Audio Articles By Brian Plain artwork

Audio Articles By Brian Plain

121 episodes - English - Latest episode: 2 days ago - ★★★★★ - 1 rating

A collection of audio articles by Brian Plain. Brian is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER (TM) who helps Gen X families live better by blending what works for them emotionally and financially.

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Investing Business Society & Culture Philosophy financial planning genx
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Episodes

Practice spending the money

April 27, 2024 11:00 - 1 minute - 1.67 MB

Being responsible about money should enable you to spend freely on what really matters to you.

Falling off the horse

April 13, 2024 11:00 - 2 minutes - 2.18 MB

Striving for perfection can be a useful motivator but expecting it is a fool’s errand. The key is realizing that you will get knocked down and fall off the horse from time to time.

A matter of perspective

March 23, 2024 11:00 - 1 minute - 1.51 MB

What you make of your life starts with how you see it.

How to move from overwhelmed to actionable

March 09, 2024 12:00 - 1 minute - 1.8 MB

The best way to escape feeling overwhelmed starts with realizing you don't have to do it all at once.

Learning to love one’s fate

February 17, 2024 12:00 - 2 minutes - 2.5 MB

Start measuring yourself against your actions, not the outcomes that are out of your control.

Comparing yourself to others is a sign you need to do this

February 03, 2024 12:00 - 2 minutes - 1.88 MB

Comparison becomes your default when you're not clear on what uniquely matters to you.

We’re all going to die someday

January 20, 2024 12:00 - 1 minute - 1.7 MB

Acknowledging the inevitable of death can help bring urgency to what really matters in our lives.

A different kind of list this year

December 23, 2023 12:00 - 2 minutes - 2.26 MB

What can you do LESS of so you can do MORE of what really matters?

How to be more present this holiday season

December 09, 2023 12:00 - 2 minutes - 2.06 MB

Wouldn’t it be great to be able to quiet that inner critic and be more present this holiday season instead?

Moving from "more" to "enough"

November 25, 2023 12:00 - 2 minutes - 1.87 MB

Contrary to popular belief, nicer, bigger, and better things are NOT all that stand between us and eternal happiness.

The unexpected path to serenity

November 11, 2023 12:00 - 1 minute - 1.82 MB

While it’s not possible to only do a single task at all times, we can start paying more attention to our…well…attention.

Are you reacting or responding?

October 28, 2023 11:00 - 2 minutes - 2.34 MB

Where are you reacting in your life that you want to be responding instead?

How diversified is your identity?

October 07, 2023 11:00 - 2 minutes - 2.36 MB

Diversification isn't just for your investments.

Having "enough" isn't a dollar figure

September 16, 2023 11:00 - 1 minute - 1.22 MB

You won't find your sense of self worth in your net worth.

Threading the needle

September 02, 2023 11:00 - 2 minutes - 2.69 MB

There are no absolutes when it comes to managing your money and how it flows because at the end of the day, we’re all trying to thread the needle.

I have an idea...

August 12, 2023 11:00 - 2 minutes - 2.04 MB

Remember to ask yourself this question before you fall in love with your good idea.

How to get out of your own way

July 22, 2023 11:00 - 4 minutes - 3.66 MB

Not worrying enough or worrying too much about your finances gets in the way of you living your best life. Here's how you can avoid both.

When in doubt, do this

July 08, 2023 11:00 - 2 minutes - 2.31 MB

Two simple words can help make an often cruel world a more tolerable place – both for ourselves and others.

A Superpower Hiding In Plain Sight

June 24, 2023 11:00 - 2 minutes - 1.88 MB

Before making any big life changes, remember to try the superpower that's available to you at any moment first.

What are you going to do now?

June 10, 2023 11:00 - 2 minutes - 2.52 MB

Graduation season is upon us and with it comes an important question we'll ask ourselves for the rest of our lives.

What if it all falls apart?

May 27, 2023 11:00 - 2 minutes - 2.05 MB

Don't let worrying about the worst possible outcome prevent you from enjoying the present. Take action instead.

What would Mary Poppins do?

May 13, 2023 11:00 - 2 minutes - 2.25 MB

Aside from being one of the all-time great nannies, Mary Poppins shared some wisdom we could all put to good use.

Cost or investment? You decide.

April 29, 2023 11:00 - 1 minute - 1.56 MB

One person's cost can be another person's investment.

An antidote for managing life’s uncertainty

April 15, 2023 11:00 - 2 minutes - 2.25 MB

A solution for manage life's uncertainty is readily available once you know what you're looking for.

