The Key Force Multipliers, a.k.a ‘Riding the Tailwinds’
The Secret Force Multipliers That Accelerate Financial Success
In February 2020, a British Airways flight broke speed records by riding 200+ mph jet stream winds. What if your financial plan had similar “tailwinds”?
When a British Airways passenger plane took off from New York City in February 2020, something extraordinary happened. The flight landed in London in less than five hours—breaking the record for fastest subsonic flight between the two cities and arriving almost two hours early.
The plane was identical to always. The pilots, crew, and passenger count remained the same. So what made the difference?
The jet stream tailwinds, with winds exceeding 200 miles per hour, propelled the aircraft to speeds of 825 mph.
The pilots didn’t need special skills—they simply took advantage of what nature provided, stayed on course, and enjoyed the ride.
Your Financial Planning Tailwinds
Just like those powerful jet stream winds, there are specific Key Force Multipliers (KFMs) in financial planning that can get you where you want to go faster than you ever thought possible—and further than you ever dreamed.
These six strategic multipliers work as financial tailwinds, automating and motivating you past the inertia that typically derails financial goals. They acknowledge we’re all human (sometimes painfully so) while providing the leverage needed for inevitable success.
The Evolution of Real Financial Planning
When the financial planning profession emerged in the late 1970s, it focused primarily on selling investments and insurance without considering clients as individuals. This one-size-fits-all approach left families feeling afraid and uncertain—much like the author’s own parents experienced.
Working through debt with four children to raise and send to college, the author discovered that families needed something different: a clear path that made financial success easier, more productive, and less vulnerable when money was needed for major expenses like tuition and home purchases.
Through personal experience, six specific strategies emerged that consistently delivered results for any family in any situation.
KFM #2: Specific Strategies for Execution
Remember: Every investment or financial product is a tool, not a strategy.
Think of financial tools like home components—carpet, appliances, HVAC systems. Just as home installations vary based on specific needs, your financial tools must align with your unique situation, integrating your goals and priorities.
Real financial planning must be:
- Realistic and based only on your resources
- Customized to your cash flow needs and tax situation
- Family-focused considering each member’s unique needs
- Strategic about risk transfer through appropriate insurance
The Insurance Reality Check
Insurance premiums may seem like detractors rather than multipliers, but the right coverage transfers risk. The “cost” of not having insurance is uncertain—and potentially devastating. Proper insurance provides options families need when the unthinkable occurs.
Tax Strategy Timing
With tax laws changing every administration, understanding current opportunities and future implications becomes crucial. Sometimes paying taxes now makes sense; other times, waiting is better. Robust projection tools that integrate yearly tax scenarios with annual income and expenses eliminate the stress of guessing your financial future.
The Brick Wall Principle
Consider a builder with 100 bricks. Arranged into 10 straight columns, they create an adequate room divider. But to withstand gale-force winds and support a roof, the builder must use a staggered pattern where each row overlaps the gaps below.