In this solo episode of Stuff About Money They Didn't Teach You in School, Xavier Angel, CFP®, ChFC®, CLTC, steps behind the mic to wrestle with a tough truth: planning isn’t optional, not if you want control over your future. Fresh off his conversation with Giovanni Arenas about Gio’s life-threatening condition and remarkable double lung transplant, Xavier gets another call that hits just as hard. A dear friend's cancer has returned, and with it comes the realization that he never put proper business succession plans in place. It is a moment that reveals not just financial vulnerability but emotional fallout, the kind that compounds heartbreak when families are already hurting.

Xavier digs deeper into why waiting to plan is one of the costliest decisions a business owner can make. He lays out how proactive planning protects the people you care about most and why delaying those decisions hands your future over to circumstances instead of intention. This episode is an honest call to action: don't wait until life forces your hand. If the message resonates, share the episode with someone who needs the nudge, and make sure you're following the show for more conversations that help you take control before life does it for you.

Episode Highlights:

Procrastination is a bill that silently compounds, delaying tasks makes them harder to complete, and weighs you down. (01:00)

Time is the most valuable asset when building wealth. Every year of waiting meant losing opportunity, not just time. (01:30)

Xavier references his previous episode with Giovanni Arenas about his double lung transplant and how quickly life can change. (02:30)

Xavier shares a personal story: A close friend's rapidly progressing cancer forced immediate business and family decisions no one was prepared for. (04:10)

Xavier outlines action steps: Create a will, establish an estate plan (not just for the wealthy), and build a business continuation plan. (07:10)

Planning documents are acts of love and gifts of clarity that ensure your intentions, not others' emotions, guide what happens next. (07:50)

Key Quotes:

“Procrastination doesn't just slow you down. It widens the gap between where we are today and where we want to be.” - Xavier Angel, CFP®, ChFC®, CLTC

“Planning isn't when life is perfect. Planning isn't when life happens, planning now it matters.” - Xavier Angel, CFP®, ChFC®, CLTC

“ Take that first step today, no matter how small. Start planning today. Start the conversation, get the documents in place. Build the plan that protects the people and the legacy you want to fulfill your future self and your family will thank you later.” - Xavier Angel, CFP®, ChFC®, CLTC

Resources Mentioned:

Erik Garcia, CFP®, BFA

Xavier Angel, CFP®, ChFC, CLTC

Plan Wisely Wealth Advisors