Financial Independence

This year has sparked a lot of conversation about insurance.  COVID brought the prospect of death to the forefront for some, and many had a temporary loss of income which gave them a glimpse of what life might look like without a paycheck. These are good motivators for checking both your life and disability insurance policies to make sure you have the right coverage. 

A common question I hear is “when can I stop working?”  Not that the client necessarily wants to stop working, they just want to know that they can stop.  That would be my definition of financial independence; knowing that your investments or other income is enough to support your lifestyle, independent of your work. 

There is ongoing academic research regarding how much money it takes to be happy, or at least satisfied, with one’s financial life.  While the numbers vary, at a certain point, studies show that increases in annual income no longer seem to bring greater happiness.

We are excited to announce Sharon Weaver’s paper “Scaffolding or Enabling? Implications of Extended Parental Financial Support into Adulthood” has been published by the Journal of Financial Therapy.