At Strachan & Associates, we believe that a financial plan should be more than a spreadsheet filled with projections and tidy charts. It should be a living, breathing roadmap — one that evolves with you, adapts to life’s unexpected turns, and keeps you on course toward the future you truly want.

Real life isn’t linear. It’s full of surprises — career changes, market shifts, family milestones, and even joyful detours. That’s why your financial plan needs to be flexible, resilient, and deeply personal. Think of it as your money GPS: it connects where you are today with where you want to go, and helps you recalibrate when life takes you off the beaten path.

Here are five common missteps we see — and how working with a trusted financial planner can help you avoid them: