Meet Patrick Ritter, CFP®

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What Is Your Money For? A Well-Built Life Self-Assessment

The Well-Built Life

What is your money for?

Money is the tool. A life well-lived is the point. About 74% of the link between money and happiness comes down to one thing — a sense of control over your life. This five-minute check shows where your money is already serving your life, and where a few intentional moves would make the biggest difference.

How it works. Rate how true each statement feels today, from 1 (not true yet) to 5 (very true). Answer all twenty and your result appears at the end.

0 of 20 answered
01ConnectionHealthy relationships

The single strongest predictor of a happy life — and something the right plan protects.

I have people I can count on, and who can count on me.

My finances support my relationships rather than straining them.

I regularly make time for the people who matter most.

My loved ones would be financially protected if something happened to me.

02VitalityGood diet & consistent exercise

Your health is your biggest asset — movement can rival medication for mood.

I move my body consistently, in a way I can sustain.

I have the energy I need for the life I want to live.

I've protected my ability to earn, through health habits and the right coverage.

I treat my health as an asset worth investing in.

03PurposeWork, service & hobbies

A clear sense of purpose predicts a longer, healthier life.

I have a clear sense of why I do what I do.

My work or daily activities feel meaningful to me.

I know what would give my days purpose if I stopped working.

My money gives me the freedom to choose meaningful work over the biggest paycheck.

04ExperienceEnriching experiences

We're happier spending on doing than on having — in every category, regardless of cost.

I spend on experiences, not just possessions.

I have things to look forward to.

I can fund the experiences I value without going into debt.

I'm using my money to build a life, not just a balance.

05FoundationYour financial base

The tool that protects and funds the other four.

I know where my money goes each month.

I have an emergency fund that would carry me through a rough patch.

I feel a sense of control over my financial life.

I have a plan that connects my money to the life I want.

Answer all twenty statements to see your result.

Patrick Ritter, CFP® — helping you build a life well-lived, with money as the tool.

This self-assessment is for educational purposes and is not financial, legal, or tax advice.

Read Client Reviews at Sam's List

12-18-2023 Patrick Ritter was Interviewed by FeeOnlyNetwork

  • Being too concerned with other people's lives and their money. That "comparison is the thief of joy" quote stands out because it seems we humans are hard wired for comparison. We have to make a conscious effort to avoid that in order to be truly happy and successful. 

  • A plan is not a one-time event, a binder, or document. The true value in planning is the ability to adjust plans as life changes. I'm big on assigned tasks, reminders, and encourage regular engagement with mobile apps (Right Capital and Altruist) so clients stay connected to their money and we anticipate needs.

  • Get clear on what you value, make sure your numbers work, and then use your money according to those values. 

  • Learning that success is highly subjective, for both clients and planners. "Enough" depends entirely upon one's values.

  • That we are primarily concerned with making the most money possible for clients or that our value is still stock recommendations that make money. I'd say we are more adept at defense. Being an effective risk manager, helping clients avoid the costly mistakes is a far more accurate description of a comprehensive planner.

  • Absolutely! Farm work picking tomatoes with my grade school friends, janitorial work over summers in high school, supervising mentally challenged adults for a daycare program in college, interning at the Missouri state capitol, selling computers in London in a work exchange program, and teaching fishing courses at the community college to name a few. 

    Within financial services I've worked in a variety of roles and in different business models that have given me a diverse perspective on how to help people with their money. All my work experiences taught great lessons in the value of hard work and how to care for people who have entrusted you.

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