The One-Page Financial Plan

A Simple Way to Be Smart About Your Money

By: Carl Richards

Narrated by: Carl Richards

Length: 4 hrs and 3 mins

Publisher's Summary

Whenever I tell people about my job as a financial advisor, the conversation inevitably turns to how hopeless they feel when it comes to dealing with money. More than once, they've begged, "Just tell me what to do." It's no surprise that even my most successful friends feel confused or paralyzed. Even if they have a shelfful of personal finance books, they don't have time to make sense of all the information available. They don't just want good advice; they want the best advice - so rather than do the wrong thing, they do nothing. Their 401(k)s and bank statements pile up, unexamined or maybe even unopened.

What they don't realize is that bad calls about money aren't failures; they're just what happens when emotional creatures have to make decisions about the future with limited information. What I tell them is that we need to scrap striving for perfection and instead commit to a process of guessing and making adjustments when things go off track. Of course we're going to make the best guesses we can - but we're not going to obsess over getting them exactly right.

The fact is in a single page, you can prioritize what you really want in life and figure out how to get there. That's because a great financial plan has nothing to do with what the markets are doing, what your real estate agent is pitching, or the hot stock your brother-in-law told you about. It has everything to do with what's most important to you.

By now you may be wondering, "What about the details? How much do I need to invest each year, and how do I allocate it? How much life insurance do I need?" Don't worry: I'll cover those topics and many more, sharing strategies that will take the complexity out of them. The most important thing is getting clarity about the big picture, so you can cope with the unexpected. Maybe you'll lose the job you thought was secure; you'll take a financial risk that doesn't pan out; you'll have twins when you were budgeting for only one.

©2015 Carl Richards (P)2015 Gildan Media LLC

One of My New Favorite Money Books!

Loved Carl's transparency as a financial advisor. Many financial advisors are sleezy salespeople. The major brokerages DO pay most of them hefty bonuses and commissions based on production of specific products.

I have been an avid budgeter my entire adult life, but I've unfortunately let my emotions and my wants overshadow all of my plans. Putting some of this advice to work immediately!

Incredibly informative, oddly inspirational

Incredibly informative, oddly inspirational. The author does a great job at democratizing financial planning for the layman, as well as informing the experienced in new ways. thoroughly enjoyed listening.

Great Grounding for any Advisor or Individual

Thanks Carl- just listened to your book on a cross country flight. As an Advisor, I am challenged each day to communicate our Firm's philosophy to our clients. You have presented a complete and consistent message that bears repeating at every opportunity. The best approach for financial decision making is the simplest approach and it starts and ends with a question: What do you value about money?
You have affirmed why I have been a fan of yours for many years- keep up the good work- that of a real advisor!

Must read for every one

Any one who wants to have a secure financial plan need to read this. Talks about complex topics and small bit size pieces.

A Good and Simple Financial Book

I'm not very knowledgeable about finances, so I thought I would give it a try. The book did help me with budgeting and our money and my husband also read it and he helped me to understand it better. I believe a book like this would be a valuable tool for my children and their spouses .

Great usable information

This is a great book that is packed with information you can use immediately to take you to the next level. I recommend it especially for young people that like to use technology to automate processes and save time.

Steps to security

Exceptional information and advice for your financial & emotional future. Take control & assume responsibility.

Good Financial Book

I enjoyed the approach to how to deal with budgeting and money. The way you need to step back and evaluate what's important before developing a plan. It all comes down to communication.

Super useful and engaging

You can tell it's read by the author because of how "into it" he is. The advice is all wonderful, I can say for sure without being a financial expert, because the advice isn't never the answer, it's the *route* to the answer for *you*. Great book.

One of the best personal finance books out there

Would you listen to The One-Page Financial Plan again? Why?

I've listed to it twice and will likely do so again. It's a great reminder of how to view money and what's important in life.