Let’s be honest – most of us have been told the same thing for years: save up, work hard, and one day you’ll enjoy life after retirement. But what if that’s backwards? What if you didn’t have to wait until your 60s (or later) to actually live the life you want?

That’s exactly what Questa’s Stuart Dewin challenged in a recent talk at Harrison Drury solicitors. And it hit home.

Because here’s the thing – financial planning shouldn’t just be about spreadsheets and retirement dates. It should start with your life: what you care about, what fires you up in the morning, and what sort of life you want to build now, not just “someday.”

It’s Not About the Money. It’s About What the Money Does

We’ve all heard it before – set your pension target, invest wisely, think about tax. Sure, those are important. But they miss the bigger point.

As Stuart put it in his talk: “Financial goals should be life goals with price tags.”

That flips the script completely. It means asking things like:

• What experiences do I want in the next five years?
• Do I want more time with family? More freedom to travel?
• Am I working because I have to, or because I want to?

Money is just a tool. A means to an end. And that “end” should be living a meaningful, secure, and enjoyable life.

In our work advising clients, we’ve seen this shift time and time again. People come in asking how to save for retirement. They leave, realising they could take Fridays off now, start that business they’ve been dreaming about, or travel while their kids are still young.

It’s incredibly freeing.

So How Do You Plan for a Life You Actually Want?

It starts with clarity. Not just on the numbers – but on what matters to you. Once you know that, the finances can fall into place. Here’s how we help people break it down:

1. Start With a Real Budget (That Reflects Your Actual Life)

Not a vague idea of what you think you spend. A real look at where your money goes.
Use tools like MoneyHelper’s budget planner – it’s free, straightforward, and surprisingly eye-opening.

Want a simpler method? The 50/30/20 rule is a good start:

• 50% on needs
• 30% on wants
• 20% on savings

It’s not perfect, but it gets the ball rolling. Some people also swear by the “jam jar” method – using different accounts for bills, fun, holidays, savings, etc. Keeps things visual and honest.

2. Define Your “Enough”

This is the question that stops people in their tracks: How much is enough?

Not enough to retire early or buy a yacht – unless that’s your dream, of course – but enough to live the life that matters to you. Most people have never calculated this. But when you do, it’s often less than you think. And that changes everything.

You might already be closer to freedom than you realise.

3. Optimise What You Already Have

Sometimes it’s not about earning more – it’s about making your money work harder.

Check your bills, broadband, energy and insurance. Are you overpaying? Probably.

Use comparison sites, switch where it makes sense, or just call your provider and ask for a better deal. (It works. Really.)

Also, look after your credit score – it quietly affects your options for everything from mortgages to car insurance.

4. Don’t Just Plan for Retirement – Plan for a Long Life

People are living longer. That’s great, but it means your plan needs to cover more years.

Think about what later life could look like – not just in terms of holidays, but also healthcare or potential care needs. The earlier you prepare, the less stressful it’ll be later.

We’ve seen clients caught off guard by this – needing to help ageing parents or facing unexpected health costs. It’s not fun, but planning for it now gives you more choice and control.

When to Call in a Professional Financial Planner

You can do a lot on your own – and you should. But at some point, especially when things get more complicated, it helps to get proper advice.

An independent financial adviser (IFA) can help you make sense of pensions, tax, investments and all the boring (but essential) stuff. But more importantly, they’ll help you answer the big question: Is my money set up to give me the life I want?

And no, working with a financial adviser isn’t just for the super-wealthy. Many firms are focused on ordinary families who want clarity and peace of mind – not just big investment returns.

Here’s what you can expect:

• A free initial chat to understand your situation
• A personalised plan covering pensions, investments, tax, and more
• Ongoing support to adjust things as life changes

They can also help with:

• Investment strategy – so your money grows in line with your goals
• Pension planning – including how to make the most of Pension Freedoms
• Tax efficiency – because who wants to give the taxman more than necessary?
• Later-life planning – including inheritance planning and power of attorney

Free Help Is Out There, Too

If you’re struggling with budgeting or debt, there are brilliant organisations offering free support:

• Citizens Advice
• StepChange
• MoneyHelper
• National Debtline

These aren’t just for “serious debt” either – they can help with everyday money management and planning, too.

So – What Do You Really Want Your Life to Look Like?

Here’s the truth: planning for the future doesn’t mean sacrificing the present.
You don’t need to wait until you’re retired to enjoy life.

With a bit of reflection, a clear plan, and maybe some help along the way, you can start living a life that feels free, fulfilling, and fully yours.

Stuart said it best: “Let’s start planning for the life we want – not just for ‘someday.’”

And honestly? That sounds like the most sensible financial advice we’ve heard in a long time.

Want to talk to someone who gets this?

Questa offers friendly, expert lifestyle financial planning across the UK. No jargon. No pressure. Just real conversations about what you want from life – and how to make it happen.

Get in touch with Questa or drop Stuart a message if you’d like a copy of the talk’s key takeaways.

ENDS