Our philosophy
“Integrity, experience, knowledge, discretion and dependability are paramount when it comes to Wealth Management and Financial Planning and we have built our business on these principles. As an independent firm of Chartered Financial Planners, we are not tied to any banks, insurance companies or investment houses so we can provide you with truly impartial advice and guidance.
All of the above are extremely important considerations when choosing a Financial Planner to help you achieve your life goals. However, I would suggest that they should be the absolute minimum you expect from your Financial Planner.
I believe that one of our biggest strengths is our ability to help clients focus on what is important to them and then showing them how to achieve it. This approach comes from my own philosophy on life and I think the following story really sums this up nicely.”
Douglas Harley FPFS
Chartered Financial Planner & Managing Director of Beaufort Financial (Forth Valley) Ltd
Life is not a rehearsal
A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, he wordlessly picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.
The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.
The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous ‘yes.’
The professor then produced two beers from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed.
‘Now,’ said the professor as the laughter subsided, ‘I want you to recognise that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things – your family, your children, your health, your friends and your favourite passions – and if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full. The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house and your car. The sand is everything else – the small stuff.
‘If you put the sand into the jar first,’ he continued, ‘there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life.
If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff you will never have room for the things that are important to you. Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Spend time with your children. Spend time with your parents. Visit with grandparents. Take your spouse out to dinner. Play another 18 holes. There will always be time to clean the house and mow the lawn. Take care of the golf balls first – the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand.
One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the beer represented. The professor smiled and said, ‘I’m glad you asked.’ The beer just shows you that no matter how full your life may seem, there’s always room for a couple of beers with a friend.
Do you want to take care of your golf balls first?
We would be delighted to arrange a no obligation Discovery Meeting where we can discuss our Service Proposition with you and how we can help you achieve your life goals.