3 simple words for an uncertain world

March 25, 2023 11:00 - 2 minutes - 1.98 MB

Here's how we can navigate being certainty-seeking machines in a largely uncertain world.

What's your operating system?

March 11, 2023 12:00 - 2 minutes - 2.06 MB

Financial planning done right provides a flexible financial framework that acts as your own personalized operating system.

Feeling overwhelmed? Try this tip.

February 25, 2023 12:00 - 2 minutes - 2.06 MB

Creating a simple habit of writing it all down can make a world of difference.

To prevent regrets, do this now

February 11, 2023 12:00 - 2 minutes - 2.67 MB

Middle age teaches us that tomorrow isn't promised. Does that change how you want to live your life?

The enemy that lies within

January 28, 2023 12:00 - 1 minute - 1.74 MB

We can often be our own worst enemy when it comes to our financial lives.

Look back before moving forward

January 14, 2023 12:00 - 3 minutes - 2.96 MB

Looking back before moving forward helps remind you of how much you’ve already accomplished and how much you’re capable of doing.

The only goal that really matters

December 17, 2022 12:00 - 4 minutes - 4.24 MB

If we can't know with any certainty what the future holds, there's only one goal that really matters.

Why you shouldn’t over-optimize your finances

December 03, 2022 12:00 - 3 minutes - 2.86 MB

The good habits that got you to this point aren't the same ones you'll need to enjoy it.

Getting back on your horse

November 19, 2022 12:00 - 2 minutes - 2.33 MB

Sometimes all you need to do is start again.

Why guessing is better than knowing

November 05, 2022 11:00 - 2 minutes - 2.57 MB

It helps to remember that we often benefit more from the journey itself, not the specific destination.

Is the juice worth the squeeze?

October 22, 2022 11:00 - 2 minutes - 2.01 MB

Consider the whole picture, not just the positives, before setting your future intentions.

Nervous about the markets?

October 08, 2022 11:00 - 2 minutes - 2.52 MB

You can't control the markets but you should be clear on why you're invested the way you are.

Do you need to flip your money script?

September 24, 2022 11:00 - 3 minutes - 3.28 MB

Does money feel like a limiting factor in your life? If so, you might need to flip your money script.

Time for an alignment check

September 10, 2022 11:00 - 1 minute - 1.82 MB

Aligning your life with your finances requires figuring out what you want and where you aspire to be in the first place.

Let's be still

August 27, 2022 11:00 - 2 minutes - 1.87 MB

When your world’s just spinning a little too fast, you need to make time to be still.

The 3 stages of every vacation

August 13, 2022 11:00 - 2 minutes - 2.54 MB

Awareness can help you enjoy each stage of your vacation more.

Finding something to believe in

July 30, 2022 11:00 - 2 minutes - 2.25 MB

If you’re looking for something to believe in that will allow you to maintain a sense of well-being in this crazy world, start by believing in yourself.

Are you an optimizer or simplifier?

July 16, 2022 11:00 - 2 minutes - 1.95 MB

Knowing the answer for both yourself and your partner will help you both get and stay on the same page.

My new mailing address starting July 1st

June 25, 2022 11:00 - 1 minute - 1.36 MB

After 13 great years in Oak Park, it's time for a change.

Is it all flying by too fast?

June 11, 2022 11:00 - 1 minute - 1.75 MB

If you're too future-focused, you're likely to miss the only thing that's promised to any of us.

Why now is the time to take your financial temperature

May 21, 2022 11:00 - 3 minutes - 2.94 MB

It might not seem like it but now is a great time to take your financial temperature.

How to use hindsight effectively

May 14, 2022 11:00 - 2 minutes - 2.28 MB

It helps to remember that all we can do is make the best decision using the information available to us at that moment in time.

Avoiding a big mistake

April 23, 2022 11:00 - 2 minutes - 2.65 MB

You know those skills that helped you achieve financial comfort and confidence? They aren't necessarily the same ones you'll need to keep it.

Skip the budget and try this instead

April 09, 2022 11:00 - 2 minutes - 1.92 MB

Once you're comfortably making more than you spend, try tracking your spending to build awareness and alignment with what matters most to you.

Never stop asking this question

March 26, 2022 11:00 - 2 minutes - 2.23 MB

Being a grown up doesn't mean we should stop asking ourselves what and who we want to be.

How To Enjoy Life More

March 12, 2022 12:00 - 2 minutes - 2.64 MB

It's good to plan for our future and reflect back on our past but let's make sure we're living in the present too.