Good morning! Today, I’m excited to introduce Jason Hull from Hull Financial Planning. Jason has a new course called Winning with Money that aims to help you set and achieve your financial goals. He’s generously offering one course (worth $397) to a lucky reader, and I’ll throw in a $25 Amazon gift card too! Check the giveaway widget at the end of this post for more details. Take it away, Jason!
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Can you introduce yourself to readers who may not know you and tell us what you do?
Hi, I’m Jason Hull. Although I’m known for my appearances in the Carnival of Financial Independence, my primary role is as a financial planner. My career has been diverse—I’ve served as an officer in the U.S. Army, managed call center technology investments at Capital One, and co-founded a software development company. After selling my company, I transitioned to financial planning and passed the Certified Financial Planner exam.
I’ve long been passionate about financial planning. While in the Army, I saw soldiers receiving poor financial advice from salesmen peddling high-commission products. I felt there was a better way to provide financial guidance without costly commissions. However, I wanted to gain credibility in another field first and achieve financial independence myself before becoming a financial planner. I believe advice is more genuine when it comes from someone who has walked the path themselves.
I’m naturally a DIY person when it comes to personal finance. While I reached financial independence without a planner, it took many hours of research. During my Certified Financial Planner courses, I realized much of the content isn’t aimed at people like us. My goal is to educate clients so they don’t need ongoing services. This realization led to the creation of my DIY course, Winning with Money, which consolidates much of the common advice I give into a comprehensive guide.
What is the Winning with Money course and what do you offer?
Winning with Money covers 95% of the financial planning I typically provide but at a much lower cost. Financial planners often charge 1% of your investable assets annually, which adds up significantly over time without providing proportional value. Some planners charge by the hour, which can also be expensive, ranging from $1,800 to $2,400 for a consulting session.
This course is meant for those who prefer to be shown what to do and then handle it themselves. It includes 20 lessons that build on each other, from budgeting basics to complex queries like retirement planning and children’s education costs. There are also eight worksheets and exercises to personalize the advice to your situation. The course is designed to be evergreen, so you can refer back to it as you reach your financial goals.
What do you think are the three biggest barriers to achieving financial goals?
1. Goals that don’t align with values. When your goals aren’t truly important to you, you face internal conflict. Successful goals align with personal values, which fosters intrinsic motivation.
2. Overwhelming or distant goals. Breaking large goals into tangible steps makes them more achievable. For example, instead of focusing on saving $1.75 million for retirement, aim to save $1,000 per month as a more manageable target.
3. Decision fatigue. Automating financial decisions reduces the mental effort required, preventing burnout. The fewer decisions you have to make, the lower the risk of making mistakes.
Who is Monkey Brain?
Our brain has two main parts: the prefrontal cortex (responsible for rational thinking) and the limbic system (emotional responses). Monkey Brain, which resides in the limbic system, seeks immediate pleasure without considering future consequences. It’s the part of your brain that craves instant gratification and creates justifications for indulgent behaviors, weakening your resolve for long-term goals.
How significant is psychology in your financial planning advice?
It plays a critical role. Psychological barriers can impede even the best financial plans. Early lessons in my course focus on psychology and motivation, as understanding and overcoming these hurdles is essential for success. Personal finance is simple in theory—spend less, save more—but psychological challenges make it difficult in practice.
Why don’t you talk about debt?
For debt management, the best advice I’ve found is in Dave Ramsey’s The Total Money Makeover. Although I disagree with Ramsey on some post-debt advice, his debt reduction strategy is effective. If you’re struggling with debt, his book is a great resource. My course focuses on accelerating retirement once you’re out of consumer debt, where my advice starts to diverge from Ramsey’s.
What is the secret to building wealth and retiring comfortably?
There isn’t really a secret. Most people know they need to spend less, earn more, and save consistently. The challenge lies in creating and following a concrete plan aligned with your values. Avoid lifestyle inflation, where spending rises with income, and instead spend intentionally. Focus on meaningful expenditures to avoid accumulating unnecessary items that don’t contribute to happiness.
If I think I’m doing okay with my finances, what will the Winning with Money course offer me?
The course will provide you with certainty and save you time. It covers various important financial topics comprehensively. You’ll gain confidence in knowing that your financial decisions are well-informed and aligned with your goals.
For those interested, complete the tasks below to enter the giveaway. If you’d like to enroll in the Winning with Money course, you can use a $50 off coupon until October 20th.
