Measuring Your ROL

So much of life operates on a strict calendar.

We are regularly confronted with "Quarterly Reviews," "Year-to-Date" performance charts, and heat maps. Life, it can often seem, is easily obsessed with measuring time in fiscal periods and measuring success in percentages.

While we certainly pay attention to those metrics at Bespoke, there is a risk that, by focusing so heavily on Return on Investment (ROI), we lose sight of another metric: your Return on Life (ROL).

Regardless of what the calendar says, it is always the right time to pause and ask a different kind of question.

Not "What did the market do for me lately?" But rather, "What is my wealth allowing me to experience?"

In the wealth management profession, we spend decades teaching clients the discipline of accumulation. We talk about compounding, patience, and deferred gratification.

But there is a paradox that often affects high-net-worth families: You become so skilled at saving and growing wealth that you sometimes lose the muscle memory for enjoying it.

The purpose of a bespoke financial plan is not simply to see a bigger number at the bottom of a spreadsheet. The purpose is to provide the freedom to make choices.

If your portfolio beats the index by 2%, that is a financial statistic. But if you take the entire extended family away to the bush, or help a child buy their first home, or simply have the freedom to retire early to pursue a passion project… that is a life statistic.

One of the hardest transitions for successful people is moving from the mindset of storing up to the mindset of stewarding out, from saving to spending.

We often see clients hesitate to spend, driven by a deep-seated fear of "running out" or a habit of frugality that no longer serves them. Part of our role as your advisor is to give you permission to enjoy what you have built, when the time is right.

We model scenarios and stress-test portfolios precisely so that you can say "yes" to life’s opportunities without guilt.

Whether you are looking back on a recent milestone or planning your next chapter, I invite you to reflect on your Return on Life.

• Where have your resources brought you the most joy recently?

• Who did you get to help?

• What memories are you "banking"?

The markets will open and close every day, doing what they always do. But time is one resource that does not compound.

Here is to a wealth that is rich in the things that cannot be counted. Here’s to enhancing your Return on Life.

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If recent market headlines or personal changes have left you feeling unsettled, I’m here. Let’s revisit your plan, check in on your goals, and make sure your strategy still fits the life you’re building.