My dad had it exactly right: “Don’t spend more than you make, pay yourself first and set aside something for the future. When you can, pay in cash and be careful with debt.” If only everyone had heard these words when they were young and starting to build their lives and their portfolios.

Good financial advice should be available to everyone. Yet traditional fee structures of financial firms can be complex and exclusive. Many times, it results in shunning people with small investable accounts who would greatly benefit from professional advice. I like to compare financial advice to ordering a steak at a restaurant. Your steak costs the same whether you make $20,000 or $20 million. However, just as you wouldn’t pay filet mignon prices for a hanger steak, the same goes for good advice—you get what you pay for.

Have you ever jumped off the sofa declaring “I need a vacation” and then sped off in your car toward the airport? Of course not! You planned. After everyone agreed on where to go, you checked calendars, chose dates, and reserved flights, hotels, and various activities. Then you waited weeks or months for the special date. In the meantime, you squared everything away at work so nothing would interrupt your big trip.

Life is a journey filled with the certainty of uncertainties. Despite what is often our best intentions and efforts, it’s the rare occasion when the path from Point A to Point B is a straight line. Frequently, the route more closely resembles the loops and curls of a plate of spaghetti.