Before we dive in, a quick note about a resource we genuinely recommend: Advisor.com. If you’re not sure what your “next step” with money should be, their super short quiz can match you with a vetted advisor for a free call — and they work on a flat-fee model, not commissions. Dozens of TFD community members already use and trust them, and it’s a great low-lift way to get personalized guidance without the usual pressure.

By Rachel Samara

I had my first child in June 2020.

Which, as you may remember, was not exactly a time that lent itself to feeling prepared, stable, or supported.

I gave birth during lockdown — at a time where everything felt uncertain, constantly shifting, and also deeply isolating. There was no real sense of “normal,” no clear roadmap for what came next, and very little control over the bigger picture. And in a lot of ways, that experience changed how I think about planning — not just in life, but especially with money. Because if there’s one thing that moment made very clear, it’s this:

You cannot predict the conditions you’ll be living through. But you can decide how prepared you are to handle them.

When Life Doesn’t Follow the Plan

Before that experience, I think I approached financial planning the way many people do: Follow the “cardinal rules” of money, try to make responsible choices, hope things will unfold more or less as expected. But the past few years — between a pandemic, political and economic volatility, and now preparing for my second child — have made something else very obvious:

The biggest financial stressors in life are often the ones you don’t see coming. 

Not just major global events, but personal ones, too:

In my case, I also live with cystic fibrosis, which means I don’t qualify for traditional life insurance.

So as I’m now preparing for maternity leave again — in a very different world, but still one that feels unpredictable — I’m thinking less about “doing everything right,” and more about what I can actually control.

The Shift: From Predicting → Preparing

A lot of financial advice is built around trying to optimize for the future. But when the future itself feels unstable, that approach starts to break down. What’s been more useful for me is shifting the goal from “How do I plan perfectly?” to “How do I make sure I’m supported, even if things don’t go to plan?” That looks like:

Because the truth is, stability doesn’t come from certainty. It comes from having options when things change.

Why This Gets Hard to Do Alone

The challenge with this kind of planning is that it’s not one-size-fits-all. There isn’t a checklist for:

And when you’re dealing with uncertainty, it’s very easy to fall into one of two traps: Avoidance (“I’ll deal with this later”) or Overwhelm (“I don’t even know where to start”).

I’ve been in both. And what I’ve realized is that at a certain point, more research and Googling doesn’t make you feel more prepared — it just makes you more aware of how many variables there are.

What Actually Helped Me Feel More Grounded

The biggest shift wasn’t finding the “perfect” plan. It was not trying to figure it all out alone. Having someone who can:

…doesn’t eliminate uncertainty. But it makes it a lot more manageable. It turns vague anxiety into something you can actually work with.

If You’re Feeling That Uncertainty Right Now

You don’t need to have had a 2020-level life experience to feel this. A lot of people are navigating some version of:

And underneath all of that is usually the same question: “If something changes, will I be okay?” That’s not really a budgeting question. It’s a planning question.

A Few Grounded Starting Points

If this is something you’ve been putting off, here are a few ways to approach it without spiraling:

1. Focus on flexibility, not perfection: You don’t need the best possible plan — you need one that can adapt.

2. Identify your pressure points: Where would things feel most fragile if your situation changed?

3. Build margin where you can: Cash reserves, manageable fixed costs, and access to support all matter more in uncertain times.

Where Getting Support Can Make a Difference

This is one of those areas where having a real conversation can be more valuable than consuming more content. If you’ve been meaning to think more seriously about your long-term plan, one resource we genuinely recommend is Advisor.com.

All you have to do is take our very short quiz that matches you with a vetted financial advisor, and you can book a free call to talk through your situation — whether that’s planning for a family, navigating uncertainty, or just wanting a clearer long-term strategy. Much of the TFD community already uses and trusts them, and it’s a low-pressure way to get guidance that actually reflects your real life — not just a generic checklist.

*****

I don’t think financial planning is really about getting everything right anymore. I think it’s about making sure that when life doesn’t go according to plan — which it won’t — you’re not starting from zero. You’re starting from a place of thoughtfulness, support, and options. And in a world that can change as quickly as ours has, that’s what stability actually looks like.

Advisor.com provides their clients (many of whom are TFD community members) with a top notch, supportive advising team for a fixed, flat annual fee. Their team of advisors work for you, not commissions, and help you to achieve your financial goals through planning, investing, and more. Click here to take their short quiz to schedule a FREE consultation call with Advisor today and never make another financial decision alone!