Is Your Future Really Funded - Or Just Floating?

A friend of mine keeps a sticker on his boat: “This boat runs on gas, not thank you's.” A little passive-aggressive, sure—but it’s a perfect picture of financial reality. Purpose is your destination. But fuel—your resources, discipline, and financial goals - is what actually gets you there.

 Think of your life and business like a three-legged stool. One leg is your business goals (building value in your company). Another is your personal purpose  (knowing what you’re aiming for beyond work). The third is your financial goals (the fuel that keeps everything upright and moving). Without all three, the stool wobbles—or tips over.

 Last month we focused on purpose: your “why.” This month, we’re shifting to the financial leg—the part that keeps you from staying tied to the dock, waiting on one big payday, and instead powers you steadily toward the life you want.

Let’s get to work.

Tools of the Trade 

Most owners regularly ask questions about the business—revenue, margins, headcount. But how often do you ask the same discipline-driven questions about your personal finances?

 Here are five to put on repeat:

1. Am I consistently moving money from my business into personal wealth?
2. If the business stopped producing tomorrow, how long could my lifestyle be sustained?
3. Do I know my exact burn rate (personal + family expenses) and is it funded?
4. How dependent on one event (sale, bonus, liquidity moment) for my future am I?
5. Are my investments and savings aligned with the life I say I want—purpose, lifestyle, and legacy

These aren’t “one-and-done” questions. The answers shift as your business, family, and goals evolve. Asking them often is how you keep your financial leg of the stool strong—and your boat fueled.

Firm Foundation

Those five financial questions aren’t just a gut check—they’re a framework. Each one ties back to the second leg of your three-legged stool: personal financial goals. Without this leg, purpose and business value have nothing to stand on.

Here’s how to strengthen it:

1. Move wealth out of the business. The first question (“Am I consistently moving money into personal wealth?”) forces discipline. Regular distributions into investments and savings turn business success into lasting security.
2. Build margin into your plan. Questions about burn rate and lifestyle sustainability highlight the need for liquidity and reserves. Cash flow shouldn’t just fund payroll and growth—it should also protect your personal life.
3. Diversify beyond a single event. If your future hinges on a sale or bonus, you’re running on hope. A strategy spreads risk across assets, income sources, and timelines.
4. Align money with meaning. The last two questions test whether your wealth is pointed toward your real “why”—not just parked in accounts, but powering a lifestyle and legacy.

When business goals, financial goals, and personal purpose reinforce each other, the stool becomes sturdy. That’s when you can step off the dock and actually move forward—with balance and confidence.

How We Partner With You

Whether you own the business or work inside it we help you turn financial “somedays” into concrete, achievable targets. That starts with helping you run a clear Personal Net Worth check, so you know exactly where you stand today. From there, we model your future lifestyle costs, align investments and tax strategies, and grow your personal wealth alongside your professional success. That way, when it is time to move on, you are not wondering if you can afford it — you already know you can.

*The foregoing content reflects the opinions of Van Hulzen Asset Management DBA "Van Hulzen Financial Advisors" and is subject to change at any time without notice. Content provided herein is for informational purposes only and should not be used or construed as investment advice or a recommendation regarding the purchase or sale of any security. There is no guarantee that the statements, opinions or forecasts provided herein will prove to be correct. Past performance may not be indicative of future results. Indices are not available for direct investment. Any investor who attempts to mimic the performance of an index would incur fees and expenses which would reduce returns. Securities investing involves risk, including the potential for loss of principal. There is no assurance that any investment plan or strategy will be successful. 

Investment advisory services offered through Van Hulzen Asset Management, insurance products and services through Citadel, an affiliated company. Any references to guarantees relate only to insurance products and are based solely on the claims paying ability of the underwriting company. 

*The foregoing content reflects the opinions of Van Hulzen Asset Management DBA "Van Hulzen Financial Advisors" and is subject to change at any time without notice. Content provided herein is for informational purposes only and should not be used or construed as investment advice or a recommendation regarding the purchase or sale of any security. There is no guarantee that the statements, opinions or forecasts provided herein will prove to be correct. Past performance may not be indicative of future results. Indices are not available for direct investment. Any investor who attempts to mimic the performance of an index would incur fees and expenses which would reduce returns. Securities investing involves risk, including the potential for loss of principal. There is no assurance that any investment plan or strategy will be successful. 

Investment advisory services offered through Van Hulzen Asset Management, insurance products and services through Citadel, an affiliated company. Any references to guarantees relate only to insurance products and are based solely on the claims paying ability of the underwriting company.