WEALTH & PURPOSE
Why Wealth Is a Tool for Meaningful Living, Not the End Goal
From the Book
Two-Comma Wealth: Investment, Tax, and Estate Strategies to Consider When Your Net Worth Exceeds a Million Dollars
By George Stefanou, CFP®, CPWA®, CEPA®
Chapter: Chapter 9: Purpose-Driven Planning
Section: Money as a Tool for Meaningful Living
Excerpted from Two-Comma Wealth: Investment, Tax, and Estate Strategies to Consider When Your Net Worth Exceeds a Million Dollars, published April 15, 2025.
The planning principles discussed here are intended to be enduring, but tax laws, retirement rules, Medicare thresholds, estate and business laws, investment conditions, and other regulations can change over time. Any specific thresholds, limits, ages, tax brackets, or regulatory references should be understood in the context of the book’s publication date and verified against current rules before being applied. Ellipses indicate where portions of the original text have been omitted for length, relevance, or durability. This material is for educational purposes and is not individualized investment, tax, legal, insurance, Medicare, valuation, or transaction advice.
“The underlying theme of this book is that money is a tool—a tool to create a meaningful life, not an end in itself. By now, you’ve reached a point in your life where you’ve accumulated significant wealth. But the true value of that wealth lies in how you use it. It’s not just about investing wisely or avoiding the traps of financial gimmicks; it’s about aligning your money with your values and purpose.
Take time to think deeply about what matters most to you. Is it spending time with loved ones? Is it traveling the world, building memories with your family, or supporting causes you believe in? Use your financial resources to create a life filled with these experiences. Money is the fuel that can help drive your life forward, but it’s the experiences, relationships, and impact you leave behind that will ultimately matter most.
Remember: Being a good steward of your wealth means using it to live fully—not just accumulating it for the sake of having more. With the right balance of financial discipline, purposeful spending, and a focus on meaningful living, you can enjoy the rewards of both financial freedom and a rich, fulfilling life.”
Reflection Questions
What is wealth for? Consider: What experiences do you want your wealth to make possible? Which relationships deserve more time? What causes matter? What would you like your family to remember about how you used wealth? What does “enough” look like? The point is not to prescribe one definition of a meaningful life, but to consider whether financial decisions support what matters most.
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About George Stefanou, CFP®, CPWA®, CEPA®
George Stefanou is the author of Two-Comma Wealth and founder of Stefanou Wealth Management. A financial advisor since 2009, he helps families navigate investment strategy, retirement income, tax considerations, and estate and legacy planning. Through his writing, George helps readers make more informed decisions about preserving, using, and transferring the wealth they have worked hard to build.