Good morning! I’m thrilled to introduce Jason Hull from Hull Financial Planning. He’ll introduce himself and talk about his new course, Winning with Money, designed to help you set and achieve your financial goals. Jason has generously offered one course (valued at $397) to a lucky reader, and I’m adding a $25 Amazon gift card. To find out more, check the giveaway widget at the end of this post. Take it away, Jason!
Over at Make Money Your Way, Tonya from Budget & the Beach shares her experience as a TV extra and gives insights into what happens behind the scenes.
Can you introduce yourself to our readers who may not know you and explain what you do?
My name is Jason Hull. Besides being a frequent contributor to the Carnival of Financial Independence, I’m a financial planner. Before this, I served as an officer in the U.S. Army, managed call center technology investments for Capital One, and co-founded a software development company. After selling my company, I passed the Certified Financial Planner exam and became a financial planner.
I’ve always wanted to be a financial planner. While I was an Army officer, I noticed my soldiers receiving poor financial advice from salespeople who had been their peers or supervisors. I believed there was a better way to provide financial information without high fees. However, I didn’t feel credible enough just becoming a planner; I wanted to succeed in another field first. Success and financial independence lend credibility when giving financial advice.
Even though I reached financial independence on my own, I spent countless hours researching. When I took the Certified Financial Planner exam, I realized much of the material didn’t apply to people like you and me. My goal is to educate clients so they understand the recommendations I make and don’t need to keep coming back. This led me to develop the Winning with Money course—a DIY guide to financial planning.
The course compiles essential financial information, worksheets, and calculators in one place. By the end, you should have almost all the answers you need to navigate your financial goals comfortably.
What is the Winning with Money course and what do you offer?
The course aims to provide 95% of the financial planning services I offer at a fractional cost. The biggest barrier to accessing useful financial planning is its price. Many planners charge 1% of your assets annually, which accumulates to tens of thousands over a lifetime without adding proportional value.
Alternatively, you could pay a one-time fee to an hourly planner like me, but this usually ranges from $1,800 to $2,400—still a significant amount for many. This is why I created the Winning with Money course for those who prefer a DIY approach.
The course contains 20 lessons covering everything from budgeting basics to complex topics like raising children and planning for retirement. It includes eight worksheets and in-lesson exercises to apply knowledge to your situation. The content is evergreen, meaning you can revisit lessons as you achieve your goals.
What are the three biggest barriers that prevent people from achieving their goals?
1. Misalignment with values: Goals that don’t align with personal values create cognitive dissonance, making it hard to maintain motivation.
2. Overwhelming goals: Large or distant goals can seem unachievable. Breaking them down into smaller, tangible steps makes them more manageable.
3. Overthinking: Constantly making decisions depletes inner strength. Automating as much as possible can help avoid decision fatigue.
Who is Monkey Brain?
Our brains have two main parts: the prefrontal cortex, responsible for rational thought, and the limbic system, which we share with other primates and controls emotions. I call the limbic system “Monkey Brain” because it doesn’t care about the future, only immediate pleasure. Understanding and controlling Monkey Brain is crucial for financial success.
How big of a role does psychology play in your financial planning advice?
Psychology is extremely important. Knowing the numbers and having a plan is useless if you don’t act on it. The first two lessons in my course focus on psychology and motivation because understanding your behavior is key to sticking to financial plans.
Why don’t you talk about debt?
Dave Ramsey’s “The Total Money Makeover” offers the best advice for getting out of debt. While I disagree with some of his investment advice, his approach to debt is spot-on. If you’re in debt, his methods are highly effective. My focus is on accelerating your retirement once you’re debt-free.
What is the secret to building wealth and retiring comfortably?
There is no secret; most people generally know what they need to do—spend less, save more, and plan ahead. Critical is ensuring your actions align with your values. One common mistake is increasing spending with income rises, creating a cycle of unfulfillable desires.
If I think I’m doing OK today with my finances, what will the Winning with Money course bring me?
The course offers certainty and saves time. It helps you move from thinking you’re doing well to knowing you’re on the right track. You’ll gain insights into topics you might not have considered, ensuring you have a comprehensive understanding of financial planning.
To enter the giveaway and learn more about enrolling in the Winning with Money course, which includes a $50 off coupon until October 20th, check out the details at the end of the post.