Since I started coaching—and actually, long before that, when we first started leading Financial Peace University classes at our church—I became aware of a common theme: most people feel like they are behind with their money. Whether it’s not enough investments, too much left on the mortgage, or just not having enough left at the end of the month, that feeling of being "behind" is heavy.
But here is the reality I see most often: it isn't usually a lack of income or effort. Often I hear, "I need to make more money," but let's be clear more hustling can help but it will not solve the problem on it's own. It’s a lack of clarity and a missing order of operations.
Think back to the math problems we did in school—PEMDAS, the order of operations. Fixing your financial life requires that same kind of sequence. You have to take it one step at a time. When we try to fix everything at once, or skip straight to investing before we've handled the basics, we end up feeling scattered and stuck.
That’s why I developed the Five Financial Life Stages
Laying the Foundation: Getting clear, making a plan, and stopping the bleed.
Creating Stability: Building safety buffers and breathing room.
Securing the Future: Planning for retirement and life beyond today.
Impact: Using money on purpose to help those outside your household.
Legacy: Establishing what you want to continue after you are gone.
These five stages aren't just a checklist; they are a roadmap to move you from feeling overwhelmed to living and acting with move intentionally. By understanding exactly where you are in this framework, you can stop worrying about the "everything" and start focusing on the "next."
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Key Concepts
The Problem: Feeling "behind" is usually caused by a lack of clarity regarding expenses and income, or trying to "multitask" financial goals.
The Solution: An "Order of Operations" for money. Just like PEMDAS, you must follow the steps in order to get the right result.
The Core Message: Focus on the right thing at the right time to eliminate stress.
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Let’s take a closer Look: Stage 1 – Laying the Foundation
This is the stage most people skip. They try to jump straight to investing for retirement, paying down debt, or building a large emergency fund without a solid plan in place. But if you don't have a clear picture of what you are bringing in, what your regular bills actually are, or where the rest of your money is going — right now, this month — everything else is harder than it should be.
Stage One isn't a failure; it’s the necessary starting point.
A few signs you might need to start (or return) here are:
You can't tell me, right now off the top of your head, what you bring home in income each month (an average is ok if you have an irregular income).
You don't know how much the "basic care and feeding" of your family is. (aka a baseline budget)
You have vague financial dreams, but no clear plan.
Money feels scattered, even when your income looks like it should be enough to cover everything.
You aren't necessarily "broke," but you aren't making progress either.
The goal of this stage is to stop, take stock, and get total clarity on your money situation so you can move forward with confidence.
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WHAT CHANGES WHEN YOU GET CLEAR
I remember the exact moment in time when we realized we had no idea where our money was going.
We weren't reckless. We weren't broke. We just didn't have the right order of operations, and without that, every financial decision felt harder than it needed to be.
When clients work through Stage 1 with me, something shifts. Not because their income suddenly changes or their debt disappears. But because clarity replaces confusion — and confusion is exhausting in a way most people don't even realize until it's gone.
The right step, at the right time, changes everything.
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WHAT TO DO NEXT
You don't need to do everything at once. You just need to know which stage you're actually in and what's the first step you need to take.
If Stage 1 sounds like where you are: your next move is simple. Track your income & spending for the next 30 days — not to judge yourself because of it, just to see it on paper. Clarity starts with honesty with yourself, get real about where things actually stand.
And if you're not sure which stage fits or how to navigate Stage 1? That's exactly what we'll figure out together when you schedule a free strategy session.