The 2024 Annual Financial Playbook
8 Questions That'll Transform Your 2025
Most annual reviews are a waste of time.
They focus on spreadsheets and numbers while ignoring what actually matters—building wealth that gives you freedom.
And if you're like most of my high-performing clients, you're tired of trading time for money while missing life's biggest moments.
But here's the truth: The difference between good and great financial years isn't about optimizing every dollar. It's about asking yourself the right questions that unlock both wealth and freedom.
Let’s get into the 8 questions that’ll transform your 2025
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1. The Mindset Shift
"What new beliefs about life and money did you adopt this year?"
This question matters more than any investment return. Why Because mindset shifts compound faster than interest. I've watched clients 10x their net worth not by working harder, but by completely reframing how wealth really works.
Look for shifts like:
“I stopped thinking working more hours equals more success.”
“I started thinking about how can I create value and make money while I have the day off with my kids?"
Pay special attention to beliefs that challenged your old way of thinking. These are usually the ones that feel slightly uncomfortable but deeply true.
2. The Energy Audit
"Which decisions gave you energy vs. drained you?"
Here's what most people miss: Your energy is the ultimate leading indicator of financial success. When you're energized, you make better decisions, spot bigger opportunities, and execute with clarity.
Track these patterns:
Draining:
DIY-ing your taxes
Overthinking every investment move
Saying yes to "opportunities" that steal family time
Energizing:
Delegating taxes to that CPA
Automating your investments
Setting boundaries at work
Your future wealth is directly tied to how you manage your energy today. Start treating it like the finite resource it is.
3. The Real Wins
“What were my biggest financial wins this year?”
Stop measuring success by society's yardstick. Most "wins" that look good on paper don't actually create freedom. I've seen too many six-figure earners trapped in golden handcuffs because they chased the wrong metrics.
Count these as victories:
Taking Fridays off with your kids
Finally saying no to weekend work
Built that first additional income stream
Maxing out your tax-advantaged accounts
Remember: The best wins often feel small in the moment but compound dramatically over time. They're rarely Instagram-worthy but always freedom-building.
4. The Reality Check
"Where did you overcomplicate things?"
If you're like most of my clients, you're probably overcomplicating your path to wealth. The most successful people I work with aren't doing 100 things right—they're doing 5-6 fundamental things consistently.
Be brutally honest about:
Chasing a raise that cost you family time
Trying to optimize everything (and achieving nothing)
Overthinking investments instead of automating them
Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication in wealth building. The best systems are often the most boring—and that's exactly why they work.
5. The 80/20 Analysis
"What 20% of your actions drove 80% of your progress?
After analyzing hundreds of high-performer journeys, I've noticed a pattern: Their biggest breakthroughs came from a handful of decisive actions, not hundreds of micro-optimizations.
Usually it's just:
Making 2-3 bold career moves
Automating your wealth building
Learning from people a few steps ahead of you
Look for the leverage points in your own life.
6. The Fear Factor
"What moves did fear stop you from making?"
Fear is the hidden tax on your wealth-building journey. Every time you let fear drive a decision, you're paying this tax. And unlike the IRS, this one's completely optional.
Common answers of what fear interrupted:
Negotiating that overdue raise
Taking a sabbatical to reset
Starting that side hustle
The most expensive words in building life you want? "I'll do it next year." I've watched too many brilliant people put off game-changing moves because the timing wasn't "perfect."
Spoiler alert: It never is.
7. The Stop/Keep/Start Framework
“What should I stop doing, keep doing, and start doing?”
This isn't just another to-do list. It's about aligning your daily actions with your definition of freedom. The magic happens when you stop doing what you think you should do and start doing what actually works.
Break it down into three buckets. Here are some examples that I always here:
Stop:
DIY-ing everything
Sacrificing health for wealth
Working nights and weekends (Your best ideas rarely come from your laptop at 11 PM)
Keep:
Family dinner time
Automated investments (Boring? Yes. Effective? Also yes)
Monthly money reviews (15 minutes, no spreadsheets required)
Start:
Taking Fridays off
Investing in yourself
Increasing your income (raises, consulting, business)
Remember: You can't build lasting wealth by copying someone else's playbook. But you can learn from their expensive mistakes.
8. The Vision Setting
"What's your 2025 vision?"
Most people get this backwards. They set financial goals without considering the life they want those goals to fund. That's like building a house without deciding how you want to live in it.
Pick one in each category:
Financial milestone (e.g. 25% savings rate)
Lifestyle change (e.g. 4-day work weeks)
Mindset shift (e.g. from busy to present)
The key? Make these specific enough to act on but flexible enough to adapt. Your vision should excite you and scare you a little. If it doesn't do both, you're probably playing too small.
Your Next Move
Don't try to tackle all eight questions today. That's like trying to get fit by doing every workout on day one.
Instead:
Start with the first question
Spend 10 minutes with it—set a timer
Write down one action you'll take in the next 24 hours
Repeat the same process the next day
Want this to stick?
Share your biggest insight with someone who'll hold you accountable. The best breakthroughs often come from simple conversations over coffee, not complex spreadsheets.
Here's the truth: You don't need to optimize everything. You just need to get the big moves right. And sometimes, the biggest moves feel deceptively small in the moment.
So go make 2025 count.
And remember: The goal isn't to build the biggest net worth. It's to build a life where money serves you, not the other way around.
I’ll see you next Tuesday,
Whenever you're ready, there are 2 other ways we can help you:
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