The Importance of Cultivating Both Health and Wealth

Do health and wealth really go together? If you ask me, my professional opinion is “absolutely, YES”. Having worked in both the holistic healthcare industry and financial planning sphere for a combined 15+ years, I wholeheartedly believe that one cannot be achieved without the other.

Although I now spend my days working as a business analyst and financial planner, I spent the first 8.5 years of my career primarily working abroad at holistic healing centers serving retreat attendees as a Registered Holistic Nutritionist (RHN), chef, ACE-certified personal trainer, and bodyworker (reflexology and massage). I developed an infatuation with the possibilities of healing most maladies holistically after healing myself of several chronic conditions (you can read more about that here).

When I returned to the United States following years of living abroad in Costa Rica, Thailand, Bali, and Kenya, my passions shifted to helping people overcome the economic hurdles that prevent them from investing in their health and well-being. After all, it’s no secret that unhealthy food is typically cheap (due to the government primarily subsidizing corn, soy, and wheat – foods most of Americans have some form of intolerance to due to the chemicals sprayed on them) whereas high-quality and organic foods are often much more expensive. That said, I’m on a mission to help transform the food system and help more individuals and families overcome food insecurity by receiving increased access to affordable foods that are nourishing and sustainably grown. Financial planning is just one of the ways I help my community do just that.

Can you have health without wealth?

Wealth is subjective. Certainly, it doesn’t encompass only money. But that is a component we are discussing here. The only success I’ve seen when it comes to achieving radiant health and having little to no economic means is me and my friends living in tropical regions (abroad) where the cost of living is low and nutritious foods are abundantly available. Furthermore, fruits, vegetables, grains, nuts, seeds, leafy greens, and high-quality meats are available at reduced costs compared to the United States.

Now, living in the United States? Good luck. Unless you want to live on beans, rice, and the vegetables you grow in your garden, it can be very difficult to thrive on little economic means and feel as if you’re at peak health. It is possible, but it requires attention to budgeting, making most meals at home, and splurging far less than the average American is used to on eating out and getting food on the go.

Realistically, this path is not for everyone which is why having access to some capital is very beneficial to cultivating health. If you can afford nutritious cheeses, fruits, vegetables, hormone and antibiotic-free meats, and a plethora of nuts and seeds, you’re going to feel less stress about investing in your health (even if it means visiting the doctor less later in life). Furthermore, having adequate capital means a visit to the doctor or dentist doesn’t inspire dread in your heart due to the uncertainty of what it’s going to cost. I want people to live healthier, happier lives and in this case, having funds in the bank helps.

Can you have wealth without health?

Yes, you certainly can. For one, you can inherit a great sum of money. But, if you are financially illiterate or undisciplined, how long will those funds last?

True wealth can be spread across generations because the families know how to protect what they’ve worked so hard for, utilize tools like revocable living trusts to determine how the money is spent to keep it in the family for longer, and to diversify gains so less unnecessarily goes to Uncle Sam. This is reality only for a small percentage of people.

For the bulk of individuals who live in America and live paycheck to paycheck, it is very difficult to build health without wealth. Firstly, we’ve been culturally conditioned to believe that “if you work hard enough” and trade enough hours for money, you’ll earn and save plenty. The truth is, working for an hourly wage means you are required to show up to your job to earn any form of income. With the cost of living having skyrocketed due to inflation, it takes even more to keep food on the table, the bills paid, and a little “extra” as a cushion in case of a rainy day.

If this sounds familiar, then listen up: if something were to happen to you health-wise, do you have a plan in place to ensure your family still receives a monthly income? Furthermore, are you able to continue growing a portion of that income to provide guaranteed retirement funds, long-term care funds, and a place to store your money tax-free? If you answered “no”, we should talk.

Betting your future on your prolonged health is like buying a lottery ticket each week and hoping for the best: both are a gamble. For this reason, I highly recommend you consider cultivating both your health and wealth.

Are your wealth and health greatly enhanced when you build both together?

Absolutely. One of the reasons I fell in love with the holistic healing arts is that I learned first-hand how good I could feel when I gave appropriate attention to my mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. I had no idea before! When you feel good health-wise, your mood is automatically elevated, you have more energy and desire to pursue your goals, and you’re a better person to be around for yourself and your friends/family.

When you can feel comfortable in your body, nourished, and eager to build a life you love with your family, that is the definition of success (to me). In my humble opinion, we are meant to grow and evolve throughout life – that’s what makes the process so special! But, if we meander along without the right tools, energy, or motivation, the road of life is going to be a rocky one.

By working with a holistic-minded planner such as myself, you don’t need to wonder what’s coming down the road. Instead, we can preemptively prepare and guarantee that when (not “If”) the game of life throws you a curve ball, you and your loved ones are prepared. That’s our firm’s end goal with each client: empower you to succeed in all aspects of life, starting with a strong financial foundation.

How to cultivate both health and wealth

Because it is impossible to cover the breadth of this topic in one or two paragraphs, I’d like to invite you to take advantage of the following:

1. Peruse and benefit from Life in Bloom Nutrition
   1. I started this website in 2012 to serve as a hub for delicious and healthy recipes, as well as sound nutritional advice. Aside from the eBooks and menu plans, all the wisdom and recipes are free. I no longer offer 1:1 nutrition coaching but would be happy to refer you to a nutritionist in the Black Hills who is amazing and can help you develop a healthier relationship with food. She’ll even visit the grocery store with you to help you understand nutrition labels and then teach you to cook with new, healthy foods.
2. Consult with me through Black Hills Financial Planning
   1. There is no cost or obligation to discuss your financial planning goals with me or to learn about the strategies and solutions available to you. At the end of the day, my goal is to help as many people as possible build better financial foundations so they have fewer concerns and more opportunities in the present and future. You can book with me here.

      Some of the topics my clients discuss include:

      1. Debt elimination
      2. Estate planning
      3. Tax diversification
      4. Guaranteed retirement
      5. Long-term care planning
      6. Short-term disability

I look forward to learning more about you and your family’s goals and assisting in any way possible.

What are your thoughts about health and wealth? Comment below and share this article!