Awesome to Be You

We talk a lot about saving for the future—retirement, dream homes, business expansion, early freedom. And that’s important.

But I want to ask you something:

Are you putting off a better life?

• Are you waiting for some far-off milestone to finally feel at ease?

• Are you playing smaller than you need to?

• Are you spending in ways that feel routine—but not intentional?

Because what I’m seeing more and more is this:
Having the money is one thing. Using it to build a life you love is another.

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The Client Who’s Doing It Right

I spoke with a client this week—a young professional living in the city. She’s single, lives near her closest friends, and loves to travel.

She’s doing everything right on paper:

• Saving 15% for retirement, plus a generous employer match.

• Keeping robust cash reserves for emergencies.

• Contributing to a taxable brokerage account every month.

Financially, she’s crushing it. But that’s not the full picture.

So I gave her three indicators to guide the next phase of her financial life:

1️⃣ Does it feel awesome to be her right now?
She’s enjoying life on her terms—going to the nice gym, grabbing dinner with friends, setting aside money for future travel. She’s not overdoing it—she’s just living aligned with what matters to her right now.

2️⃣ Is her future self being taken care of?
With her consistent retirement contributions, the answer is yes. We project that she’s on track to be very well supported in retirement.

3️⃣ Is her opportunity fund growing?
She’s contributing monthly to a taxable brokerage account. She doesn’t know exactly what it’s for yet—law school? A home? Sabbatical?—but when the opportunity comes, she’ll be ready to say yes.

If she’s hitting those three markers in a way that feels sustainable and energized… everything else will take care of itself.

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The Other Extreme: When Saving Becomes Avoidance

On the surface, saving is responsible. It’s admirable. It’s what we’re told to do.

But sometimes, saving becomes a crutch—a way to avoid decision-making, productive risk, or even joy.

I hear stories all the time about people who are “such good savers” that they build up millions of dollars… and never develop the spending muscle to enjoy it.

A surprising number of people are crushing their goals—yet unable to enjoy the results.

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So… What About You?

Let’s bring the focus back to you:

✅ What’s the evidence that your current life is being taken care of?

✅ What are you doing that makes life feel awesome right now?

✅ Do you have a system in place to support future you?

✅ Are you building flexibility for whatever life throws your way next?

A well-lived life isn’t built later—it’s shaped by the decisions you make today.

Here’s to making sure it feels awesome to be you—now and in the future.

— Andrew

Want to talk with Andrew directly?

Schedule a 30-minute Free Clarity Session to get expert eyes on your financial questions and explore what support might look like.

→ Book your Free Clarity Session

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The Moment Everything Changes

I wasn’t particularly bad at money, but I also didn’t have a clear, aligned strategy or a plan to build resilient wealth. As my wife and I began talking about growing our family, I realized it was time to take money more seriously.

Little did I know, all the work I did to understand finances at the time would not only transform my own future—but later grow into a passion, and eventually, a business.

That’s how it starts. A moment of realization. A turning point where you decide you’re done coasting and ready to take control.

The biggest mistake isn’t making the wrong financial decision—it’s avoiding one altogether. Indecision is costly. Uncertainty has a price.

But change happens fast when you engage with it. The moment you commit to clarity and action, things start falling into place—especially with the right support.

I’ve seen this moment play out time and time again with my clients. Here’s what that turning point looked like for three of them.

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Three Clients, Three Turning Points

1️⃣ The Business Owner Who Thought an Emergency Fund Was a Waste—Until It Wasn’t

For years, he resisted holding cash in an emergency fund, believing it would slow down business growth. Every dollar, he thought, should be reinvested immediately.

Then disaster struck. He suddenly needed a large sum of cash and was forced to sell personal investments at a terrible time. The hard lesson? Not having an emergency fund cost him more than having one ever would.

A pivotal conversation helped him reframe what security actually means. He liquidated more than he needed—half to cover immediate costs, half to seed a business emergency fund. Now, seasonal slowdowns and unexpected challenges no longer put him in crisis mode.

