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BUSINESS OF
MEDICINE
The Precision
of Attention
By Eric Kala CFP, AEP, CLU, ChFC
Wealth Management & Business Planning Advisor
It’s not a stretch to recognize that our thinking follows our paying to have someone at the planning table who can objectively
attention. What we mull over, stew over, research or dwell on and supportively help you develop the plan you need.
governs, or at least certainly influences, our thoughts, our atti-
tudes, and ultimately our decisions. This can work for you or Plans need to be based on one thing, and one thing only: how
against you. you want your life to look in the future. That’s called a “vision.”
It doesn’t have to be some benign statement on a plaque, but it’s
For example, if your attention is on the roller coaster ride of important to have some sort of picture, idea, story or concept for
the markets, it won’t take long to experience the swings of emo- what the future will be like. That is what a plan needs to address.
tion that come with up-markets and down-markets, and for If it doesn’t, your attention may not be quite right.
your thoughts to be fixated on the ticker. It’s not a problem to
be aware of it, but it usually doesn’t serve you to be checking it But with a clear vision for the future, you can then start looking
minute by minute. forward in a meaningful way. The next place to look is how you
want things to happen. For example, we spend time with clients
When you’re making financial plans, or managing your plan, helping them not only articulate their vision, but to name the val-
attention becomes even more important. Here’s a fundamental ues, or rules, that need to be respected along the way. Ultimately,
that needs to be understood: Planning is not about advice, it’s only by understanding someone’s vision and values can meaning-
about decisions. ful goals be created.
It’s tempting to put a lot of attention on advice; indeed, many Goals are the steps you take that move you closer to your vision
financial advisors put a lot of attention there. But what we’ve in a way that respects your values. When those are clear, then ad-
found is that, while having good advice is critical, it’s secondary vice can be brought into the mix. Trying to get advice without
to clarity about the decisions that need to be made. That means clarity might feel soothing, but it risks the development of a mis-
24 San Antonio Medicine • December 2016
