⌛How To Save 10+ Hours a Month on Your Finances

☕ Good morning SenseMakers!

Do you ever feel like your finances are scattered across too many accounts, with bills showing up at the worst possible time? 

If you are like many executives and business leaders, you know how valuable your time is, yet managing money often feels more complicated and energy-draining than it should.

That is why I help clients build financial systems that almost run on autopilot. When you use automation to simplify the way money flows in and out of your life, you not only save hours each month, you also reduce the mental load that comes with managing multiple accounts, due dates, and transactions.

In fact, I recently shared a full breakdown of how one client saved more than 10 hours a month using this exact approach. You can watch that video here:

The goal is not to remove you from your money, but to create a system that frees you from micromanaging it. When done right, automation can save time, minimize costly mistakes, and give you the peace of mind that comes with knowing everything is handled.

Why Automation Matters

Behavioral finance research proves that automation works. Studies on retirement plans have shown that automatic enrollment dramatically increases savings rates because people are more likely to follow through when the process happens without added steps. The same principle applies to high earners with complex financial lives.

When tax payments, investment contributions, and stock sales are automated, the risk of missing deadlines or forgetting important transactions drops significantly. 

Instead of worrying about whether something got done, you gain consistency and confidence that your financial system is running smoothly.

Five Strategies to Automate and Simplify Your Finances

1. Consolidate and Declutter

The more accounts you have, the more opportunities there are for mistakes. One client of mine had 14 different investment accounts spread across six institutions. 

He spent hours each month tracking them down and often overlooked important details. We simplified his structure down to three accounts aligned with his goals and built a dashboard that displayed everything in one place.

This did not mean sacrificing diversification. It meant reducing administrative friction so he could spend time focusing on strategy instead of chasing down statements.

2. Automate the Essentials

Automation is not about convenience. It is about consistency. I worked with a senior VP who traveled internationally 40 percent of the year. 

Before we automated his finances, he missed bills, made inconsistent savings contributions, and scrambled to make quarterly tax payments.

Once we automated his payroll flow, pre-scheduled his RSU sales, and set recurring transfers to savings and investment accounts, everything ran in the background regardless of whether he was in New York or Tokyo. 

I have seen this in my own life as well. When I stopped relying on discipline to move money manually and automated the process, my annual savings rate increased by 30 percent without any change in income.

The key is to review automated flows quarterly. Your income and goals change, and your system needs to adjust accordingly.

3. Create a Core Account Structure

Think of this like setting up a well-organized office where everything has a place. For high earners, I recommend three primary accounts:

• Income Hub – all income flows here first.
  

• Living Expenses – covers both fixed and variable monthly costs.
  

• Wealth Building – dedicated to investments, retirement, and long-term goals.

One business owner I worked with had multiple revenue streams but no clear flow of money. She frequently overdrafted one account while others sat unused. After implementing a three-account structure, her cash flow became predictable, she tracked progress toward her goals in real time, and her stress level dropped dramatically.

Avoid mixing personal and business funds in the same accounts. It complicates taxes and can create accounting issues that take significant time to fix.

4. Schedule Money Maintenance Blocks

Even with automation, your system needs regular check-ins. I encourage clients to schedule quarterly reviews of their finances to confirm accounts are performing as expected, adjust for tax changes, and plan for upcoming expenses.

One couple I work with calls this their “financial date.” They set aside an hour each quarter to review their finances together and then go out to dinner. My wife and I do the same. If it is not scheduled, it usually does not happen.

These sessions are about small adjustments, not reinventing your entire plan. That is what keeps the process sustainable.

5. Secure and Centralize Your Information

A financial system is incomplete if it is not secure and easy to access. We use secure encrypted vaults for important documents such as tax returns, estate plans, insurance policies, and stock agreements. We also recommend a password manager for financial logins.

I worked with a client who realized his spouse would not have known where half of their accounts were located if something happened to him. Together, we built a financial blueprint with account information, key contacts, and clear instructions. Now everything is centralized, secure, and accessible to both partners.

Never store or send sensitive financial information through email. It is both insecure and difficult to track down later when you need it most.

The Mindset Shift

Many people carry financial complexity as if it is a badge of honor. Multiple accounts, exotic investments, and a team of advisers make their financial life look impressive from the outside. 

But the most successful clients I have worked with have something in common: they make their finances boring behind the scenes.

Simple systems do not mean small results. They mean fewer distractions and fewer errors, which allows more time and energy to focus on what matters most, like building wealth and enjoying life.

Making Sense of Financial Automation

When you simplify and automate your financial system, you reduce stress and give yourself more time to focus on the parts of life that matter most. 

By consolidating accounts, automating essential flows, setting up a core account structure, scheduling maintenance blocks, and securing information, you create a system that works for you in the background.

That is what Making Sense of Automation looks like. A clear, consistent plan that aligns your money with your goals, helps you stay organized, and frees you to live with confidence today while building for tomorrow.

As always, I hope this helps you to Prioritize Your Version of a Rich Life.

Until next week!

This information is not intended to be a substitute for specific individualized tax advice. We suggest that you discuss your specific tax issues with a qualified tax advisor.

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