Episode 84: Tomorrow Never Comes: Why We Put Off Financial Decisions
Stuff About Money They Didn't Teach You In SchoolShow Notes
In this episode of the Stuff About Money podcast, Erik and Xavier kick off this episode with a slightly humorous conversation about the unique way people from New Orleans speak—because if nothing else, in The Big Easy, they have their own way of doing things. But that same tendency to do things our way extends beyond language—it also applies to how we handle money. More specifically, how we don’t handle it. That’s right, this episode dives into the all-too-common habit of financial procrastination and why we keep telling ourselves, “I’ll take care of it tomorrow.”
Why do we put off saving for retirement, getting life insurance, or investing for the future? It turns out, human nature makes it easy to prioritize today’s wants over tomorrow’s needs. Erik and Xavier explore the psychology behind why we delay crucial financial decisions, touching on everything from marshmallow experiments to why our future selves feel like total strangers. They also break down practical ways to stop stalling and start acting—from automation to visualization and a little bit of accountability (actually, a lot of accountability). Lean into this conversation for a fresh perspective on making smarter financial choices—or at the very least, to expand your New Orleans vocabulary.
Episode Highlights:
Erik and Xavier discuss common New Orleans phrases and their connection to financial habits. (02:00)
Xavier shares a powerful story about a client who delayed purchasing life insurance and faced devastating consequences. (04:32)
Erik explains present bias, the tendency to prioritize immediate rewards over future financial security. (09:04)
Xavier emphasizes the impact of procrastination on financial planning, especially for business owners. (10:05)
Erik introduces the concept of future self-continuity, explaining how people struggle to identify with their future selves. (12:01)
Xavier shares a story of a client who secured life insurance just in time, ensuring financial stability for their family. (19:09)
Erik breaks down the cost of delaying financial decisions, from rising life insurance premiums to missed investment growth opportunities. (21:12)
Xavier stresses the emotional impact of financial procrastination and how it leads to stress, shame, and regret. (27:01)
Erik and Xavier outline strategies to overcome procrastination, including visualization, automation, simplification, and accountability. (31:06)
Key Quotes:
“We're paying for something today, robbing ourselves from the future for something that we consumed yesterday.” - Erik Garcia, CFP®, BFA
“We all understand what we need to do, what we're not doing, what we know we need to do, and we're ashamed because we're not following through.” - Xavier Angel, CFP®, ChFC, CLTC
“If we can connect our present self to our future self. That's going to help us make more intentional decisions for, uh, for tomorrow.” - Erik Garcia, CFP®, BFA
Resources Mentioned:
Erik Garcia, CFP®, BFA
Xavier Angel, CFP®, ChFC, CLTC
Plan Wisely Wealth Advisors
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