Core Values: The Intersection of Wealth and Wellness
January 15th, 2025 // Adam Bruderly
When it comes to building a fulfilling life, wealth and wellness are deeply intertwined. True success isn’t just about financial security or physical health—it’s about creating harmony between the two, rooted in what truly matters to you. At the heart of this alignment are your core values, the guiding principles that influence your decisions, shape your priorities, and define what fulfillment looks like for you.
For many, family is a cornerstone value. Whether it’s providing financial stability for future generations, prioritizing quality time with loved ones, or creating a legacy of meaningful experiences, anchoring wealth and wellness in family values establishes a foundation for purpose-driven living.
Why Core Values Matter in Wealth and Wellness
Core values are more than abstract ideas; they are the framework that brings clarity to how you allocate your time, energy, and resources. When wealth and wellness align with your values, you create a life that is both balanced and fulfilling.
Purposeful Financial Choices
Your values help you make intentional financial decisions that align with what truly matters. For example, if family is a core value, you might prioritize saving for family vacations, investing in your children’s education, or building a financial safety net for loved ones.
Stronger Relationships
Core values like family, connection, and generosity often revolve around relationships. Aligning your financial plans with these values enables you to strengthen bonds, whether it’s through shared experiences, thoughtful gifts, or time spent together.
Health and Resilience
Knowing your values provides clarity during life’s challenges. When you align your wealth-building efforts with your well-being priorities, you’re better equipped to handle stress, setbacks, or transitions. Financial stability supports emotional and physical wellness, and vice versa.
Legacy and Impact
Core values shape the legacy you leave behind. When your wealth reflects your principles, it becomes a tool for positive impact—whether that’s supporting family, contributing to your community, or ensuring your loved ones are cared for after you’re gone.
How to Identify Your Core Values
Discovering your core values is a process of self-reflection. Here are a few ways to start:
Reflect on Your Peak Experiences
Think about times in your life when you felt happiest and most fulfilled. What were you doing? Who were you with? These moments often reveal your true priorities.
Identify Patterns in Your Spending
Take a look at where your money went this year. Were you spending on things or experiences that brought you lasting joy? Or did some expenditures feel misaligned with your values?
Ask Yourself Key Questions
What matters most to me—personally, professionally, and financially?
What would I regret not doing or prioritizing in my life?
How do I want my wealth to support my well-being and my family?
Narrow Down Your Values
Review a list of common values—like family, health, generosity, adventure, or security—and highlight the ones that resonate most. Narrow it down to 5-7 that truly define your priorities.
Family Values in Action
Let’s anchor these ideas to a real-world example. Imagine that family is one of your core values. As you review the past year, you notice that a significant portion of your spending went toward material purchases—things that brought only fleeting satisfaction—or that much of your disposable income went unspent.
In contrast, your most treasured memories usually come from shared experiences. Cheering on your children at their sporting events, hosting that family picnic or gathering, a great meal with friends, or that weekend getaway with your spouse or partner.
These moments of connection stand out as the highlights of your year, reinforcing the idea that your financial decisions should support what truly brings you fulfillment.
This reflection might inspire you to:
Prioritize Experiences: Set aside a portion of your budget for travel, family outings, or other activities that deepen your relationships.
Create a “Family Fund”: Plan for events like family reunions, sporting events, or annual traditions.
Invest in Memories: Allocate resources to opportunities that strengthen bonds, such as vacation funds, concert tickets, or memberships to local attractions.
By aligning your wealth with your family values, you create a life where your resources work to support connection and joy.
Core Values in Financial Planning
Core values aren’t just about what you do in your personal life; they should also guide your financial planning. Aligning your wealth with your values helps ensures your financial success is meaningful and supports both your wellness and your priorities.
For example:
Health and Wellness: If wellness is a core value, you might allocate funds for gym memberships, nutritious meal plans, or mental health resources.
Family Security: If family is a top priority, you might focus on building an education fund, creating a strong retirement plan, or investing in family-oriented experiences.
Legacy Building: If generosity is a key value, your financial plan could include philanthropy or support for community initiatives.
Financial planning rooted in core values turns wealth into a tool for achieving what truly matters.
Start Your Core Values Journey
As you reflect on the past year, ask yourself: Have you checked in on your values? If not, now is the perfect time to start. By aligning your wealth with your priorities, you can create a life that’s both purposeful and fulfilling.
At Journey Wealth, we specialize in helping individuals and families uncover their core values and align them with their financial goals. Whether it’s designing a family-centered financial plan or creating strategies that support your well-being, we’re here to help.
Let us guide you in creating a roadmap where wealth and wellness intersect, anchored in what matters most to you. Reach out today and let’s start the journey together