2️⃣ The Entrepreneur Who Realized “Winging It” Wasn’t a Business Strategy

When we first met, she was fired up about her company’s growth.She was closing real estate deals, navigating creative financing, and helping people avoid foreclosure.

But when I asked how she was tracking and managing her money, there was silence.

We took time to understand her operational costs, vulnerabilities, and growth priorities. Then, we built a system to ensure cash flow stability, guarantee everyone (including herself) got paid on time, and prepare for a major expansion.

Her turning point wasn’t a catastrophe—it was realizing that running a growing business without financial clarity was reckless. Now, she’s not just surviving—she’s building something sustainable.

3️⃣ The Personal Finance Client Who Transformed Her Reality in 15 Months

Fifteen months ago, she was $22k in credit card debt and didn’t see herself as the type of person who would ever get out from under it.

But she leaned into the power of 1:1 coaching—not just for financial strategies, but for the accountability and support needed to actually follow through. She paid off her entire debt in just six months. Then, she shifted to building an emergency fund to ensure she’d never backslide.

And then, life threw the ultimate curveball. Her husband passed away unexpectedly, leaving her to grieve while simultaneously managing an influx of life insurance and inherited assets.

Because she had already built a foundation of financial confidence,she was able to navigate this transition with clarity and purpose, ensuring her decisions aligned with her best interests and future goals.

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What’s Your Turning Point?

The truth is, there’s no perfect time to start—only the moment you decide to.

Maybe you’ve been thinking about organizing your finances, creating a cash flow plan, or setting up better systems, but haven’t taken the leap yet.

If you’re at your turning point, let’s talk about what comes next.

Here’s to taking the next step—whenever you’re ready.

— Andrew

Want to talk with Andrew directly?

Schedule a 30-minute Free Clarity Session to get expert eyes on your financial questions and explore what support might look like.

→ Book your Free Clarity Session

Don’t miss the next one.

The Spend With Clarity newsletter is published every two weeks — no fluff, just thoughtful insights delivered straight to your inbox.

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What’s Money For, Anyway?

Let’s talk about something most people get backward: the purpose of money.

A client told me this week, “You can live rich, or you can die rich, but not both.” And while —of course— this isn’t absolute, there’s something profound in that idea.

It’s easy to fixate on savings balances or how much we’ll have in retirement. But money isn’t a finish line—it’s a tool to help you build a life you love. The real challenge isn’t just accumulating money; it’s aligning it with what actually matters to you.

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Two Ways People Get This Wrong

Most people fall into one of two camps:

💰 The Relentless Saver – Stresses when their bank balance dips below a threshold, feeling guilty about spending—even when it would improve their life.

💸 The Impulsive Spender – Struggles to keep money in their account, making financial choices based on the moment rather than a long-term vision.

Both groups experience stress, guilt, and uncertainty about whether they’re managing money the “right” way. The real issue? Neither has a clear plan for what their money is supposed to do for them.

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The Fix: Align Money with What Matters

All dollars are meant to be spent—it’s just a matter of when.

✅ The money in checking? Spending this month.

✅ The money in savings? Spending later this year or next.

✅ The money invested for retirement? Spending in your final chapters.

The real goal isn’t to hoard wealth or to spend recklessly. It’s to spend intentionally—whether that’s on a vacation next summer or a financial foundation for your future.

The best financial plans aren’t about restriction. They’re about clarity—knowing how much you should be spending today to get the most out of life… both now and later.

You’re closer than you think.

— Andrew

Want to talk with Andrew directly?

Schedule a 30-minute Free Clarity Session to get expert eyes on your financial questions and explore what support might look like.

→ Book your Free Clarity Session

Don’t miss the next one.

The Spend With Clarity newsletter is published every two weeks — no fluff, just thoughtful insights delivered straight to your inbox.

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The First Spend With Clarity Newsletter

I’m thrilled to welcome you to the very first edition of the Spend With Clarity Newsletter! If you’re receiving this, it’s because I thought you’d appreciate knowing what I’ve been up to, the exciting developments in my coaching business, and—most importantly—how I can help you (or someone you know) create financial clarity, confidence, and progress.

