In South Africa, freedom day is around the corner – April 27th to be exact. So, this post was created with this date in mind – but for our planners in Australia, New Zealand, Europe, US and the UK – you could use them too!
We believe that future financial planners will be experts at helping their clients have powerful conversations around financial freedom. Whilst that will sometimes tackle obvious things (like budgets), it will also have to focus around emotions and behaviours that are intrinsic to daily life. This means that you want to be using images, topics and words that your clients are used to seeing or engaging with every day.
With that in mind, we’ve created 8 new images…
Over the last few months we’ve been posting free images for Financial Planners to use on their LinkedIn updates (or any other social platform). This month we’re doing something extra special – we’re pulling some copy from our Freedom Day blog (part of our Contatto service) and have designed an image to each main point.
Please feel free to use these images on your LinkedIn stream leading up to Freedom Day (or simple to encourage your clients on their journey towards financial freedom!), and the copy – you can use as is or change to suit your personality. I like them all – but the last one has the most appeal!
POST IDEA: Make a commitment to change and make today the day you take control of your financial future.
POST IDEA: Take a good look at your spending habits, debt and credit history. If you are living above your means, work out by how much you’re overspending each month and whether it’s actually necessary. Talk about this with your partner and your kids and together, recognise and assess your spending habits — and the beliefs behind them.
POST IDEA: Come up with a financial game plan and timeline. Set yourself achievable financial goals, and consider using a money management app to help you on your way. Keep your daily spending behaviours in check with your overall goal.
POST IDEA: Want to save money? Cut your spending by simply refining some of your habits or elements of your lifestyle. For example, try cooking at home rather than ordering in or eating out, and enjoy the great outdoors rather than splashing heaps of cash in a bar. It’s very hard to build wealth if you live paycheck to paycheck, so it’s important to budget to get onto the track that you want to be.
POST IDEA: Squirrels aren’t just really cute – they’re setting an epic example! Start building an emergency fund by working up from a simple goal, such as saving enough for what you pay for electricity each month. Anything is better than nothing. Just don’t be deterred if an unforeseeable event occurs that sets you back financially and prevents you from reaching a monthly target. Start again and keeping squirreling away until you’ve reached #FinancialFreedom!
POST IDEA: Be proactive in your journey to financial independence by educating yourself financially. Take the time to review and understand your finances, read financial blogs, and find sources of financial inspiration. You may even wish to follow some financial gurus on Twitter, or participate in chats, such as #creditchat and #WBchat. It’s important to learn about your investment options (and know what’s out there beyond retirement accounts), so don’t hesitate to DM me for a meeting if you ever wish to discuss them in more depth.
POST IDEA: Give yourself time to reach your goals, and develop some good habits on the journey. If you plan for the future and maximise tax benefits while you’re young, you can really benefit from the powers of compound interest, so the sooner you start investing, the more time your money has to grow. It’s important to set realistic goals and stick to them; achieving financial security is a process.
POST IDEA: Don’t forget to give back by helping others to reach their goals once you have found a sound financial footing. This could mean donating a bit of cash to help someone reach a savings goal, or keeping a friend on track with their debt repayments. There is more to true wealth than simply retiring early or buying a yacht. Financial freedom arguably means being able to help others — whether this means setting up a trust fund for your children, donating to a local homeless shelter, or mentoring someone who’s in need of your expertise.
I hope this helps you!
