4 Cover Story Feb 2016
THE ROAD TO FINANCIAL FREEDOM IS PAVED WITH TREATS
“Treats”, “happy” and “frivolous” aren’t words you’d usually expect to hear from a financial adviser. But Hannah McQueen, founder of enableMe, and financial personal trainer, says spending money on the things you enjoy can help pave the way to financial freedom. “If any financial plan is going to work, you need to understand what makes you happy, even if it’s frivolous,” she says. “Put what’s non-negotiable at the centre of your plan, because if you don’t live your life, you won’t stick to the plan.
“From the beginning, our goal has been to open franchises throughout the country,” says Hannah. “As client demand grows, the need to have a presence in the main cities has become more important so we can better serve our clients.” Hannah knows that money is often a highly emotive issue: “Your environment and your upbringing in particular, can have a big impact on how you handle money. Luckily, there is no right or wrong money personality, and it is not too late to learn how to make yours work. ”
“You don’t have to stop enjoying your life to get ahead. You simply need to find the balance — something I know a thing or two about.”
Hannah is adamant that financial planning doesn’t always need to be about going without. Unless you include the odd treats into the plan, she says that your are far less likely to stick to it.
Ten years ago Hannah and her husband were faced with the prospect of paying a huge amount of interest on their own mortgage. Hannah wanted to understand how they could reduce this cost.
So how what is the best way of taking charge of our finances?
After working with Dr Jamie Sneddon from the maths department at the University of Auckland she developed a formula that allowed her to save the size of her mortgage in interest costs. She patented the formula but soon realised that this was only one half of the equation. Like many of us, Hannah found it difficult to stick to a budget, despite being a chartered accountant. The part missing from the equation was her “psychology of spending”. “I was earning good money, but the more money I earned the more I believed it meant I didn’t have to worry about my money,” says Hannah. “I wasn’t doing the smartest thing with it. I spoke to friends, and they were just the same.” And so enableMe was born. With a client list over 4,000 strong, enableMe has established itself as one of the nation’s fastest growing financial advisory firms. Their Auckland branch has recently relocated to offices on Parnell Road, while further hubs can be found at the Wellington and the Bay of Plenty. Hannah and her team are excited to announce the imminent opening of their seventh office — and their first in the South Island — in Christchurch.
“First, take a breath. Jump on the financial scales and get a second opinion on where you are at. This can help you sort out your priorities. Most of our clients are doing fine but are capable of doing better and achieving more.” Hannah says that by evaluating your financial status, along with developing and aiding in the implementation of specific targets, her financial personal trainers will help you get your financial life back on track.
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Put what’s non-negotiable at the centre of your plan, because if you don’t live your life, you won’t stick to the plan.”
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ENABLEME.CO.NZ
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