Becoming Enriched, A New Weekly Publication About Managing Your Finances and Unraveling the Complicated Relationship Between Money and Happiness
From Financial Advisor and author of The Joy of Financial Security, Donna Skeels Cygan is expanding her monthly newsletter and bringing it to Substack
Welcome to Becoming Enriched, a new weekly newsletter about making small changes – to your lifestyle and your finances – to live life more fully.
Small changes can be powerful.
Becoming Enriched means you’re moving forward and embracing change; no longer satisfied with the status quo.
Becoming Enriched will teach you to manage your finances wisely, nurture rich relationships, and enjoy new experiences.
I’ll help you unravel the complicated relationship between money and happiness, and show you how to reap the rewards in your personal life. My writing is grounded in research, based on a deep love of the fields of psychology and neuroscience.
Why this, why now?
I’m launching Becoming Enriched as a way to “give back” after a successful career in the financial industry. While owning a financial planning firm for over 20 years, I helped my clients achieve their goals and increase their net worth. This was very satisfying, but I could only help a limited number of clients.
Writing Becoming Enriched enables me to bring my expertise to a larger audience. It’s also why I’m writing my second book, Becoming Enriched.
My goal is to build a community of Substack readers who are interested in improving their life. Although that sounds like a cliché, I believe small changes can make a huge difference.
After retiring (from serving clients) in late 2021, I floundered during my first two years of retirement. I was torn between writing a book, writing for my local newspaper, learning to write on social media, and learning that retirement should include some free time. I felt like I was not doing any of it well, and I felt overwhelmed. I’m now finding my footing, and realizing that doing less is more satisfying. I have committed to write for Substack, and to build this community.
Most people are overly busy, and they view managing their finances as a necessary evil. The financial industry is not known for transparency, and it is not (generally) a friendly place. I have loads of expertise as a financial planner, and can help readers take control of their finances.
Many people recognize making changes in their personal life would be wise, but it is something they will “get around to later.” Sticking to the status quo is the easy way out. I’ll nudge readers to ponder the changes they want to make, and offer strategies to help implement those changes.
What You Can Expect
When you join the Becoming Enriched community, you’ll receive an email every Tuesday in your inbox where you’ll learn about:
Financial topics, such as how to manage your own investments, monitor your net worth, and plan for retirement. You’ll also learn about estate planning, tax planning, annuities, and helping adult children or grandchildren financially. You’ll learn about secrets in the financial industry that are designed to take advantage of individual investors.
How to make small changes in your personal life that can lead to living life more fully. Although I don’t write in a “prescriptive” tone, I will provide nudges to encourage you to embrace change.
How to proactively prepare for upheavals that often happen as we age – becoming a widow, getting a divorce, having a major health crisis, or losing a family member.
The experiences of others – what they fear about money, how they overcame their fears, what their challenges are, and how they “became enriched.”
My articles and newsletter are always free. I welcome your feedback and suggestions. Let me know what types of things you want to see here – what topics you want me to cover; what appeals to you and what doesn’t.
In addition, one week a month, I’ll answer questions you may have. You can submit them to me by commenting on a post or emailing me directing here.
My hope is that Becoming Enriched gives you permission to make changes, even if it upsets the status quo. I’ll help you decide which positive changes you want to make, and lay out a plan to implement them.
I’ll also share my grandmother’s inspiring story, and how she chose to make changes to become enriched. Her story involves her personal life and her finances, and it is the foundation for “Becoming Enriched.”
About Me
I’m Donna Skeels Cygan, CFP®, MBA. I owned a fee-only financial planning firm for over 20 years, and I had a successful and satisfying career as a financial advisor. I was selected as one of the top financial advisors in the U.S. many times and retired (from serving clients) in late 2021. I’m the author of The Joy of Financial Security and a frequent contributor to media outlets on the topics of money and happiness, appearing on more than 20 TV shows, 40 radio shows, and in hundreds of print articles.
Now I share my financial expertise through writing.
Originally from Evansville, Indiana, I’ve lived in Albuquerque, New Mexico for the past 36 years with my husband. We have two grown daughters. Our cat is named Georgie, after Georgia O’Keefe.
I look forward to connecting with you.
Donna
Donna Skeels Cygan, CFP®
Love your enthusiasm and generosity to share your wisdom Donna! So glad you've joined Substack!