This article was published in the "Martinelli Newspapers" in the June 8, 2006 weekly issue of The Westchester Crusader, The Rye Chronicle, The Eastchester Record, The Pelham Sun, The Sound View News Home News & Times, The Mt. Vernon Independent, Harrison Independent
and North Castle News

Life and Money - "Holistic Financial Planning and God "

By Frank Sisco, CPA, PFS

(Word count = 789 plus 67 words for About the Author)

If you want advice about particular financial issues, you could get it from very many sources, and the process is fairly straightforward.  But if you want advice about issues that are very interrelated, complicated and call for an understanding of your feelings, goals, and relationships, then the financial planning process is not at all simple.  In fact, the process will stretch you in new directions, cause you to second guess your objectives and even challenge how God fits into your life and money. 

The process is sometimes called Holistic Financial Planning, and tries to evaluate the pieces of you and your life in such a way in order to help make the whole you, and your finances, much greater than the sum of the parts.  Like creating a beautiful puzzle out of a mix of components. This type of financial planning gets into various matters of the heart such how you share your life with your family members and your friends, how you juggle your time for hobbies, business and home, your passions, and your relationship with God and other people, which after all, can have a greater impact on the success of your financial planning than the latest return on the S&P 500 index or the newest tax law. The process requires an open and honest sharing with your financial advisor, family members, other individuals with whom you are closely involved, and with yourself.

Getting the help of a financial advisor.

The best financial advisor is usually one who is holistic in attitude, experience and in approach, and demonstrates a sensitivity and dedication to helping clients in a way that is objective, fair and maximizes value for the client.   The advisor should be creative and an excellent communicator, and a team player.    Often, a warm caring approach can count as much as, if not more than, technical skills.   The old saying is apt:   "People don't really care how much you know, but they know how much you care."

The process of holistic financial planning.

There are seven main phases of working with a financial advisor who addresses the whole you.  For each phase, the holistic advisor gathers information about your key sensitivity attributes, and what influences these attributes.   You and the advisor then work together in developing financial strategies that are tailored around these attributes.  Fees are usually based on performance and value created, rather than merely based on time spent.   Check references.  Story telling and the family profile are important tools used in communicating ideas and views.

The spiritual component.

Once you get comfortable with the beginning stages of holistic financial planning, the next deeper level of such planning is to include the spiritual component pervasively in the planning process.  

Studies show that over 90% of us believe in God or whatever name is given to the higher force that has a hand in our lives.   From a holistic financial planning viewpoint, the differences among religions are not important.   What is important is that a person believes that a higher force can influence the person's life directly or through other people.   And by believing that unconditionally, it then opens up the possibility for great strides in the holistic financial planning process.   The person becomes able to see their own life as the beautiful blend of experiences which all had purpose and meaning, and that the current life is a launch pad for an even more remarkable life to come.   This makes it possible to fit together the component strategies into a cohesive whole that is a reflection of a person's true inner being.   I also think the belief in God, the higher force, and in other people then opens one's heart as well as mind to a more open sharing of one's life, and this leads to results more closely tied to what a person really wants.  

The seven spiritual principles that, if followed, I believe could help you to attain your goals of life and finances are: (1) Ask and you shall receive. (2) Be here now, with God, calm and simple.  (3) Forgive, give, share, and be tolerant and humble.  (4) Add real value, utilize resources and live with integrity. (5) Follow your heart and your soul.  (6)  Serve and be served by people instead of things.  (7) Believe in God and yourself, mind the signs, and open yourself to God and miracles.

Holistic financial planning could make a profound difference in your life and the differences you make in the lives of other people.   If you would like to share some of your own experiences of how God and spirituality have impacted your life and money, please feel free to contact me.

About the author.

Frank Sisco is a CPA and Personal Financial Specialist, and author of many articles about personal finance and issues of life and money.   His firm, Financial Management Corporation, is located in Harrison, NY.  Frank resides with his wife and daughter in New Rochelle, NY.  He can be reached at 914.381.3737 or by email at ideasmoney@aol.com.  Visit his website at www.LifeAndMoney.com, which contains this and prior articles.