I was at the gym with my daughter the other day and she wanted to start with the weight machines. I suggested we warm up with the treadmill as I needed to log some miles. She asked why and I mentioned a virtual race I was doing where we log 250 miles by the end of 2026 to celebrate the country’s 250th Anniversary. We logged a single mile and she laughed about not stopping early. She said even though it was an “on your honor” system, she said of course I wouldn’t stop early. It’s an integrity thing.
I laughed and thought about this tag line I always shared with the kids when they were growing up; that integrity is doing the right thing even when no one is looking. They had heard the words countless times, but it was her watching the action on the treadmill that brought it back. Our actions speak much louder than our words.
Do your spending, saving and investing actions tell a different story than your words? Often we talk about peace, security and saving while our credit card bills soar. Your advisor is a great resource to make sure your financial actions reflect the goals we so often speak of but often fall short of achieving on our own.