​

Hey there Reader,

I'm back home, but still recovering from a phenomenal week spent in Scottsdale, Arizona. It was the perfect blend of family and finance: time with my parents, my brother, sister-in-law, and my favorite nephew and niece, Pascal and Penelope.

This trip wasn't just about relaxation and family time; it was about strategic growth. I hosted a personal finance seminar taught with the APTA Arizona Chapter, met with financial creator friends (Madison and her husband Nick from FinCon 2024), and even sat down with author Prudence Zhu (who writes about couples and money). We capped it all off by spending a significant amount of time scouting potential vacation rental properties in the US market, guided by our contact, Ally Ballam. The long-term cue we gave Ally was simple: we want to slowly create a lifestyle where we can escape some of the dreary Canadian winters. ☀️

This blending of family, network, and tangible assets revealed two key lessons that are essential for building a truly resilient financial life.

Lesson 1: Why Your Network is Recession-Proof

In a world where market fluctuations and economic uncertainty are constants, where does your true security lie?

It’s easy to think it’s the number in your bank account, but I’m convinced it's the strength of your professional network.

Meeting with my FinCon friends and speaking with the APTA Arizona Chapter reminded me that my biggest asset isn't my investment portfolio; it's the quality of the experts I can call upon. Your network provides what money can't buy:

• Market Insights: My friends shared real-time, nuanced market views that you won’t read in a headline.
• Mentorship & Accountability: The ability to call up an expert (like Prudence Zhu for relationship advice or Madison & Nick for creator strategy) and get proven advice.
• Opportunity: When the job market tightens, your network is the source of referrals, job openings, and collaborations.

This is a high ROT (Return on Time) activity.

You invest a little time and energy into these connections, and the return is exponential: it's mentorship, support, and a financial safety net that requires no capital.

Lesson 2: Building Generational & Lifestyle Wealth

While networking provides the soft safety net, scouting rental properties provides the grounding, tangible lesson in building Generational Wealth and securing a desired Lifestyle.

We spent time with Ally analyzing neighbourhoods, looking at property taxes, and running cash flow models for vacation rentals.

This is where the financial goals shift from "How much do I need to survive?" to "How do I build assets that support the life I want to live?"

For us, that means seeking tangible assets that can function as both income and a future winter escape pod.

The key to long-term fulfillment is recognizing that lifestyle factors often trump raw financial returns. My goal isn't purely to get the highest ROI; it's to create freedom.

Let's assume you have $100,000 to put to work over 10 years, and compare three strategic assets:

The Financial Trade-Off (The FFP Take):

1. Index Fund (like ZSP): Provides the most efficient, passive appreciation and is the foundation of any smart portfolio.
2. Bitcoin: Offers aggressive appreciation potential and a hedge against monetary debasement, but you can't live inside your BTC.
3. ​Rental Property: While the immediate financial return might be 1-2 points lower than a pure stock portfolio (due to management costs and illiquidity), it has two massive hidden benefits: Leverage (the tenant pays down your debt) and Lifestyle Utility.

The $100,000 invested in the Scottsdale property doesn't just work for your retirement; it works for your current mental health and quality of life by securing a piece of future freedom. That's a return that you can't measure on a stock chart, and it's a return I'm willing to prioritize. Investing is about finding the assets that support your vision for life, and sometimes, that means accepting a slightly lower financial return for a much higher Return on Fulfillment.

Invest in People & Property

Use this week to focus on the soft and hard assets that define resilience:

1. Conduct Your Network Audit (The Soft Asset):
   • Think of the five most knowledgeable people you know in finance, business, or your practice niche. Send two of them a specific, concise email this week asking for their advice on a current challenge. (Invest time to gain knowledge.)
2. Run the Real Estate Numbers (The Hard Asset):
   • Use a Buy vs. Rent Calculator or a simple cash flow spreadsheet (like the ones we used in Scottsdale) to model a potential local rental property using today's high interest rates. Can it still generate positive cash flow? (Invest time to gain clarity.)
3. Prioritize Family & Self-Care:
   • The most important asset of the trip was family time. Block out specific, non-negotiable time this week for your loved ones. This prevents burnout, which is the single biggest threat to your financial plan.

Yours Truly,
Robin Valadares

​@financiallyfulfilledpro and Certified Financial Counselor CFC™

​​​​​

Do you get value from these weekly emails?​
​America doesn't run on Dunkin, I run (walk) on coffee, keep me fueled up to keep writing by buying me a cup of coffee.
​
Share this email newsletter with a friend, colleague, or someone you think would benefit. You'll put a smile on my face knowing that this material will reach more people, and your friends, family, and colleagues will learn more about their financial situation and future!
​
Use this link to share: https://financiallyfulfilledphysio.ck.page/profile​