Ep 28 | This is What High Achievers are Planning For
Think financial planning is just about retirement accounts and cutting back? Think again. In this episode, Priya pulls back the curtain on what today’s high earners are really planning for and, spoiler alert, it’s not just a down payment and 401(k).
From a post-breakup glow-up fund to a Dutch hot tub to sending your parents on a cruise, this is financial planning that actually reflects your real life and real values. Priya explains how to align your money with your priorities so you can stop winging it and start living a little (or a lot).
Tune Into This Episode to Hear:
Why even people making $500K/year feel like they don’t have enough
The most common short- and mid-term goals clients are planning for (besides retirement)
Why financial planning isn’t about restriction, it’s about freedom
Why putting a plan in place actually gives you permission to want more
Follow Priya Malani:
LinkedIn | Instagram | Youtube | Stash Wealth
THE STUFF OUR LAWYERS WANT US TO SAY: Stash Wealth is a Registered Investment Advisor. Content presented is for informational and educational purposes only and is not intended to make an offer or solicitation for any specific securities product, service, or strategy. Consult with a qualified investment adviser (that's us) before implementing any strategy. Investing involves risk, including the loss of principal. Past performance does not guarantee future results. There…we said it.
Transcription
Most of Us Are Just Winging It
Most of us are just winging it, right? We're kind of keeping our fingers crossed, hoping everything works out, waiting for the next raise.
I'm talking people who are making solid six figures. I've seen people making two, three, four, five hundred thousand dollars winging it—feeling like they don't have enough.
Welcome Back to The F Word
Hey guys, Priya here. Welcome back to The F Word.
If you've ever thought financial planning was just about retirement accounts and maxing your 401k and cutting back on your lifestyle, today's episode will change your mind.
At Stash Wealth, we work with ambitious high earners who want more than just enough.
They want financial clarity, and they want a life that feels exciting. Generous. Adventurous. Maybe even a little bit extra.
So today I am pulling back the curtain on all the amazing goals our high-achieving 30-somethings are planning for.
And spoiler alert—it’s not just about the down payment for your first home.
It’s for upgraded plane tickets. The perfect trench raincoat—you know the one I’m talking about. Trips to Antarctica.
Alright, let’s dive in.
Financial Planning: Not Just for Retirement
So historically, financial planning has been just about retirement. It’s been about helping old rich people not outlive their money, make sure they have enough to retire, and then make sure they don’t draw down upon it and take too much income that their money runs out before they’re no longer around.
Right? So if you think financial planning is just about retirement, totally makes sense.
The industry—and even financial planning software out there—most of the tools you can find online are really about securing retirement.
But it can do so much more.
And that’s what I wanna talk about today, because most of our clients want to live well now while also knowing they’re prepared for later.
Upgrading their lifestyle. Living with confidence. Spending their money guilt-free.
Top Short-Term Goals We Plan For
So let’s take a look at some of the common short-term and mid-term goals our clients are planning for. I'm gonna start with the two most common goals we see in every single Stash Plan.
1. Travel
Non-negotiable for our generation.
The thing about planning for travel is that it takes the conversation from:
“Oh, I’d love to take a trip. I wonder how much I can get away with doing it for…”
...to:
“Wow, I have thousands of dollars that I can now go blow on travel.”
I know that for myself personally, before I had a travel fund, I was hopping on Airbnb and taking the little slider and bringing it down:
“I can only spend this much per night.”
With the travel fund and having that goal set in advance?
Now I’m taking the slider and sliding it in the opposite direction—because I can upgrade the experience.
That money? I have to blow it on travel. I just have to.
2. Gifts Account
The travel account and the gifts account—these are in every single plan.
With gifts, think holiday gifts, birthday gifts (for yourself or others), baby showers, weddings—all the things that are happening in this life stage.
If you want to be able to treat yourself and others, it’s so exciting to have this money just sitting aside with that intention, with that purpose.
It makes it so much more fun to buy gifts.
