Is the Glass Half Full or Half Empty – the Financial Planner’s View
January 2016
When looking at this statement, you are usually comparing optimists and pessimists. Let me give you my view from the world of finances, with a touch of humour:
Investment Advisors
When an investment advisor looks at the glass of water, he will tell you in an “up market” that it is half full, and is filling up quickly so you should buy a bigger glass. (Only with a larger investment portfolio can you share the success of the future.) In a down market, it is definitely half full, and you have nothing to worry about. (You still have some water, so what is the problem?)
Insurance Agent
An insurance agent will warn you that a half-empty glass leaves the future uncertain so you should buy another glass in case the first one breaks. (Only with more insurance can you protect against losses in the future.)
Accountants
An accountant will tell you that you paid too much for the glass because it is too big. (It is all about historical cost, not the future.)
Hourly Based Fee Only Financial Planner – i.e. Me
My goal is to ensure my clients have considered all these issues, focusing on the importance of the water, not the size of the glass! Now drink up and enjoy today, but keep enough for tomorrow.
Blair Corkum, CPA, CA, R.F.P., CFP, CFDS, CLU, CHS holds his Chartered Professional Accountant, Chartered Accountant, Registered Financial Planner, Chartered Financial Divorce Specialist as well as several other financial planning related designations. Blair offers hourly based fee-only personal financial planning, holds no investment or insurance licenses, and receives no commissions or referral fees. This publication should not be construed as legal or investment advice. It is neither a definitive analysis of the law nor a substitute for professional advice which you should obtain before acting on information in this article. Information may change as a result of legislation or regulations issued after this article was written.©Blair Corkum