In their advertising campaign, one financial firm wants to help individuals “find your rich.” The Merriam-Webster dictionary definition of “rich” is “having abundant possessions and especially material wealth.” Do you want an advisor who is solely focused on growing a portfolio and accumulating assets so you can be “rich” too? Most wealthy Americans would disagree. According to a 2025 Modern Wealth Survey by Charles Schwab, happiness tops the list of the factors Americans use to define wealth. While having money is important to financial security, true wealth is more than just the size of your portfolio.
The Limitation of “Rich”
Becoming rich is about the accumulation of money, as reflected in the numbers on your financial statement, the properties in your name, and the assets you’ve acquired. Yet, it overlooks the richness of life. You can measure assets on a net worth statement, but how do you measure happiness? For many traditional wealth management firms, the primary goal is to help you become rich. If more money is the only goal, that measure of success can come at the expense of an overworked lifestyle and lead to health issues, strained relationships with family, or both. Your financial advisor’s primary concern should not be increasing your net worth, but helping you make decisions that balance both personal and financial goals.
What Wealthy Really Means
True wealth encompasses the full spectrum of what makes life meaningful. In order of importance, the respondents to the Schwab study ranked quality of relationships (82%), happiness (83%), the amount of free time you have (81%), your mental and phsyical health (79%), accomplishments (78%), life experiences (78%), and material possessions (63%) as reasons why they felt wealthy. Only 49% indicated that the amount of money they have made them feel wealthy. True wealth management means balancing opportunities. Any financial advisor can set a goal to grow your assets, but will they structure your financial plan by first listening to where you are, where you want to go, and what gives your life meaning? You deserve to be heard by your financial advisor before they make a recommendation.
A Different Approach to Financial Guidance
Yes, you want to choose a team that knows how to grow and preserve wealth through sound investment management and tax strategies. However, it’s equally important to seek advice from someone who understands that those tools are worthless if they don’t align with a larger vision for how you want to live. The fiduciary advisors at Hurlow Wealth Management Group understand that you’ve built your wealth through hard work, discipline, humility, and a sense of responsibility.
We help you make confident, well-informed decisions that support your goals, not someone else’s agenda. This isn’t some feel-good philosophy that ignores the importance of money. It means we start every client relationship with questions that go beyond your risk tolerance and timeline. We want to understand your story, what brings you joy, what keeps you up at night, and what “enough” actually looks like for you.
We understand that accumulating more is not necessarily better. We want our clients to enjoy their wealth, to enable better health, stronger relationships, and the freedom to spend their time on what truly matters.
The Full Picture
When you work with a fiduciary firm like Hurlow Wealth Management Group, you’re partnering with advisors who see the complete picture of your life. We bring expertise and personalized guidance, but we never lose sight of the fact that financial planning is ultimately about life planning.
Your portfolio should support your goals, whether that’s reducing stress, ensuring you can afford the healthcare you need as you age, strengthening your family bonds by creating opportunities for shared experiences, providing educational opportunities for your children, and the security that comes from knowing your loved ones are protected.
Your financial plan should give the clarity to make confident decisions, the perspective to distinguish between what matters and what doesn’t, and the peace of mind that comes from knowing you’re prepared for whatever comes next.
Your Wealth Is Waiting
So if accumulating riches is your only goal, an advisor who helps you “find your rich” may be a fine choice. But if you’re ready for financial success that actually translates into a better life, we’re here to partner with you toward true wealth.
Because at Hurlow Wealth Management Group, we know that being wealthy isn’t just about what you have. It’s about how you live, who you share it with, and the confidence that comes from knowing every aspect of your life is working in harmony. Call 866-333-4726 or Click Here to schedule an introductory call today.
