STANDARD DEVIATIONS PODCAST: Andy Baxley – The Power of Financial Purpose

Andy works with clients from a variety of professional backgrounds, but he is uniquely positioned to serve those who work in higher education and other large non-profit institutions. Utilizing his background as a former educator and his experience as a Wealth Management Advisor at TIAA, Andy takes pride in approaching his work with the heart of a teacher and insights gained from years of relevant experience. Andy’s approach to financial planning goes beyond the numbers; it’s about helping the individuals and families I serve achieve clarity, confidence and a sense of purpose around their money. Ultimately, he doesn’t just want his clients to feel financially secure; he wants them to feel empowered to plan with a sense of optimism and possibility. As a Colorado native, he cherishes moments in nature with his wife, Yi, and their son, Bo. While a piece of his heart will always be in the Rocky Mountains, Andy has found much to love in Hyde Park, Chicago. On any given Saturday, you’re likely to find them riding their bikes along Chicago’s beautiful Lakefront Trail, spending lazy afternoons with friends at Promontory Point, or taking a stroll to get pastries and coffee at Plein Air, their favorite neighborhood cafe. Like the clients he serves, Andy takes pride in being a lifelong learner and can often be found working his way through new degrees, designations and courses. In 2021, he was proud to complete Kansas State University’s master’s in personal financial planning with an emphasis on advanced financial planning and financial therapy. Recently, his focus has turned to mentoring young planners and helping them build rewarding, purposeful careers.

Tune in to hear:

• Why do humans seem to have such limited access to understanding what they want, from a financial perspective?
• Andy believes that the ethos of financial planning is the marriage of capital and purpose. What, specifically, does he mean by this and why does he think it is so critical?
• Should we try to expand our clients’ notion of capital and what might be the broader impact on their lives if we were to do so?
• How would Andy tease out the subtle differences between goals, values and purpose and is one of these more fundamental than the rest of them?
• Does Andy often see dissonance between clients’ professed values and how they spend their money and time? How can we help our clients achieve better alignment with their values?
• How can advisors take a client’s values and transmute that into a statement of financial purpose?
• What would Andy say to clients who want an advisor who is effectively just a stock picker and not a guide to fulfilling their financial purpose?
• Why is a purpose-centered portfolio a great “regret minimization tool?”
• How often should clients revisit their financial purpose thesis?
• What are some of the benefits that accrue to both clients and advisors who go with a more bespoke, meaning-centered financial plan?