The difference often comes down to systems, transparency, and having the right support By Bradley Sorenson, CFP®, MSPFP, Diversified Portfolios Inc.
Key Takeaways
1. Build Systems and Design Your Discipline
Knowing the plan is only step one. Executing it consistently over time is where the real work happens. Discipline is hard. That’s not a character flaw; it’s human nature. The good news is that you don’t need perfect willpower when the right systems are in place. Think of your 401(k) contributions, which are happening automatically. When you get a raise, you’re saving more dollars without having to make a new decision. Likewise, your mortgage, insurance premiums, and recurring bills are probably on autopay. You don’t rely on motivation for all of these decisions; you rely on structure. The same approach can work for other goals:
- Automatic transfers to savings or investment accounts
- Scheduled contributions for college funding
- Systematic rebalancing instead of emotional market timing
Well-designed systems remove daily decision-making and help you follow through on your intentions, even when life gets busy or motivation dips.
2. Embrace Proactive Transparency
You don’t have to tackle your financial resolutions alone. You have a team, and keeping us in the loop matters more than most people realize. I once received a call from a client who needed to liquidate a large portion of their portfolio because they were buying a new home. When I asked about their current home, they mentioned it hadn’t sold yet. Their plan was to sell investments and deal with the tax consequences later. If we’d talked earlier, we could have explored other strategies like bridging options, timing considerations, or alternative funding sources that may have avoided unnecessary capital gains altogether. That one conversation, had it happened sooner, could have saved tens of thousands of dollars (and a great deal of stress). Transparency isn’t about permission. It’s about opportunity. The earlier we know what’s changing, the more options we can help you evaluate.
3. Understand Your Money Story (It’s Shaping Your Decisions Whether You Know It or Not)
One area I’ve become especially interested in through my studies in behavioral finance is the idea of money scripts: the unconscious beliefs about money we develop in childhood that continue to influence how we save, spend, invest, and take risk as adults. So what does this have to do with your financial resolutions? Everything. When you don’t understand your own money scripts, you’re essentially fighting against invisible forces. You set a goal to save more, but an unconscious belief that ‘spending equals freedom’ keeps pulling you off track. Or you commit to investing more aggressively, but a childhood script about ‘money being scarce’ makes you panic and sell at the first market dip. When you understand why you feel the way you do about money, it becomes much easier for us to make decisions that truly align with your values and your life.
4. Bring Those Money Scripts Into the Light with Your Spouse
This is where money scripts get really interesting, and where they can cause the most trouble. You and your spouse each bring a lifetime of experiences to every financial conversation. You set a shared resolution (maybe it’s “save an extra $15,000 this year”), and one of you feels energized by the security it represents while the other feels constrained by what it might cost in terms of present-day freedom or joy. Neither perspective is wrong; they’re just different. When you don’t understand where those differences come from, even the most well-intentioned goals can create distance instead of bringing you closer. Once we identify what’s driving those feelings, solutions usually emerge pretty naturally. Because here’s the thing: you got married for a reason. You love each other! You generally want the same outcomes. When that mutual understanding exists, we can design resolutions that honor what matters to both of you. And this stands as an open invitation: when financial questions or disagreements come up, you don’t have to navigate them alone. Bring us into the conversation. As a neutral third party, we can often help clarify what’s actually happening beneath the surface. Related: How Couples Can Resolve Money Disagreements and Make Better Financial Decisions Together
5. Check In Regularly (and Know We’re Always Available)
Understanding yourself and your partner is crucial. But even with that awareness, resolutions still need structure and support to survive the full year. We’re watching how your estate plan, insurance coverage, tax strategy, and cash flow all interact year-round. So when motivation dips in March, when an unexpected expense throws off your savings plan in June, when you and your spouse can’t agree on a financial decision in October—tell us. Those moments aren’t failures. They’re exactly when guidance makes the biggest difference, and they’re exactly why we’re here.
Your Fresh Start
As you look ahead to this year, remember that successful financial goals aren’t just about the numbers or about perfecting any single strategy. They’re about how these pieces reinforce each other. Systems create the structure that makes follow-through easier. Transparency opens up options you didn’t know existed. Understanding your money scripts removes the internal resistance that derails progress. Alignment with your spouse turns potential friction into partnership. And having a team means you’re never figuring it out alone. When you’re unsure about a decision, call us before you act. And when you and your spouse can’t quite find common ground, let us help bridge the gap. We pride ourselves on going the extra mile (one of our team members literally drove 50 minutes to return a client’s purse!). Whatever we can do to be helpful, we’re going to do it. If you’re not yet a client, we’d welcome the opportunity to learn about your goals and explore how we might support you and your spouse in building a financial plan that actually sticks. Schedule a complimentary meeting to start the conversation. Diversified Portfolios Inc. is a registered investment adviser. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax, or estate planning advice. We recommend consulting with qualified professionals for guidance specific to your situation.
