Cultivate Financial Satisfaction with Money Roots' New Year Episode

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Welcome to Money Roots, the podcast where personal finance gets personal.

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Each week, Amy and her guests dig deep into the world of finance, making it more approachable and understandable for everyone.

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No matter where you are on your financial journey, from savings and investments to budgeting and planning, we'll bring you practical advice, inspiring stories and expert insights.

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We believe that everyone has the potential to grow a healthy financial future and we're here to help you nurture it.

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So whether you're a financial guru or just starting to plant the seeds of your financial knowledge, this is the place for you.

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Get ready to uncover the tools and strategies that can help you thrive financially.

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So without further ado, let's dive into today's episode of Money Roots.

Amy Irvine: 00:01:54

Happy New Year, Money Root listeners.

Amy Irvine: 00:01:56

Amy Irvine here, CEO and founder of Rooted Planning Group.

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ted to launch this podcast in: 2025

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And you know, it's a new year, lots of new often resolutions that are put into place and we hope that this year can start with something unique.

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When we talk about financial resolutions and that is financial satisfact, you're going to find in the show notes a tool that we're using with a lot of our clients to determine where their financial satisfaction actually is.

Amy Irvine: 00:02:32

Sounds funny, but when we're talking to people, we often want to talk to them about things like where are you satisfied?

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Let's focus on what you feel is going well, not just what you feel isn't going well.

Amy Irvine: 00:02:47

We also want to talk to people to see what level of knowledge they need to grow with regards to their financial satisfaction and financial knowledge level.

Amy Irvine: 00:02:58

So couple of things that we're thinking about that we hope that you might, you know, settle in a little bit into the new year and think, you know, I do have a lot to be grateful for.

Amy Irvine: 00:03:11

I have a lot to be satisfied with.

Amy Irvine: 00:03:13

So let me start with moving the level of satisfaction just a little bit, not trying to completely reset my satisfaction with my finances.

Amy Irvine: 00:03:24

So we're going to, like I said, put in the show notes a link to a financial satisfaction survey that you can take for yourself.

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Now, the survey is a quick and easy tool to complete, doesn't take that long.

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It'll allow you to access to assess your level of satisfaction with various aspects of your financial life.

Amy Irvine: 00:03:45

From here we can identify your priorities and discuss ways that might help reduce concerns and increase your senses of financial well being.

Amy Irvine: 00:03:54

And by say we, I definitely mean us if, if you want to work with us.

Amy Irvine: 00:03:59

But then I also mean perhaps you and your spouse, if you have a significant other Then we encourage you to do this satisfaction survey separately and then show each other what your answers are and talk about where there might be some differences, because experiences you have throughout the year can bring about new thoughts, ideas, concerns, and perspectives on your financial lives.

Amy Irvine: 00:04:25

So we would have you do this survey maybe at the beginning of the year, and then you may want to come back and redo this, the survey at different parts of time in your life.

Amy Irvine: 00:04:37

And also it gives you that opportunity, like I mentioned, to sort of check in each other.

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Would you, with each other if you have a significant other?

Amy Irvine: 00:04:47

A couple of questions that we would have you kind of think through after you've completed the survey would be things like, how was this exercise for you?

Amy Irvine: 00:04:59

Did it bring about any emotion?

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Do you have any insight?

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After you look at the output, were there any surprises?

Amy Irvine: 00:05:09

Focus on the high level of satisfaction.

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Think about what are the areas that actually have higher levels of satisfaction and what is contributing to that high level of satisfaction and what's going well in those areas.

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What if you had a 4 versus a 5?

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Is there anything that could get it from that 4 to a 5?

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And maybe a 4 is great and you're one of those people that never achieves fives on things Perfectly fine.

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Next, move to the middle ground.

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Tell me about the areas that you marked moderately satisfied.

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And I say me.

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Tell your spouse, tell your partner, tell a friend.

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What?

Amy Irvine: 00:05:55

Or tell yourself what are the areas that made you feel that they were moderately satisfied?

Amy Irvine: 00:06:02

Is there anything that you can do to help raise those levels of satisfaction in those areas just a little?

Amy Irvine: 00:06:09

We're not talking about remaking it just a little.

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What are baby steps?

Amy Irvine: 00:06:14

Can you think of any solutions at all that can help raise those just a point or two?

Amy Irvine: 00:06:21

And then after you've looked at the high level of satisfaction, and I would suggest that maybe you break this down into separate thinking sessions.

Amy Irvine: 00:06:32

So focus on high level satisfaction.

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You're good with that.

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At a separate thinking session, focus on middle ground.

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And then in a third thinking session addressed what you have indicated are not levels of high levels of satisfaction.

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Low levels of satisfaction.

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Was there ever a time when you would have marked those higher?

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What did it look like?

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What's the difference between now and then?

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Do you have any ideas what would have helped increase those level of satisfaction in those areas?

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All of those questions can help you a great deal.

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And again, can you raise them up to moderately satisfied at some point?

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Just a point or two out of all of the items that are listed?

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Do you feel there are any priorities currently?

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Is there anything that you thought about after you completed this that you might think is relevant to the survey?

Amy Irvine: 00:07:43

And when you think about that, just maybe keep a journal, you know, keep some notes.

Amy Irvine: 00:07:49

You can always go back to that same link and update any of the answers that you might feel are higher rated or lower rated in the future.

Amy Irvine: 00:07:59

So maybe come back to this link.

Amy Irvine: 00:08:01

Maybe three times a year would be a recommendation once you've determined your financial satisfaction.

Amy Irvine: 00:08:08

Again, this is just a tool to sort of get your mind thinking it's a seed planter.

Amy Irvine: 00:08:16

It can, you know, further other thoughts that you have about financial satisfaction.

Amy Irvine: 00:08:21

But I really want to say with a financial resolution to become more educated and track where you're at, keep coming back to this and making sure that you check in.

Amy Irvine: 00:08:35

Because I know people who started off one way at the beginning of the year and ended a completely different way on their financial satisfaction survey just because of circumstances within their life.

Amy Irvine: 00:08:48

We hope that you found this tool and many more to come as the year goes on to be very helpful and we wish you a very, very happy New year.

Amy Irvine: 00:08:58

We that: 2025

Amy Irvine: 00:09:08

We hope this tool is great for you and if you have any questions, concerns, or, you know, have any comments, we'd love to hear from you.

Amy Irvine: 00:09:17

And again, happy New Year.

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You've been listening to Money Roots, your go to podcast for making personal finance accessible and approachable.

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Thanks for joining us today.

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Amy and her guests have enjoyed guiding you through the roots of your financial journey.

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Remember, whether you're planting new seeds of financial knowledge or nurturing the growth of your existing financial plans, Money Roots is here to support you every step of the way.

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Be sure to follow them on Facebook X, LinkedIn and Instagram for more resources.

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And of course, subscribe to Money Roots wherever you get your podcasts so you never miss an episode.

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A big thank you to the sponsor, Rooted Planning Group, for making this show possible.

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At Rooted Planning Group, they're committed to helping you cultivate a thriving financial future.

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Until next time, keep growing your Money Roots.