How Family Goal Sessions Can Move Your Family To The Next Level, Ep #186

We all understand what goals are and at least intuitively, we know that they are a good thing. As has been famously said, “If you aim at nothing, you are sure to hit it.” And we all know as well that regrets are no fun. I have a few regarding my educational pursuits in the past and I wish I could change them. But I cannot because the past is past. All I can do is aim toward better things in the future. In other words, set goals and strive to achieve them.

But have you ever considered that you can put the power of goals to work in your family as well? As a family steward, you have both the opportunity and the responsibility to empower your family to live above the regrets by aiming higher. This episode explains what a family goal session is, how you can pull it off, and how it benefits everyone in your family.

Outline of This Episode

• [1:27] Regrets: Do you have any? One of mine is slacking in school
• [3:59] Family goal sessions: ideas and tools to move your family to the next level
• [15:23] My family goals from the past (as food for thought) – I had a 50% success rate
• [21:15] Your turn to get your family together and organize those family goals

Our quarterly family goal sessions have been a game-changer for us

I must give credit where it is due, my wife came up with this idea. She felt that all of us in the family could benefit from setting goals together and holding each other accountable for our progress (or lack of it) on our goals. I thought it was a great idea so we started implementing it a few years back… and it has been great. We decided that each family member would set one goal in each of four categories: Reading || Physical Health || Fun || Mental. It has been amazing to see what is possible and how this united focus can bring us together as a family. Listen to hear all the details on how we have organized it and tried our best to pull it off.

How to pull off your own family goal sessions

What I love about our family goal sessions is that they not only give our family a common area of focus, they also provide ample food for conversations and interaction throughout the year. We are able to discuss our goals each week around the dinner table and do a little “check-in” to see how everyone is doing. You might think of it as having in-the-family accountability partners, which I think fits perfectly in the family stewardship approach I take to life and finances.

We decided to organize our goals around quarterly completion dates. Why? Because it is tough to remain focused for a 12 month period. 3 months enables us to focus in short bursts and receive the payoff of satisfaction from seeing smaller goals completed more regularly. We also did our best to set S.M.A.R.T. goals, which I have spoken about many times before. See episode 17 as one example. These are specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and time-bound goals.

Intentional progress and connection are the most important parts of family goal setting

As a family steward, it matters to you if your family is growing or not. It matters to you whether your family members are moving in positive directions in their lives. For that reason, a family goal-setting session makes perfect sense. You are able to encourage forward motion in positive areas of life and encourage your family members as they make progress toward those goals. Take my ideas and tweak them to fit your family. But whatever you do, take this idea seriously. You can see great changes in many areas of family life through this process of family goal setting.

Resources Mentioned

• My previous episode about reflection (episode 185)
• See episode 17 to learn more about S.M.A.R.T. goals

Connect With Scott Wellens

• Schedule a discovery call with Scott
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• Visit Fortress Planning Group
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Podcast Disclaimer:

The Best In Wealth Podcast is hosted by Scott Wellens. Scott Wellens is the principal at Fortress Planning Group. Fortress Planning Group is a registered investment advisory firm regulated by the Securities Act of Wisconsin in accordance and compliance with securities laws and regulations. Fortress Planning Group does not render or offer to render personalized investment or tax advice through the Best In Wealth Podcast. The information provided is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, tax, investment or legal advice.

About the author, Scott Wellens

Scott Wellens, CFP® is an investment advisor and founder of Fortress Planning Group. After earning his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, Scott quickly ascended to become a Vice President of North American Sales at a major regional provider of telecommunications infrastructure. While financially successful in this role, Scott searched for ways to pursue his passion related to financial literacy and providing financial freedom for both his own family and others. During his search, Scott became curious about the significant gap he found in the financial services sector: he was unable to find a comprehensive financial planner that maintained a family stewardship lens without being attached to financial products. Scott decided to fill that gap by creating his own planning firm that maintains a strong passion for comprehensive, unbiased wealth planning that is genuinely client-centered.

Scott resides in Menomonee Falls, WI with his family. He is the father of three active and independent daughters who keep him on his toes. Scott is an active community member, serving on the Hamilton Education Foundation Board, serves as a Dave Ramsey Financial Peace facilitator and leads the All Pro Dad’s group at their local elementary school. Scott enjoys spending his free time visiting state parks with his family, reading, and watching the Milwaukee Bucks and the Green Bay Packers win ball games.

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