Two years ago, I first imagined a coaching business built around thoughtful, high-impact, 1-on-1 work with motivated individuals. My background in education, coaching, and small business operations had given me a unique skill set:

📌 As a teacher and coach, I thrived in helping engaged learners and athletes unlock their potential.

📌 As a small business operations leader, I developed a sharp analytical mind and the ability to see around financial corners before challenges became problems.

📌 As a former decathlete, I loved blending different disciplines to create a well-rounded approach to strategy, growth, and decision-making.

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How It Started → How It’s Going

In the summer of 2023, I launched Spend With Clarity by offering 3 months of free coaching to 9 eager participants. My goal was simple: help people, refine my approach, and build the systems to support a thriving practice. That experience set the foundation for everything that followed.

Fast forward 18 months, and I’ve now had the privilege of working with dozens of individuals, couples, and business owners, guiding them toward financial clarity and meaningful progress. The client wins have been incredible:

💰 $175k+ of high-interest debt eliminated

🎓 $30k+ in student loans paid off

📈 $1.3M+ invested toward long-term goals

🚀 Successfully mediated the sale of a client’s business

🌎 Dream vacations enjoyed—without financial stress

💡 Couples finally aligned on their financial goals

🌳 Inheritances managed wisely for future generations—and received with gratitude for those who have passed

These real results have confirmed it—this work matters. And now, I’m stepping into the next phase of growth.

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What’s Next?

I’ve spent the past several months restructuring my coaching services, expanding my free resources, and committing to new ways of reaching and supporting people like you:

📌 A Fresh Website – SpendWithClarity.com just got a major update, making it easier than ever to explore coaching options and access free tools.

📌 New Free Resources – I’ve created multiple tools to help you take immediate action. If you haven’t yet, grab my newest guide: “5 Costly Money Mistakes (and How to Fix Them)”—a practical breakdown of the most common financial pitfalls and how to overcome them.

📌 The Free 5-Day Clarity Starter Course – Want a deeper dive into financial clarity? This step-by-step email course walks you through foundational financial strategies and gives you the tools to start making smarter money moves right away. Sign up here.

📌 Refined Coaching Services – I’ve structured my coaching to help clients make meaningful progress quickly and build long-term success. Whether you’re focused on personal finance or growing a business, there’s now a clearer path to support your goals. Explore coaching options here.

📌 Ongoing Insights & Community – This is the first edition of my new (biweekly) newsletter, where I’ll be sharing financial strategies, client wins, and thoughtful observations. You can also connect with me on Instagram (@SpendWithClarity) for practical tips, insights, encouragement, and success stories.

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I’m Asking for Your Help

As I step into this next phase of growth, here are a few simple ways to support my work and help more people gain financial clarity:

📌 Send someone my way – If you know someone who could benefit from coaching, send them to SpendWithClarity.com or introduce us directly. Personal recommendations are how most of my clients find me!

📌 Share my free resources – Know someone looking to take control of their finances? Forward them this email or send them one of my free resources:

• 5 Costly Money Mistakes (And How to Fix Them) – A quick, practical guide to smarter money decisions.

• The 5-Day Clarity Starter Course – A free step-by-step email series designed to help people get their finances on track.

📌 Engage on social media – Follow along on Instagram and drop a like or comment when something resonates. Your engagement helps more people discover my conten

📌 Stay connected – Keep reading these newsletters! I’ll be sharing insights, client wins, and strategies that I hope will add value to your financial journey. And if you know someone who might benefit, forward this email to them—I’d love to reach more people who are ready to take control of their finances.

I’m so excited for this next chapter, and I’m incredibly grateful for your support.

Looking forward to what’s ahead!

Andrew Herwig
Founder & Financial Coach, Spend With Clarity

Want to talk with Andrew directly?

Schedule a 30-minute Free Clarity Session to get expert eyes on your financial questions and explore what support might look like.

→ Book your Free Clarity Session

Don’t miss the next one.

The Spend With Clarity newsletter is published every two weeks — no fluff, just thoughtful insights delivered straight to your inbox.

→ Subscribe to the Newsletter