Turning long term goals into reality

Our dog, Banjo, moved out in January. Not because we wanted him to, but because we started renovating our home.

For the past eight months, Banjo has been living with my in-laws while we squeezed our family of five into three bedrooms. One bedroom became our kitchen and lounge room, and the ensuite became the kitchen sink area.

During that time, I also gave up cycling. I’ve always loved getting out on the bike before sunrise, but while Banjo was staying with my in-laws, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I should be spending that time with him instead. So, most mornings, I traded two wheels for running shoes and headed over to take him for a run.

There were plenty of other sacrifices along the way during this long anticipated renovation period, and it has been highly stressful. But this weekend, Banjo comes home. And with that, I get my cycling back, we get our space back, and we finally move into our newly-renovated home.

This renovation wasn’t really an eight-month project, it was more like ten-years. Ten years of planning, saving, researching, dreaming, prioritising, and making trade-offs to turn an idea into reality, and it has definitely caused me reflect on the conversations I have every day with clients.

Whether it’s renovating a home, helping children, retiring comfortably, or achieving financial independence, meaningful goals rarely happen overnight. They require a clear plan, consistent action, and a few sacrifices along the way. Having lived through this journey myself has given me an even greater appreciation for what many clients are working towards.

I’ve been a financial planner since 2007, and experiences like this remind me why I love what I do. Helping people turn long-term goals into reality never gets old.

By James Mottram, Smart Financial Senior Financial Adviser