Whereas when clients come to us before they have a gifts account, it pretty much goes like this:
Holidays roll around, they throw everything on their credit card, and then in January they’re like:
“Hmm… who’s paying for this?”
With a gifts sub-savings account, not only does it allow you to spend on gifting guilt-free, but it also allows you to be more spontaneous.
You’re coming from a place of abundance. A place of:
“I have this money to spend.”
Lifestyle Upgrades
So those are the short-term goals we see in every plan. But there are others.
We had a client who was living her New York City best life—in a three-bedroom with five roommates. I think they had converted the living room.
She was like, “I love my roommate situation, I’m living my best life—but I’m making six figures. I wanna upgrade this situation and move out on my own.”
That was an awesome goal that she put into her plan—and accomplished.
We’ve also seen:
A ceramics studio fund (yes, throwing clay!)
Private boxing trainers
Dutch hot tubs (look it up—how cool!)
Mid-Term Goals and Big Dreams
Then there are more mid-term goals, like:
Slowing down on work
Working part-time
Burning Man fund
Opening a bookstore, winery, brewery, or even a bakery in Italy
That’s the point of financial planning: to think about your goals and put a plan in place so you can achieve them.
Wealth is personal, not predictable.
You don’t have to just plan for traditional goals.
Planning is about intention—understanding your values and priorities, and creating a plan that follows your path.
What Financial Planning Really Is
So don’t think of financial planning as something boring, traditional, or stuffy.
Think of it as designing your life.
Because when you’re younger, you have time and earning potential on your side.
Later in life, financial planning is just:
“Will I run out of money?”
But right now? You can dream.
Some real client goals we’ve seen:
Gifting parents a cruise
A post-breakup glow-up fund
A bark mitzvah for a dog
The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express (bougie train in Europe—look it up!)
Your goals represent ambition—not irresponsibility.
Permission to Dream Bigger
If you’re ready to get financially organized, you’ll open up so much intentionality in your relationship with money.
Again, most of us are winging it—even people earning $500K.
Putting a plan in place debunks the mindset that it’s never enough.
One couple:
Husband wanted financial planning.
Wife said: “They’ll just tell us what we can’t do.”
She came out of it feeling:
“I feel so much more in control. We have purpose behind every dollar. We know where our money’s going. And it’s opening doors.”
Introducing: Responsibly Reckless
At Stash Wealth, we have a term: Responsibly Reckless.
Once you have a plan, you can be reckless—with the money that’s meant to be spent on fun.
Because you know how much you have to blow.
Guilt-free.
Three Pillars of Every Plan
Every goal you’ve heard here has three things:
Clear timelines
Strategic savings
Prioritizing trade-offs
Life is about trade-offs.
But don’t you want to have a say in which ones you’re making?
Trade-Offs in Real Life
Classic couple:
Saver husband wants a home.
Spender wife shops freely.
Until he says: “Every dollar you spend is a dollar not going toward our down payment.”
Light bulb moment.
It’s not about control—it’s about understanding priorities. That changes everything.
Stop Keeping Your Fingers Crossed
One of my favorite quotes:
“Planning eliminates the need to keep your fingers crossed.”
Otherwise, you’re just hoping:
“We’ll get to a down payment one day.”
“I think we can afford this vacation…”
Goals Reflect Your Values
Want a Moncler coat? Great.
Want NFL or Beyoncé tickets? Amazing.
Want a bark mitzvah? Go for it.
No justification needed.
But you do need to:
Know your goals
Know your values
Align with your partner
Your Life. Your Goals. Your Design.
Don’t let your parents’ version of success define yours.
This is your life. You’re the only person it has to answer to.
Final Thoughts
I hope this episode made you rethink what financial planning can look like.
If you know someone struggling to get clear on their finances, please share this episode.
We are trying to grow our audience—and we can't do it without your support.
So please like, follow, subscribe, wherever you podcast.
And if you're ready to make your goals real?
You know where to find us.
Thanks so much for listening to The F Word.
See you next time.
