This was a great/interesting post.

As I think you know, it’s all about freedom for me while, for my wife it’s definitely security (but, she is not an MDJ reader so, probably doesn’t count in your tally).

Your on-going commitment to delve deeper and to offer a more “holistic” approach to financial planning services is/was new (in my experience) and continues to be a big part what makes me a happy client of yours.

Thank you!

Thanks for all your openness in sharing your value.

That makes the score:

Freedom 14
Security 8
Self-confidence 4
Independence 3
Fun 1

Ed

Wealth brings a lot of change to your life. If you can manage and grow wealth properly I think you have a lot more options in life than those who can’t.

Till then,

Jean

For every person there is at least 1 underlying goal that everyone wants to achieve. Any everything else is part of that path. Very enlightening article by far. :)

Freedom has been the number one value for me, in term of my relationship with money. I’m a creative professional in the arts. My path is such that it’s taken decades to hone my craft to the point that my work is finally worth quite a bit in the marketplace. So I went for a very long time accepting no security, no nest egg at all, sometimes crushing debt, being attached to many strings, etc., in order to stick it out in this calling, always trying to hold to a sense of optimism. It is a calling for me, not a career choice, so there hasn’t really been an alternative but to accept lack of security.

So, at last I have money saved, a decent and rising income, no debt, and a fulfilling life and career. The compromise is…I’m now 50. And while I’m definitely shifting values to security, the freedom to live a somewhat irregular sort of life out of necessity will always remain a priority. I’m never going to retire, so that concept actually seems a little foreign!

Cheers.

The score so far by my count is:

Freedom 12
Security 6
Independence 2
Self-confidence 2
Fun 1

That’s interesting. Among the thousands of people we have talked with, Security is the #1 answer and Freedom is usually #2. It appears that MDJ readers are more motivated by Freedom than the general public.

Ed

Thanks for your interesting comments.

From our experience, most people have one deeper, underlying value related to money and it usually does not change during their life. If several sounds right, but you think deeper about them, you will probably realize that one is your main motivation and the other is just part of the path.

For example, Sauce, your post sounds like your real value is probably independence (or possibly freedom). Security is part of the path, because you need to be secure first, and you want freedom to travel, but the deeper underlying motivation is to be independent.

If you are thinking your value will change when you have more money or later in life, those values you expect to have later are probably your true value. The ones when you have less money or are younger are usually part of the path to get to your true value about money.

Think deeper – not just how you feel today, but what motivates you to be that way or want those things.

Ed

Our goal is first to be Secure through not have any debt and building our nest-egg. The second goal would be to grow our finances to a point of having the freedom to travel and do the things we want, be more financially independent.

With freedom comes opportunity and with opportunity comes choice and with choice comes independence!

Interesting post.
Cheers!

Definitely food for thought though.

My wife is definitely Security/Peace of Mind. She doesnt’ think a lot about money, but the most important things to her would be a roof over her head that is her own, and no debt.