I am not on a crusade to take down the financial advising industry.

Even if I wanted to, I couldn’t. Financial planning and wealth management professionals in the United States currently manage over $60 trillion in investable assets. That’s trillion with a “t.” The industry is massive, well-established, and deeply entrenched in our culture.

Moreover, I am not anti financial advising. A trusted fiduciary can be a valuable partner for those who prefer a hands-off approach to money management - or simply don’t have the time, interest, or confidence to manage it themselves. And while I’ll lay out my qualms with the industry, its fees, and its overall lack of transparency in the coming weeks, let me be clear: I’m not here to talk you out of leveraging the time and expertise of a financial professional.

When it comes to a lot of things in my life, I’m all for leaving it to the pros. You won’t find me changing my car’s oil, or DIYing a home renovation (much to the disappointment of my father-in-law). But when it comes to budgeting and financial planning, I’m happy to get my hands dirty. And I’m hoping you are too. So with that said, let's get started.

The Minnesota Money Method

My money management philosophy boils down to three words: know your numbers.

You can’t make informed financial decisions today, or plan for tomorrow, without a strong grasp of the key metrics that reflect your financial health. That means understanding not just how much you earn and spend, but also how much you save, how much you owe, and how those numbers are trending over time. This philosophy is central to everything you’ll read on this blog and everything you’ll get out of my products.

I also believe personal finance is not just personal, but geographical. Factors like state income taxes, property taxes, sales taxes etc. can significantly affect your take-home pay and cost of living. Local real estate markets also play a major role - whether you're renting or buying, housing costs vary widely by location and can make or break your budget. Even things like childcare expenses, insurance premiums, and utility costs are influenced by where you call home. Ignoring these regional differences can lead to inaccurate projections and unrealistic financial goals. That’s why my content and my digital tools are tailored specifically for Minnesotans.

When I began building the Money Manager, my main objective was to create a tool that was intuitive, easy on the eyes, and with just some basic inputs, capable of providing a clear and concise summary of one’s financial well-being. Nothing too granular. No convoluted formulas. Just a high-level, but highly informative breakdown of your economic standing. So that’s what I built.

There’s a popular saying in business: “What gets measured, gets done.” The same applies to your money. Over the next few weeks, I’ll break down the key numbers you need to measure to gauge your financial health. Because I believe when you regularly monitor the metrics that matter, you dramatically improve your odds of reaching your financial goals. I also believe anyone, with the right tools and a bit of guidance, can do it. You don’t need a finance degree. You just need to be curious and consistent.

Like I said, I’m not here to replace your financial advisor. Just as car manufacturers are not anti-aviation, my aim isn’t to compete with financial advisors, but to offer an alternative method for reaching your (financial) destination. For those of you who want to take the wheel and take control of your money, I’ll talk to you next week.