Turn Financial Chaos Into Clarity With a Year-in-Review

In this episode of EWA’s FIN-LYT Podcast, Matt Blocki and Jamison Smith walk through a powerful but often overlooked exercise for high income and high net worth individuals: performing a financial past year in review. While many successful professionals are confident they’re doing “fine” financially, they often lack clarity on where their money actually went, how their net worth changed, and whether their spending truly aligned with their values. Matt and Jamison break down a simple framework to evaluate the past year by asking three key questions: what should you do more of, what should you do less of, and what should you stop doing altogether. They explore how to categorize cash flow across taxes, savings, and spending, and why maintaining the right balance between these areas is critical for both long term wealth and present day lifestyle satisfaction. The conversation introduces the concept of “money temperature” and how rising income can quietly increase lifestyle pressure and financial stress if left unchecked. They share practical guardrails for managing spending, setting savings targets, and creating systems like reverse budgeting to simplify decision making and reduce financial overwhelm. Beyond the numbers, this episode emphasizes aligning your money with what actually matters. From identifying the purchases and experiences that created the most joy to being intentional about time, relationships, and travel, Matt and Jamison highlight how financial planning should ultimately support a more meaningful and less stressful life. If you want to make better financial decisions, reduce stress, and create a plan that reflects your values, this episode provides a clear and actionable starting point. Connect with EWA: https://ewa-llc.com/   / ewa.llc     / equilibrium-wealth-advisors     / equilibriumwealthadvisors   View EWA Disclosures and Firm ADV: https://adviserinfo.sec.gov/firm/summ...