Over the past twenty plus years, we’ve helped a lot of people find solutions to their financial problems and investment considerations. Invariably, the underpinning for the solutions is a sound financial plan. Throughout this book, we’re going to walk you through a variety of different financial scenarios. Not every person experiences every situation, of course, but everyone does go through three distinct phases of their financial life. We’ve segmented these phases by age but do not intend to categorize people simply by how many years they have been walking around on the planet. We’re using the term “phases” to illustrate the different points of life each person goes through and what typically happens during those phases — financially, personally and emotionally. The phases provide a depiction of what we think most people go through, based on our professional experience. Everyone experiences these phases one way or another but not everyone realizes they are going through them. You can find millions of books on finance, investing, planning, and just about every other subject we deal with on a daily basis. We wanted to convey the real feelings you have as you go through life – specifically as it relates to your financial situation. We started writing with the intent on trying to describe real people and real situations that were clear and understandable. What we learned through the process is real emotions are not what you can put on paper but rather what is typically kept inside, hidden behind layers of doubt, concern, and confusion. We went through many iterations and rewrites to make the final product something that is a relatable and actionable read. Enjoy!