When most people reach out for help with their finances, it’s rarely just about money.
Yes, there’s usually a pension to sort out, an investment strategy to review, or a cross-border tax issue that’s keeping them up at night. Maybe it’s an old 401(k) they’re not sure what to do with, or a UK pension they’ve lost track of.
Perhaps it’s a growing sense that their money isn’t quite in the right place, or the feeling that they’ve outgrown the advice they used to rely on.
But beneath all of that, there’s usually a more human question: “Am I living the life I truly want?”
Or more specifically: “Am I using my money in a way that supports my values, my family, my freedom?”
George Kinder, known as the father of financial life planning, asks a version of that same question in his latest book, “The Three Domains of Freedom”.
Kinder lays out three kinds of freedom we can all cultivate:
- Freedom of the moment – the ability to be fully present, to appreciate our lives as they are right now, even amid uncertainty.
- Freedom of life – aligning your day-to-day choices with your core values, so that how you live reflects what truly matters.
- Freedom of civilisation – recognising that the way we live and work shapes not only our own lives, but the kind of world we’re all creating.
It’s not a financial book, and yet, for me, it’s deeply connected to financial planning… especially for expats.
Why? Because when you’ve moved countries, changed currencies, or started over in a new system, you know how disorienting it can be. The freedom to choose where and how you live comes with a tangle of admin, regulation, and stress.
That’s where good planning makes all the difference.
I work with clients around the world — from Cape Town to Copenhagen, Toulouse to Texas, and no matter where they are, they all want the same thing. Clarity. Peace of mind. A sense of confidence that their money is working in service of their life; not the other way around!
That’s why I think Kinder’s framework is so helpful. It reminds us that freedom isn’t just about wealth or mobility. It’s about alignment. It’s about purpose, choosing how to live and then backing that up with action. And yes, sometimes a spreadsheet.
Whether you’re looking to simplify your global finances or reconnect with what really matters, I’d say this:
Start with your life.
Then build a plan that protects it.
