A money book without the BS
Whether you dream of security and home ownership, you’re building your career, or you want to grow your family… it’s time to figure out what you want from your money. And then make it happen. Financial adviser James Millard cuts through the jargon and shares a simple framework for making better money decisions and achieving your goals. Insufficient Funds is a comprehensive guide to personal finance that recognises the realities and challenges of balancing your life with your spending.
So where do you start? To plan your future and find financial freedom, you need to define what 'sufficient’ means to you. And it’s not about settling for less! Insufficient Funds will show you how to make the most of what you earn - and enjoy it more too. You’ll get lifelong strategies to help you achieve your personal goals and live your dreams.
Inside, you’ll find:
- The 5 Ds: a proven framework to help you Define, Declutter, Develop, Defend, and Deliver when it comes to your money goals
- Strategies to overcome money stress and money mess
- Targeted guidance for the different scenarios, events, and stages that life might throw at you
- A balanced approach to building wealth while still enjoying your everyday life
- Real-world stories and relatable experiences that help show the way
Insufficient Funds is the no-nonsense guide you need to build a better money mindset and a strategic financial plan. The more you align your money decisions with the outcomes you truly want, the more you’ll gain clarity, confidence, and momentum - for a happier, more fulfilling life, today and tomorrow.
"James and his team support my community with financial advice to live their best lives. He is a genius in this space and this book gives away all his best secrets!” - Victoria Devine, founder of Australia's #1 finance podcast, She's on the Money
"James has cracked the code in making financial advice relatable, approachable and insanely valuable. Read the book, follow the 5x Ds and achieve your version of ‘sufficient funds’.” - Glen James, author and founder of the money money money podcast
Table of Contents
Introduction xi
The True Meaning of Sufficient Funds xii
The ATM slip and one all-time road trip xiv
Our journey to Sufficient Funds xviii
How this book works and why it’s important to you xxi
Fuck F.I.R.E. - why retirement is NOT the goal xxiv
1 Define - the missing step 1
The power of positive thinking for financial wellbeing 2
How to spend a billion dollars: find your purpose and stay on it 6
Three steps to setting bigger adventures (and how we get there with our clients) 11
Experiences or things - why can’t I have both? 19
It’s not meant to be easy - be prepared to work 22
2 Declutter - clearing the path 31
Clarity: attitude and focus 32
Build your financial launchpad 37
Dealing with debt 38
Debt disruption strategies: creative ways to pay off debt 40
Cruise Control: Your Spending Plan 46
FAQs 62
3 Develop - big plans, growth and mad momentum 67
The ‘mad stacks’ strategy: introducing the four stacks of Sufficient Funds 69
Goal- focused investment for the win! 80
Debunking the tax myth 83
Tax effectiveness - before you invest you need this 86
Investment - your third stack of Sufficient Funds 90
Superannuation - the fourth stack of Sufficient Funds 115
4 Defend - through life’s ups and downs 123
Using your emergency fund - remember it’s not your money! 125
Adding kids, not zeros 127
Drop everything 148
Pandemics 150
Protection 151
Did somebody say intergenerational wealth transfer? 158
5 Deliver - let it flow 161
Stay the course 162
Stay authentic 163
Find a Sufficient cause and make a difference that counts 166
Set up a regular donations plan 172
Keep motivated 173
Redefine Sufficient 176
Isn’t financial advice just for old people who already have mad stacks? 182
Think bigger: Beyond Sufficient 187
Got stuck? Reach out 191
Notes 193
