The Kinder Questions
3 questions to transform your financial journey
Today I’m sharing three questions that have fundamentally changed how I think about money's purpose in my own life. Developed by economist George Kinder, these questions are designed to bypass our surface-level financial concerns and connect us with our deepest values and aspirations—the experiences, relationships, and contributions that actually make life meaningful. They are a gut check as to whether your current financial plans are supporting someone else's definition of success or the life you truly want to live.
The Three Questions
Financial Freedom: Imagine you have enough money to take care of your needs, now and in the future. How would you live your life? Would you change anything?
Limited Time: You learn you have only 5-10 years to live. You won't feel sick, but you will have no notice of the moment of your death. What would you do in this time? Would you change your life, and how?
Your Final Day: You learn you have only 24 hours to live. Facing your very limited time, what dreams will you leave unfulfilled? What do you wish you had finished or done? What do you wish you had become?
From Reflection to Action
By understanding what truly matters to you, you can align your financial decisions with your deepest values. This might mean saving less for a distant retirement and investing more in experiences now, or perhaps the opposite—sacrificing certain comforts today to build something meaningful for tomorrow.
The answers to these questions will be profoundly personal. They'll likely evolve as you move through different life stages. But they always serve as a compass, helping ensure that your relationship with money supports your most authentic life.
Take some time with these questions. Write down your answers. Share them with someone you trust. Then let them guide you toward a financial plan that truly serves the life you want to create.
Ms. Money is written by Marisa Rothstein, JD, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER(T) of Siena Private Wealth, A Member of Advisory Services Network, LLC. Learn more about Siena at www.sienaprivate.com.