

At the end of the day they wrote to thank us “for helping us navigate through what we see as big seas, but in the grand scheme, just a wave in the ocean of life.”