By Marc C. Shaffer
As a financial planner, I’ve read countless books about money, investing, and building wealth. Few have resonated as deeply as Carl Richards’ Your Money: Reimagining Wealth in 101 Simple Sketches.
The beauty of Carl’s work lies in its simplicity, as each sketch distills a powerful truth about how we think, feel, and behave with money. Out of the 101 sketches in his book, three in particular stand out to me because they reflect how I approach both financial planning and life: Spend the Money, The Getting Ahead Trap, and The Number Above Our Heads.
Together, they capture what I believe wealth is really about; clarity, purpose, and connection.
- Spend the Money
One of Carl’s sketches shows two overlapping circles labeled “People You Love” and “Experiences.” The shaded space in the middle simply says, “Spend the Money.”
It’s a perfect reminder that the best return on investment often comes from time and memories, not markets.
Experiences with loved ones shape who we are and what we remember most; not the cars we drove or the brands we wore. As planners, we talk a lot about saving, investing, and preparing for the future. Those things matter, but they shouldn’t come at the cost of living meaningfully in the present.
Money is meant to serve your life, not the other way around.
I often encourage clients to give themselves permission to spend intentionally; especially when it connects them to the people and experiences that matter most.
Someday, all that saved money will mean far less than the moments shared with those we love. The memories you create now will become the wealth you cherish later.
- The Getting Ahead Trap
Another sketch that hits home for me is The Getting Ahead Trap.
It challenges our obsession with “getting ahead;” a race that often has no clear finish line. The drawing contrasts two bars: one labeled Having Enough and a much taller one labeled Trying to Get Ahead.
It’s a simple yet sobering picture. So many people chase “more” without ever stopping to define what “enough” looks like. They compare, compete, and push harder, thinking that fulfillment lies somewhere further down the road.
But as Carl writes, “Instead of getting ahead, get clear.”
That line captures something I see every day in financial planning: clarity brings peace.
When you understand your values and align your financial decisions with them, the noise quiets. You stop running someone else’s race. You start living your version of success.
Money should be a reflection of purpose, not pressure. Getting clear about what truly matters turns financial planning from a chase into a choice. When clients move from “How can I get ahead?” to “How can I create enough for what matters most?”, their whole outlook changes. They often gain confidence, reduce stress, and find a new rhythm in their financial lives. The goal isn’t to outpace anyone else, it’s to live well within your definition of success.
- The Number Above Our Heads
The third sketch, The Number Above Our Heads, poses a fascinating question: what if our true financial reality floated above us for everyone to see? How would our decisions change if others could see our debt, savings, or net worth in real time?
It’s a thought-provoking image, one that gets to the heart of authenticity and financial health.
So much of modern life revolves around appearance: the cars, the homes, the vacations that suggest success. Yet behind the curtain, those same choices can sometimes create stress, insecurity, or debt.
This sketch challenges us to replace financial posturing with financial honesty. As a planner, I see how liberating it can be when clients move from “What will people think?” to “What feels right for us?”
When people focus on their true financial well-being instead of keeping up appearances, they make more confident and grounded decisions. Financial freedom doesn’t come from impressing others, it comes from aligning your resources with your reality and goals. Living authentically with your money is one of the most powerful forms of wealth there is.
Putting It All Together
These three sketches, Spend the Money, The Getting Ahead Trap, and The Number Above Our Heads, share a common theme: clarity and intention.
They remind us that wealth is not a number but a mindset. It’s found in purpose, connection, and alignment between your money and your values.
Financial planning isn’t about outspending or outperforming others. It’s about creating a life that feels rich in every sense of the word. Whether that means taking a family trip, stepping off the treadmill of comparison, or being honest about where you stand financially, each decision can move you closer to the version of wealth that matters most to you.
At Searcy Financial Services and Allos Investment Advisors, we help clients do just that; build a life that reflects what they value most, not just what they can afford. True wealth is living intentionally, spending purposefully, and enjoying the experiences that money makes possible.
The opinions expressed herein are those of certain Searcy Financial Services, Inc. personnel and are subject to change without notice. The opinions expressed are as of the date of publication and are subject to revision due to changes in the market or economic conditions, which may not necessarily come to pass. Any opinions, projections, or forward-looking statements expressed herein are solely those of the author, may differ from the views or opinions expressed by others in the firm, and are meant for general informational purposes as of the date indicated. Searcy Financial Services, Inc. is not compensated by this vendor, nor are there material conflicts of interest that would affect the given statement.