Andy Avera, CFP^®, CTFA, CAP^®

Watching one of our families (clients) do something they never thought they could do, or maybe never even knew they wanted to do. It can be transformational, and we get to see firsthand the impact it has on their lives. 

It starts with listening so we can truly understand what is most important to them. From there, we give them clarity around what is possible and the confidence to act on it. Ultimately, we want them to have peace of mind knowing they have thoughtfully taken care of the things that matter most to them.

I listen to a fair number of podcasts and audiobooks focused on improving myself, both personally and professionally, so my favorites change from time to time. But if I’m picking three right now, I would say: 

Die With Zero because it reflects how I think more people should approach their financial wealth: use it intentionally to create a meaningful life, not simply accumulate more.  

Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones because I believe our habits play a major role in how we show up every day, both personally and professionally.  

Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less because it reinforces the importance of focusing our time and energy on the things that truly matter. 

Why. I love understanding why things work the way they do and why people do the things they do. Too often, people make choices simply because it’s what they’re “supposed to do.” I don’t believe in that. Understand what matters to you, do what makes sense for you, and stop worrying so much about what everyone else thinks.

The value of hard work. I was raised in middle Georgia in a middle-class family with two working parents who have now been married to each other over 55 years. I learned the value of hard work by watching them. I figured out pretty early that I might not always be the most talented or the smartest person in the room, but I could control how hard I worked. So, I made it a goal to simply “outwork” everyone around me. I was never the best athlete, but I became co-captain of my high school baseball team. I was never the smartest student, but I became valedictorian of my high school.

Playing board games. I met my wife playing board games, and it’s something we still love doing together. We enjoy gaming events, whether it’s a day of games with close friends or a long weekend at a convention with hundreds of other gamers. We’ve also built quite a collection of games over the years. As my boys get older, I hope the four of us can have regular family game nights. One of them is a little more excited about that idea than the other one is.

The local teams: Braves, Falcons, Hawks, Georgia Tech, or any team playing Georgia. I mostly enjoy watching college basketball and football. My kids love playing sports, but neither of them has much interest in watching sports on TV, so I don’t get to watch nearly as much as I’d like.

Sushi, especially salmon, tuna, and eel. But those who really know me know that if I could take a pill every day that gave me all the nutrition I needed, I’d happily give up the hassle of preparing food, eating it, and cleaning up afterward!

A handwritten letter. I don’t need, or really want, things. But I love handwritten letters. It doesn’t have to be about anything specific. Just write whatever you want to say to me. I’ll treasure it.

Abraham Lincoln, George Washington, Martin Luther King Jr., and Mahatma Gandhi. I’d love to sit back and listen to the four of them talk about leadership, courage, conviction, and how they navigated incredibly difficult times. I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t need to say much.