OWNING THE DASH

A credentialed financial planner offers a nuts-and-bolts guide that compares financial planning to a physical fitness program.

In the introduction to this informative debut guide to financial health, Delauney explains its enigmatic title by revealing that his inspiration was his high-achieving cousin Greg Plitt, who built a successful career in the physical fitness industry before his death in a train accident at age 37. Delauney writes that he was deeply influenced by Greg’s philosophy of taking control of the time represented by the dash between the birth and death dates on a tombstone. This proactive approach is one of the book’s major themes; another is the parallel between physical training and financial planning. Beginning with the basics, “Your Foundation: Setting Goals” and “Your Foundation: The Numbers,” the text ties the metrics of physical conditioning to formulating financial goals and constructing statements of net worth and cash flow. Later chapters continue this metaphor: “Eating Your Taxes, Paying Your Calories” suggests strategies for lowering tax payments, and “Your Home, Your Gym: What Do You Control?” meticulously explores the advantages and pitfalls of home ownership. “Your Investments, Your Muscles: Making the Most of What You Have” provides numerous charts and detailed explanations of types of investments, negating this somewhat with the caveat, “If you wait to research all of your investment options…you may very quickly discover that your search is endless.” Similarly, the penultimate chapter, “Finding the Right Financial Planner,” undermines the work’s message by suggesting that the tasks in previous chapters are likely to be overwhelming and that readers may be better served by hiring a financial planner. Still, the book’s promotional aspect isn’t prominent, and Delauney demonstrates an empathetic understanding of how intimidating financial planning can be for those uncomfortable with investments and tax structures. The work’s biggest weakness is its repetition of the physical fitness parallel, which may remind readers of another area of insecurity rather than boosting their confidence. An appendix contains useful documents for taking control of one’s financial present and future.

A mostly cogent manual for understanding personal finance but occasionally muddied by a forced metaphor.