“Measure twice, cut once” is an old carpentry saying.
It’s a bit of a cautionary message, suggesting it’s best to have a plan before doing something you might regret.
When it comes to personal finances, study after study shows that investors who have a plan and “measure twice” tend to be more confident when it comes to their futures.
A 2025 Vanguard study found that 86% of investors are more confident about their futures as a result of personal finance guidance. The 7,746 people in the survey said they felt more “satisfied” and “proud” when making money decisions.1
In another 2025 survey, 74% of investors told Morgan Stanley that it made a “clear difference” when a financial professional helped them create a strategy. The 1,013 people surveyed used words like “engaged” and “prepared” after creating a roadmap for their future.2
“Do not fear the road ahead, for God walks with you. His hand will guide you, and His grace will sustain you through every trial.” Deuteronomy 31:6
So, why don’t more investors work with a financial professional?
Some suggest that it’s the same reason there are so many cooking television programs and home-improvement stores—people want to see if they can “do it themselves.”
But when it comes to personal finance, are the stakes too high compared with trying to bake a perfect soufflé or fixing a leaky faucet?
When asked, nearly 80% of investors with a financial strategy said they wish they had started working with a professional sooner than they did.1
Getting started can be a simple step forward that requires just asking a few questions. While it can be uncomfortable to share financial information, getting some insights might help you see if you’re on sound footing or if you might benefit from a slight course change.
You Gotta Have a Plan
The tagline for our firm is “You Gotta Have a Plan.”
“However, as important as it is to ‘have a plan,’ it’s more important to allow God to direct your steps,” says founder Mick Owens, who also wrote Diamond of Life: The Five P’s of Success and Significance. “After all, He created you and the stuff we often chase.”
Here are our steps to creating a plan:
Tailored Planning: Your life and goals are unique to you. We won’t ask you to fit in a box or limit the focus to traditional retirement planning. You tell us your objectives; we tailor the plan.
Guided by Our Beliefs: We deliver concierge-level service, uncompromising care, and innovation while treating everyone in a manner that reflects the love and compassion of Jesus.
Driven By Those We Serve: We do not sell products or plans to people; we develop strategies and plans for our people.
Support that Empowers: We’re supported by Certified Public Accountants (CPAs) and other specialists who are dedicated to helping you achieve financial fulfillment with confidence.
“Let us help you get to where you want to be when you want to be there.”
Once your plan is in place, we will revisit it from time to time or as your life goals change. Knowing where you’re at—and where you want to go—are the most important parts of your financial strategy.
- Corporate.Vanguard.com, July 7, 2025
- MorganStanley.com, July 8, 2025
