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“The mountains are calling and I must go.” If this quote from naturalist and preservationist John Muir resonates with you, you’re not alone.
Millions of Americans consider themselves to be outdoor enthusiasts, passionate about spending time enjoying nature, often traveling to new destinations to discover idyllic landscapes, while making the most of their local environment near home.
For many people, this also means striking the right work/life balance that provides a steady income with flexibility to enjoy being outside regularly today, while accumulating a nest egg large enough to comfortably support outdoor aspirations throughout retirement.
If this sounds like you, you might be a natural fit to work with a financial advisor who shares your love of the great outdoors.
You’ll likely find dozens of financial advisors in your community well-suited to help you reach your money goals with a personalized plan. But it may be more difficult to find a financial advisor who will be just as eager to share stories about their favorite hiking trails and state parks as discussing your financial plan.
Fortunately, many financial advisors offer virtual services so you can meet online no matter where you (or they) live. This means you can choose to hire a financial advisor who lives hundreds of miles away if you decide a fellow outdoor enthusiast who knows what makes you tick could help you achieve better outcomes.
👨💻 Smart Money Insights for Outdoor Enthusiasts
This page is organized into sections to help you quickly find the information you need and get answers to your questions:
- Q&A with Financial Advisors Specializing in Serving Outdoor Enthusiasts
- Get Answers to Your Questions About Financial Planning for Outdoor Enthusiasts
- Browse Related Articles
– Financial Advisors Specializing in Serving Outdoor Enthusiasts –
Three Questions with Nathan Mueller
We asked Pagosa Springs, Colorado-based financial advisor Nathan Mueller to answer three questions about his own passion for the great outdoors and how he works with clients who share a common interest in nature.
Q: When you’re not in the office, what types of outdoor activities do you enjoy most?
Nathan: My absolute favorite thing to do when I’m not in the office is to snowboard. I love getting out at my local resort (Wolf Creek Ski Resort) after a winter storm has brought new snow to the mountain (aka Powder Day).
It has been such a passion sport for me since I can remember and living in Colorado I’ve had the opportunity to snowboard some wonderful mountains. I have some notable personal achievements with the sport such as snowboarding for 20 months consecutively and getting 80 days out for a winter season.
When the seasons change you’ll find me still exploring the wilderness. The mountain bike gets pulled out of the garage and the disc golf discs get the dust blown off them.
I’m very lucky to be able to quickly access some amazing mountain bike trails with stunning views of the mountains and zig-zag through the forest. With the family, we often camp in the San Juan National Forest over weekends and get out hiking. The great part about Southwest Colorado is that the mountains were formed by volcanic activity which has created some amazing waterfalls to finish your hikes at.
Get to Know Nathan:
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Q: For clients you serve who share your passion for the great outdoors, how do you find your common interests contribute to your conversations together about their financial planning needs?
Nathan: I love working with clients that share similar interests. For some folks, it can take a lot of courage to speak to someone about their money and open up to be vulnerable so if we can build rapport around outdoor activities it can really relax them and make clients more comfortable.
With ongoing clients that know me well, I think most of them get excited to share their latest adventures or geek out on the latest gear. The hardest part is usually bringing the focus back to financial planning. I’m also guilty of using outdoor analogies to explain financial planning topics.
Q: What suggestions do you have for fellow outdoor enthusiasts who want the best of both worlds, to maximize the time they can afford to spend enjoying travel and more time in nature today while ensuring they’re saving enough to retire comfortably and continue their outdoor adventures when they do?
Nathan: There is certainly a tradeoff and balance to living the life you want and being financially stable. My main suggestion is to let folks know you can do both but you have to be realistic with expectations. No matter what income you make or lifestyle you choose to live, everyone can properly budget, save for emergencies, and secure their retirement. The issue is when people want to spend more time in the outdoors and live beyond their means.
For instance, you may choose to work at a place that is flexible with time but doesn’t pay that well. The reward is being able to enjoy more activities but the sacrifice is you may not be able to save for a downpayment for a home or be able to get name-brand clothing like Patagonia or Northface clothing. What do you want more? Learn how buying luxury outdoor brands can affect you in this article.
My second suggestion would be to find a job that provides flexibility and a solid income. Yes, this is sometimes a unicorn type of situation but there are a variety of jobs/industries that do exist. You may have to dedicate time, resources, and money towards job retraining or more education to get it though. Just remember if you are motivated enough it is possible. Here is a great article to learn more about handling finances with the lifestyle you want and potential job options available. The article is titled “What’s your money cycle?”
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About the Author
Brian Thorp
Founder and CEO, Wealthtender
Brian and his wife live in Texas, enjoying the diversity of Houston and the vibrancy of Austin.
With over 25 years in the financial services industry, Brian is applying his experience and passion at Wealthtender to help more people enjoy life with less money stress.
To make Wealthtender free for readers, we earn money from advertisers, including financial professionals and firms that pay to be featured. This creates a conflict of interest when we favor their promotion over others. Read our editorial policy and terms of service to learn more. Wealthtender is not a client of these financial services providers.
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