Walking side by side

WHY CONNECTION MATTERS IN FINANCIAL PLANNING

On the Camino (The Camino de Santiago, also known as the Way of St. James), you don’t just cover distance… you share it. Step by step, story by story, you move forward. And somewhere between the footfalls, something profound happens: connection.

I’ve had the privilege of walking part of the Camino with a group of clients and friends. When you’re covering 163km over six days, it’s not just about the challenge or the destination; it’s about what rises to the surface when we slow down and make space for reflection.

Among the group are two women I introduced five years ago. They’ve since become dear friends, having both lost their spouses to cancer. Walking together, they share not only memories and milestones, but a mutual understanding that transcends words. The grief of transitions we don’t choose, and the opportunities that arise in adversity.

Ahead of us, a couple walks hand in hand, pausing for a moment of shared silence. With tears in their eyes, they say softly, “That’s what we miss most.” Connection. Intimacy. Companionship.

These aren’t casual conversations. These are the real, human threads that underlie every decision, and that’s what lifestyle financial planning is all about.

As we walk, the conversations evolve. At 76, one of the ladies wonders aloud, “Will this be my last Camino?” Her voice carries questions about aging, relevance, and how we wish to be treated as we grow older. It’s not just about money. It’s about purpose, dignity, and the legacy we hope to leave; not only in wealth, but in presence.

There’s something about walking that invites honesty. It’s disarming. Maybe it’s the rhythm. Maybe it’s the lack of eye contact. Maybe it’s just that our bodies are moving and our minds feel freer to follow. We speak of losses, hopes, regrets, and dreams. We talk about the past and future, and somehow, the present starts to make more sense.

I often say: if I were starting over as a young financial planner, I’d develop a walking app for first meetings. Not for step counts or heart rates, but for heart space. Imagine taking a walk with your financial planner - not sitting across a desk, but moving together, side by side, exploring financial health in the same breath as their real-life story. 

It’s hard not to build trust that way.

Because here’s the truth: great decisions (and financial planning!) are rooted in relationships. Not just the relationship between planner and client, but between you and the people who hold meaning in your life. Spouses, children, siblings, friends… even walking companions. 

When we understand someone’s relationships, we better understand their priorities. And when we plan from that place, the numbers become more than numbers. They become tools for living well.

So here’s to walking, and to the conversations that come with it. Here’s to the questions we only ask when we slow down enough to listen for the answers. And here’s to a kind of financial planning that moves at the pace of life — not just the pace of the market.

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If you’re ready to walk through your financial life with more clarity, connection, and confidence, we’re here for the journey. Let’s talk about how your wealth can support the life, and the relationships, that matter most.