By Lorie Jones, Fearless Financial Advisors
I have had a bit of a rough month.
It is one of those times where you have so much to do and too little time to finish it and it just feels a bit overwhelming, I know you have been there. I came in the office the other day and Pam, my compliance guardian angel and newly minted office bestie, asked “How are you doing?” “I’m fine” I replied, mostly by habit. She turns and looks at me, and says, “No, How are you REALLY doing?”
That made me stop right in my tracks and take a deep breath. Honestly, I wasn’t fine. I was tired and overwhelmed and a little bit sad and scared. I took a minute and answered her real question
What followed was unexpected and beautiful. She didn’t try to fix it. She just saw me. She reminded me I mattered, offered a few kind words, and left me feeling a little lighter.
That moment reminded me why I do what I do.
Because this is what I want for my clients, not just a spreadsheet of their net worth, but a space to breathe. A place to be seen. A trusted voice to ask, “How are you really?”
Money is emotional.
Curiosity. Growth. Discovery. That “wait…am I the only one still figuring this out?” feeling is actually a sign you are trying. Nobody was born knowing what a portfolio allocation is, we all have to start somewhere, and asking the questions is how you start building real financial confidence.
And that’s okay. Because financial confidence doesn’t come from knowing everything.
It comes from having the courage to ask the questions.
So let’s do that. Let’s talk about the scary stuff, the 401(k) account you haven’t looked at in years, the retirement plan you keep meaning to start, the budget that looks great in Excel but never survives a Target run.
Let’s celebrate the little wins too. Like setting aside money each month even when it felt impossible. Or finally asking what the heck a Roth IRA is. (Spoiler alert: it’s not a fancy pasta dish, though that would be delicious.)
And yes, even if you are the spreadsheet queen who’s got a fully-funded emergency fund, diversified portfolio, and retirement mapped out until 104, maybe you just want someone to look you in the eye and say,
“You’ve done amazing. I see how hard you’ve worked.”
At Fearless Financial, we believe money is more than math. It’s your life. Your energy. Your financial decisions.
So next time someone asks, “How are you?” – pause.
Take that breath.
And if you’re not okay? That’s okay too.
We’re not here to judge.
We’re here to listen, to guide, and to help you build a financial plan aligned with what matters to you.
Let’s start with one simple question:
How are you really?
