As a business owner, you face unique financial challenges. Unlike traditional employees, you have to consider both your business’s finances and your personal finances, as well as how they intertwine. One of the many things you can do to take control of your financial situation, sharpen your focus, and achieve lasting financial success is to create a meaningful wealth mission for yourself and your business.

The importance of a meaningful wealth mission statement

It may seem like creating a wealth mission statement is just another thing to add to your to-do list. But the good news is that having a solid mission statement in place can actually save you time. After all, it provides a clear vision for your business and life and makes it easier to make decisions in the future that align with your personal goals.

Wealth Enhancement specializes in providing advisory services to business owners and their businesses. Reach out today to learn more.

Your first question may be: What exactly is a wealth mission statement? According to Charles Schwab, a wealth mission statement is “a document laying out a family’s values and vision for its wealth.” While any person or family can have a wealth mission statement, they’re particularly important for business owners, whose personal and business finances are intertwined.

Creating a wealth mission statement can seem challenging at first. But once you are able to articulate your vision, it will serve as the cornerstone of your overall direction and can help synchronize your individual, family, and business goals that intertwine your values and priorities.

If you’re unsure of where to start, we’ll talk more about how to craft your wealth mission statement later in this article.

Examples of meaningful money missions

If you’re looking for some inspiration when creating your meaningful money mission statement, here are a few examples:

“I aim to strategically create wealth, empowering me to realize my business, personal, and family aspirations. I seek to create a sustainable business with longevity that can provide for my family and me during our lifetimes, and ultimately carry on for years afterward.

“I aim to intentionally grow and multiply my wealth to provide unwavering support to my loved ones. With deliberate and thoughtful strategies, I aspire to create financial security for myself and my loved ones, while providing opportunity for future generations of my family.”

“I aim to nurture and expand my business and wealth to reach my personal financial goals, but also to provide support to my community and the causes that are important to me. I aim to leave a lasting legacy that enriches those around me.”

You’ll notice that one mission statement focuses on the impact on one’s family, while another prioritizes community impact. There’s no right or wrong mission statement. You must simply choose the one that best aligns with your goals and vision.

Aligning individual, family, and business goals

As we’ve mentioned, one of the key traits of a wealth mission statement for a business owner is that it aligns with your individual, family, and business goals. Of course, that may be easier said than done, and it’s not always clear how those goals align in the first place, but it’s worth it in the end.

First, start by writing down your goals for each of those areas: individual, family, and business. It may be that you have a business goal of doubling your business revenue in the next three years, while personally, you’d love to save for your child’s college education. The good news is that, in this case, those goals clearly align with one another. Growing your business revenue will allow you to save more for your child’s future.

Remember that a wealth mission statement doesn’t have to be specific or prescriptive. For example, you don’t necessarily need to say, “I want to save $X for my child’s future.” Instead, you can simply talk about how your child’s financial future is important to you. The mission statement doesn’t need to list your specific goals; it simply serves as a guidepost when you’re crafting those specific goals.

By integrating these various facets into your mission statement, you can create a sense of shared purpose and unity among all stakeholders, including your business partners and loved ones.

Creating your wealth mission statement

If you’re ready to create your wealth mission statement, here’s a step-by-step guide to help you get started:

1. Start with your why: You can’t craft your wealth mission statement without knowing your “why.” What motivates you? Your “why” may be your vision for your future business, what you want for your family’s future, or anything else. Articulating your “why” can give you a solid starting point and help you write your mission statement.
2. Write it down:  There’s evidence to suggest that writing down your goals increases your likelihood of achieving them, and your mission statement is no different. Writing down your mission statement forces you to get clear and specific about your vision. It also gives you something tangible to look at.
3. Review regularly: Your mission statement shouldn’t be a set-it-and-forget-it venture. Instead, it’s important to review it regularly. First, the regular reminders will help you set goals that align with your mission statement and will keep it top of mind for you. Additionally, it will help you notice earlier rather than later if the statement no longer fits your vision.
4. Plan comprehensively: Once you’ve written your mission statement, careful planning will allow you to use it towards achieving our goals. You can integrate your mission statement into your personal goal-setting and financial planning processes. Use the statement as a guiding framework for your goals.
5. Communicate and reaffirm: Your wealth mission statement likely affects more than just you. Once you’ve written it, consider sharing it with your family members, business partners, and any other trusted advisors. This will keep you all on the same page.
6. Course correct: Your mission statement likely won’t stay the same your entire life, nor should it. As your life circumstances or financial situation changes, your mission statement should change with it. You can either change your mission statement when major life changes arise, or set a recurring reminder (annually, for example) to check in and reassess.

Staying the course on your mission

Creating your money mission statement is just one step in the process. To get the most out of it, you have to follow through and use it to guide your life and goals.

1. Remember your why: No matter what struggles you go through, remembering your why will be the most effective way to stay the course on your mission statement. Keep your core values top of mind and remind yourself what achieving your biggest goals will afford you.
2. Seek professional guidance: Just as trusted professionals can help you reach specific financial goals, they can also help turn your wealth mission statement into the future you envision. Consider working with a financial planner and sharing your mission statement and “why” with them. You might be surprised how effectively they can turn that segment into a financial plan.
3. Live your mission: Embrace your mission in every part of your life, regardless of whether it's directly related to your financial goals. For example, if a core part of your mission statement relates to your family, live your mission by prioritizing your family in other ways, as well.

“Content in this material is for general information only and not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual.”