Answering Questions No One Asked

Welcome!

Welcome to danwickens.com! I’m going to start my blogging career by answering several questions (that no one asked) to help introduce myself.

How would you describe your perfect day?

My first instinct is to ask a bunch of clarifying questions about the parameters, because CPAs can be very pesky. So, let’s just assume I can pick the time of year, it has to be within the next 12 months, and I can’t leave my hometown of Tacoma. Here it is. Short version: move my body, go outside, be with loved ones. As for the long version…

I manage to sleep in on a Saturday in late September, and wake well rested, with no alarm. My wife Autumn wakes up as soon as I get out of bed, and isn’t upset that her husband considers 6am sleeping in. Our boy Oliver (currently 1 month old, but 11 months old by September) is fast asleep when we awake. I make my favorite breakfast of eggs over easy with jasmine rice, soy sauce, and chili crisp. We get the boy fed and ready to rock, and head across town to Point Ruston. We arrive just before the sun peaks over the Cascade Mountains in the east. Our family sunrise walk is calm and quiet, barring the jetties full of seals and herons. We set a leisurely pace and sip cold brew coffee while Mount Rainier awakes to show its massive face in the southeast. The modest temperature alludes to the crispness of the impending fall.

Shortly after we get home, I change into my running stuff and head to Owen Beach. I smile my way through a 90-minute trail run in the woods of Point Defiance, and wave to the eagles at all my favorite viewing spots. My run concludes on the beach, happily trudging through the pebbles and sand until I find a promising end point. From there it’s a final sprint into the chilly water for a cooldown swim.

The action continues when I arrive back home. We walk from the house down to Titlow Beach, and spend midday dunking, walking, playing with Oliver, and scarfing hoagies. At the risk of being excessively greedy (something I advise against as a financial wellness expert) I’ve decided that we see orcas cutting through the passage, occasionally stopping to play in the water between us and the looming Narrows Bridges.

When we get home around 1pm, I take a shower, the boy is picked up by a grandparent, and Autumn and I take a glorious afternoon nap. When we wake up we head to a brewery for some IPAs on the patio (unsure which brewery because I let Autumn choose).

We get home and enjoy some solo time before family and friends arrive for an afternoon barbecue. While I lounge between events, I opt to watch college football while playing electric guitar. My brothers arrive a few minutes early and ask if we can use the home gym for a quick arm workout. Can’t spell “smart” without “arms”. At the barbecue, we play yard games and listen to a carefully curated playlist that is mostly classic rock and 90s alternative. Spicy grilled chicken thighs, Hawaiian mac salad, and everyone brings a side. Someone else makes the food, because even though I enjoy grilling, games and nonsense are much more fun.

Everyone stays until about 6pm, so that we can clean up and leave in time to catch a unique phenomenon in Tacoma. Autumn, Oliver and I head back to Point Defiance, and walk to our favorite western lookout in the peninsular park. The sun sets boldly in the west, backlighting the Olympic Mountains. As soon as it dips below the horizon, we book it back to the car, drive down to Owen Beach, and watch the full moon rise over Browns Point, Northeast Tacoma, and the sleepy Cascades (we did that for one of our first dates).

When we’re back home we put the boy to bed, and I have a bourbon by the fire pit while Autumn and I reminisce about a great day. Reading in bed by 9, asleep by 9:30. I know that day is possible because I’ve experienced every one of these wonderful things, just not in the same day. Wish me luck in 2024!

Why financial wellness?

Contrary to most financial educators, I’m not going to promise to make you wealthy. Instead, I want to help make your life as positive and healthy as possible. Wealth isn’t guaranteed to do that, but financial wellness will. Financial health is when your finances are a healthy and positive part of life. That’s what we should all want for ourselves, loved ones, and communities. I have nothing against wealth, and I’m actively working my way toward it every day. But all I really want from wealth is freedom, and there are more practical ways to feel free in the meantime.

A life ruled by money is not freedom, whether you’re broke or ballin’. I’ve known people whose financial troubles have trashed their mental, physical, and social health for years on end. I’ve also known people who are richer than I’ll ever be, yet unsatisfied and miserable in their pursuit of more. Meanwhile, wellness always wins. You want freedom? Be well. That includes taking care of your money.

You sure sport a lot of active wear. Are you even rich?

I wouldn’t call myself rich yet, but I do expect to get there in due time, and I’m definitely comfortable and “ahead”. One of the reasons I consistently meet my financial goals is that I don’t spend on things that don’t matter to me. For example, when it comes to clothes, I choose function over fashion and use things as long as possible. I haven’t paid for a haircut since iPhone was invented. Anyway.

No, I’m not a millionaire yet. However, I do consistently set and meet moderately aggressive financial goals, including my career earnings, spending, and saving. I expect that I have the knowledge, skills, strategies and mindsets to get become wealthy and retire early. Aggressive and gimmicky tactics? Not for me. I don’t do anything fancy, or buy things - including investments - that I don’t understand, and I’d never try to convince you to do that either. I’ve worked hard in my career, invested early and often, own a home I can afford, lived on less than I make and treat myself when the time seems right. Nothing flashy for me.

I think a lot of people are missing one (or all) of those basic ingredients – knowledge, skill, strategy, mindset – hence the abysmal financial situation so many folks find themselves in. I think my book and other platforms can help with that.

Why should anybody listen to you?

In three words: experience, perspective, passion.

Experience. I love studying personal finance, and have spent the last decade applying core concepts and consistently meeting my financial goals. The strategies I believe in have a high level of control and don’t ever try to rip anyone off. For that reason, the results are highly replicable for others.

Perspective. I can help you connect your finances to the rest of your life, which will keep you engaged and motivated enough to find success.

Passion. I would literally do this for free. In fact, as I write this, I actually haven’t yet broken even on the cost of publishing, promotions, and launching my website. I really, REALLY hope my book Healthy Dough becomes a best seller. But I know I don’t need it to. This has already been one of the most satisfying and meaningful experiences of my life. Hopefully I can keep selling books, start selling ads on the upcoming blogs, videos, and podcasts, get paid speaking engagements etc. But it feels so good to not count on the money or prestige because it makes it easy to keep my content pure and honest.

Why the (mostly) uncompensated ambition?

Money is a great motivator, but it shouldn’t be the only carrot you chase. We ought to challenge and stimulate ourselves in a variety of ways. I recommend focusing your energy on health and fulfillment rather than solely channeling ambition toward financial gain. Conveniently, when people are healthy and fulfilled, they’re more likely to: 1) do their best work, improving career satisfaction and earning potential 2) have more energy and perspective to make their best financial and non-financial decisions 3) appreciate the gifts all around them without constantly wanting more money.

So test yourself out. Learn something new. Pick up a new affordable hobby. Run that race even if you’re likely to get last. Success and perseverance are highly transferrable.

Thank you!

Please reach out with any topics you’d like to hear about, join the mailing list and subscribe! Your best life is a healthy life. Go get it. Thank you!