Anyone who knows me knows how much I love to play music. Recently, a few friends have started learning guitar, and I keep hearing the same thing: “Yeah, it’s great—but I can’t get past the same few chords. It’s harder than it looks.”
I get it. I remember my own start — not with a real guitar, but with Guitar Hero on my fourth birthday. I was hooked the moment I heard Boston’s “More Than a Feeling”. What started as a video game became a lifelong love of music. It took years before I could actually play that song — piano first, then guitar lessons once I was big enough to hold one — but every practice session built toward something more.
What I didn’t realize back then was that learning an instrument is less about the big breakthrough and more about the quiet consistency. You can’t rush calluses or skip straight to solos. The joy comes from showing up and learning a little more each time. People often forget to give themselves credit for trying something new, whether it’s picking up an instrument, joining a gym, or even saving that first dollar. When you focus only on the end goal, you risk missing the growth that happens along the way.
Financial planning works much the same way. It’s not a one-time decision or a perfect market call: it’s an ongoing process of small, intentional steps that build into something lasting.
One client came to us fifteen years ago with $5 million. Over the years, they’ve withdrawn more than $6 million to support their lifestyle, family, and charitable goals. Today, they still have $5 million invested. For example, imagine an client who began with $5 million fifteen years ago. Through years of thoughtful planning, disciplined investing, and coordinated strategies, that portfolio could have supported millions in withdrawals while maintaining long-term sustainability.
That didn’t happen by accident or luck. It came from years of steady work: semiannual meetings to revisit priorities, disciplined investing through every market cycle, coordination with their accountant on tax strategies, and a thorough risk management program to weather the unexpected.
Their “More Than a Feeling” — that big, early goal of retiring by a certain age — was just one song in their setlist. Over time, new tunes entered the rotation: “Walk This Way” moments when lifestyle needs took center stage, “Stairway to Heaven” seasons of building legacy, even a few “Eruptions” when life threw surprises their way. Each phase brought its own rhythm, and our role was to help keep the beat steady through it all.
The same way a musician relies on a teacher or a bandmate to stay inspired and accountable, successful financial planning means having someone in your corner: a partner who helps you stay in rhythm even when life changes tempo. Markets shift, families evolve, priorities move, but the ongoing process keeps you aligned with what matters most.
In music, mastery doesn’t come from one perfect performance — it comes from a lifetime of playing. The same is true with your financial life. Every check-in, every conversation, every decision adds up. The song gets richer, the melody more familiar, and before you know it, you’re playing the kind of life you once only dreamed of.
RTD Financial Advisors, Inc (“RTD”) is a SEC registered investment adviser. Information presented is for educational purposes only intended for a broad audience. The information does not intend to make an offer or solicitation for the sale or purchase of any specific securities, investments, or investment strategies. Investments involve risk and are not guaranteed. RTD has reasonable belief that this marketing does not include any false or material misleading statements or omissions of facts regarding services, investment, or client experience. RTD has reasonable belief that the content as a whole will not cause an untrue or misleading implication regarding the adviser’s services, investments, or client experiences. RTD has presented information in a fair and balanced manner. RTD is not giving tax, legal or accounting advice, consult a professional tax or legal representative if needed. This example is hypothetical and for illustrative purposes only. It does not represent the experience of any specific client or portfolio.