“Between the ages of 45 and 55, I learned three things about life” says Mychael, a client of Active Chartered Financial Planners.
“Right now, I live in a nice house in Northumberland. I’m 56. I live with my partner Lisa, my 8 year old daughter Izobel, one dog, three cats, and a restless curiosity that might just drive me to start one more business. I’ve founded 10 (ish) businesses to date. Big and small. Profitable and loss making. Planned and accidental”
Mychael closed his biggest business back in 2014, around the time that he began looking for a financial planner, which he did to (as Mychael puts it) “Stop me spending money – and create a manageable, sensible, bespoke schedule for saving for mine and my family’s future”.
During the last 10 years, Mychael has learnt three things, which are:
- That my life’s work is more than one thing
Right now, I’m a Brand and Marketing Director for half a dozen businesses. Lisa and I also have two holiday cottages in Northumberland. And I write for an online audience of 10,000 people daily. Each is as important as the other. One is at my desk. One is at their desk. One is outside. Each one feeds me in different ways. The balance and the alchemy invaluable.
- To make the hardest thing I do really, really hard
At 54 I started kickboxing for the first time. Not because I wanted to, but to make sure my (then) 6 year old daughter continued to train. It’s stupidly hard. It’s like playing chess, sprinting, doing gymnastics and being punched in the face – all at the same time. But when you do something – anything – that is seemingly way, way beyond you – every part of your life improves. Everything. Because when you do something really, really hard – hard things seem easy. And if it’s not challenging, it’s not a challenge – right? This is transformational.
- That creating for myself is the best way of all to create
Although I am sometimes not quite brave enough to follow through on this point absolutely. So, I’m lying if I say that everything I create is just for me… but I am getting there. The point here is that creating with the audience in mind dilutes you. Which means the audience gets something less pure and potent. Everything becomes that little bit more dulled and vacuous. The offering, and the experience.
And Mychael’s advice for finding the right financial planner?
“Find someone that you not only get on well with but also trust to do what’s right for you – not them” says Mychael
“Find someone who gets results and where your savings grow well, but also someone who keeps things simple. I really have found that in the team at Active Chartered Financial Planners” continues Mychael
“They are good people. Expert yes, but also decent and sincere people. People that are genuinely interested in helping you. And that also tolerate and help you to manage the times when you can save high, and when you can maybe not afford to save anything at all. It’s flexible and accommodating support”
Find Mychael’s holiday cottages (90% of reviews are 10/10!) here: www.oldpostoffice.co.uk
Find Mychael’s online writing here www.50odd.co.uk or learn more about Mychael here www.mychael.co.uk
Would you like help with your financial plan? Contact the team on 01642 765957 or email info@activefp.co.uk OR visit the Active website
And for regular updates, follow us or Facebook, LinkedIn and YouTube
