The Power of Congruence: Aligning Values, Beliefs, and Actions

Have you ever gathered as a family to discuss a big financial decision, only to feel that something wasn’t quite right? Maybe you were planning to save for a big vacation or buy a new home, but as the conversation unfolded, it became clear that your personal priorities didn’t fully align with those of your partner or children. These moments of tension, where financial goals don’t reflect deeper values, are common for many families. The good news? They present an opportunity to pause, reflect, and ensure your financial path truly honors what matters most to you.

Bringing Congruence to Your Financial Decisions

In life, it’s normal to experience moments of incongruence, where our goals, values, and actions don’t align. This misalignment doesn’t mean failure but instead offers a chance for growth and deeper understanding. When we take the time to recognize where our financial decisions don’t match our core values, we can start making adjustments that better reflect what truly matters.

If you’re navigating these differences with your family—whether it’s discussing retirement plans, estate matters, or even everyday spending—begin by identifying the values that are at the heart of each decision. Below are five steps to help you achieve greater congruence in your financial life.

1. Reflect on Your Core Values: Take the time to independently consider what’s most important to you. Understanding your own and your family’s values forms the basis for better decision making. There are several ways to get started:
   • Values Assessment Tools: Online resources, such as the Life Values Inventory — Values Clarification Program, can help clarify what matters most to you.
   • Personal Reflection: Write down moments in life when you felt most fulfilled. What themes do you see? These insights often point to your core values.
   • Family Conversations: Engage your family in discussions about shared values. Questions like “What makes us feel fulfilled?” or “What legacy do we want to create?” can provide clarity and connection.
2. Have Open, Honest Conversations: Once you’ve reflected on your values, it’s time to talk. Discuss any points of tension around financial decisions—past or present. Understanding the cause of disagreements or discomfort helps align future decisions with shared values.
3. Reevaluate Your Financial Goals: It’s easy to set financial goals without considering the deeper “why.” Review your current financial goals and ask yourself if they reflect what you and your family truly want? If not, adjust them to create harmony between your financial strategies and your core beliefs.
4. Embrace Flexibility: Life changes, and so do values. As your children grow or circumstances evolve, values and priorities can shift. By maintaining flexibility and keeping communication open, you can ensure that your financial plans evolve with your family’s changing needs.
5. Seek Guidance When Needed: Sometimes it takes an outside perspective to bring clarity. A financial advisor can help you articulate your values and build a strategy that aligns with them, offering tools and guidance to close any gaps between your goals and your actions.

Congruence in Action: Listening to What Truly Matters

Conversations about financial decisions can be difficult. At Bragg Financial, we believe that effective financial planning begins by understanding what drives your decisions, whether financial security, legacy building, or personal fulfillment. We focus on active listening and try to understand the motivations, fears, and hopes beneath the surface of your financial goals. This method can aid your own discussions.

When we ask questions, we explore not just your financial aspirations but the values that shape them. This approach ensures that your strategies align with the personal “why” behind your goals. It can help you develop a plan to serve as a roadmap for your financial journey, giving you confidence that your decisions reflect both your values and long-term vision.

Every family is different when it comes to their financial goals and the motivations that drive them. You may be wondering how to translate your values into your financial life. Here are a few examples of how we have seen them put into practice.

• Stewardship: Many individuals see their wealth as something to carefully manage for future generations. We often work with clients who not only want to secure a financial legacy but also wish to pass down principles of responsibility and stewardship. By including family members in financial discussions, we help instill these values, ensuring that the next generation is prepared to carry on the legacy.
• Charitable Giving: For those who desire to make a positive impact, charitable giving can become a meaningful extension of their values. What may begin as a strategy for tax planning often evolves into a thoughtful expression of purpose. Together, we explore how they envision their contributions supporting causes they care about, both during their lifetime and for future generations, tailoring plans that support both immediate and long-term goals.
• Education: Through discovery questions, we often uncover that clients place a high priority on supporting family members’ educational goals. This commitment may lead to an intentional and potentially unequal distribution of inheritance—an approach that aligns with their values. Rather than focusing on equal allocation, these individuals aim to empower their loved ones with the resources to pursue academic and career aspirations without financial barriers. We work to incorporate this priority into their financial plan, allowing for dedicated educational funding while balancing it with their broader legacy goals.

Moving Toward Alignment

For many, achieving financial congruence is an ongoing journey. It’s not about achieving perfection but about continually realigning your actions with your values as life evolves. We understand that these moments of misalignment can arise, and we see them as opportunities to deepen your understanding of what truly matters to you and your family.

The team at Bragg Financial is here to support you through these transitions. Whether it’s reassessing your current financial goals, adapting strategies for generational wealth, or simply revisiting the values that underpin your decisions, our priority is to ensure that your financial life reflects what you care about most. If at any point you feel that your goals or strategies could benefit from further alignment, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Together, we can ensure that your financial decisions continue to serve you and your family’s long-term vision.

This information is believed to be accurate at the time of publication but should not be used as specific investment or tax advice as opinions and legislation are subject to change. You should always consult your tax professional or other advisors before acting on the ideas presented here.