Hi, I’m Elisabeth Dawson, and I want to share something important with you today: your financial plan should evolve as your life does. If there’s one thing I’ve learned in over 27 years of helping people just like you—it’s this: life is unpredictable. Your financial strategy shouldn’t be rigid—it should be resilient.
Let’s dive into how to build a living, breathing plan that not only supports your dreams but also stands strong during the unexpected.
Understanding the Nature of a Financial Plan
Why Flexibility Is More Important Than Perfection
Your financial plan isn’t supposed to be perfect. In fact, the more flexible it is, the better it can serve you. Life rarely follows a straight line, and your money plan shouldn’t either.
Life Changes—So Should Your Financial Plan
From getting married to becoming a parent, switching careers, starting a business, or even experiencing loss—these moments shape your life and should shape your financial strategies too.
A Financial Plan Should Be a Living, Breathing Document
Not a “Set It and Forget It” Strategy
A good financial plan isn’t something you create and then lock away either. It’s a conversation—ongoing and ever-evolving. I recommend revisiting it at least once or twice a year, as well as whenever life throws something new your way.
Check-Ins and Revisions: Make Them Part of the Plan
We do annual strategy meetings with clients to forecast income, make tax moves, and explore new goals. These regular check-ins empower you to make proactive, rather than reactive, decisions, which is key to ensuring long-term financial success.
The Curveballs That Life Will Throw at You
Unexpected life events happen to everyone. Here are a few examples of events that will likely necessitate some adjustments to your financial strtategy:
Job Loss or Career Changes
Layoffs, promotions, relocations—these all shift the income puzzle. Your plan needs to adapt accordingly.
Unexpected Health Issues
Medical emergencies can derail even the best budgets. This is why protection planning matters.
Divorce, Death, or Major Life Transitions
These moments bring both emotional and financial chaos. A flexible plan offers stability when everything else feels uncertain.
Economic Shifts and Market Volatility
Remember 2008? Or the uncertainty of 2020? Having a plan that includes safe income sources ensures you don’t panic-sell or lose momentum.
The Power of Being Proactive, Not Reactive
Build in Emergency Funds
Every plan I build includes a “Life Happens” Fund—three to six months’ worth of living expenses. Think of it as your personal buffer zone.
Insurance as a Safety Net
Permanent life insurance, disability insurance, and long-term care planning aren’t just for “what-ifs”—they’re for “when-it-happens.”
Anticipating, Not Just Responding
When you’re proactive, you’re in the driver’s seat. You have options. And when you have options, you’re empowered.
Building Flexibility Into Your Financial Plan
Diversify Your Income Streams
Passive income, certain types of annuities, rental properties, dividends—these are the tools of financial resilience.
Create a Wealth Recovery Account™
This is one of my favorite tools. It’s a separate checking account for captured wealth—money you were unknowingly losing to fees, taxes, or lifestyle creep. We show you how to recover this money and redirect it into your goals.
Protect, Save, Grow Framework
This is the formula behind every successful financial journey:
- Protect what you’ve earned
- Save consistently
- Grow your assets intentionally
Why You Need a Financial Professional Who “Gets You”
You Deserve More Than a One-Size-Fits-All Plan
Generic advice doesn’t help real people with real lives. You need someone who listens, gets to know you, and builds a plan that feels right for your life.
Comfort and Trust Lead to Empowerment
You should feel comfortable asking your advisor anything—no question is too small. I always say, the more questions you ask, the better your plan becomes.
Taking the Emotion Out of Financial Decisions
Money Is Personal—But Strategy Must Be Disciplined
Money is emotional. That’s normal. But your strategy has to stay grounded in math, not mood swings. Your plan should give you peace of mind, reduce stress, and hepl you sleep better knowing your plan is working even when life gets messy.
Financial Planning Is Self-Care
Planning Frees You to Live Life Fully
When your money is working behind the scenes, you can be fully present with your family, your passions, and your dreams.
Celebrate Your Financial Milestones
Every small win matters. Paid off debt? Fully funded your emergency savings? Celebrate those moments—they mean you’re doing it right.
The Elisabeth Dawson Approach to Financial Confidence
True Wealth Is About Clarity and Control
My job is to help you find clarity. When you know where your money is, what it’s doing, and why—it’s empowering. That’s true wealth.
How Our Team Supports You Every Step of the Way
We help you recover lost wealth, build intentional strategies, and stay the course through life’s changes. Our mission is to partner with you, for life.
Build a Resilient Plan: Adapt and Thrive
Creating a financial plan that adapts to life’s curveballs isn’t about predicting every possible scenario—it’s about preparing for the unexpected. It’s about building a system that works when things go right and still supports you when they don’t.
Let your financial plan evolve with you. Revisit it. Revise it. Let it breathe. And above all, work with someone who truly understands you and your goals.
You don’t have to do this alone—and with the right guide, it can be one of the most empowering journeys you ever take.
Schedule your free consultation today by calling (619) 640-2622 or by clicking here.
