When people ask me where to begin with their financial strategy, I always come back to three foundational lessons: Be intentional with your money. Spend with purpose. Save in a way that supports your life.
These may sound familiar, but once wealth reaches a certain level, these concepts require a different kind of thinking. Financial decisions start to influence not just your lifestyle, but your family, your future, and the impact you want to have.
I’m skipping over the usual investment strategies or compounding discussions because, without clarity and structure, those tools don’t move the needle. These three lessons are where it all starts.
1. Be Intentional With Your Wealth
Many of the individuals and families I work with aren’t new to financial planning. They’ve built success. They’re thoughtful. They want to use their wealth well, not just manage it.
At this stage, being intentional means asking yourself deeper questions. What kind of life do I want to build? What legacy do I want to leave? Do I want to fund a grandchild’s education, support a cause I believe in, or create a space for my family to gather and grow?
When you’ve identified what matters most, your financial decisions have a compass. Without that, it’s easy to feel financially busy but directionless.
2. Spend Smarter
Once you’ve clarified what matters most, the next step is making spending choices that reflect those priorities. That doesn’t necessarily mean cutting back or adhering to rigid rules. It means being aware of where your money goes and whether it’s supporting the life you want to build.
I often see spending drift; not because clients lack discipline, but because they haven’t taken the time to step back and ask whether their dollars are reflecting their values.
When spending decisions become more thoughtful, they tend to bring more satisfaction, not less. Money begins to support what you care about most, whether that’s experiences, people, or future flexibility.
3. Save With Purpose
Many of the families I work with already have solid saving habits. The real challenge is deciding how those savings are structured—where the money is held, how accessible it is, and whether it’s positioned to support what’s coming next.
True financial freedom comes from having money available when life calls for it. That could mean liquidity for a real estate opportunity, resources to help a child launch a business, or the ability to step back from work earlier than expected.
I’ve worked with people who technically have more than enough but still feel financially stuck. Usually, it’s not a question of quantity. It’s about structure. When wealth is too tightly locked up or spread across disconnected strategies, it loses flexibility, and that can limit your options when you need them most.
Bringing it All Together
These three lessons (intention, awareness, and purpose) lay the groundwork for financial decisions that reflect who you are. When your money is aligned with your priorities, it becomes a tool that brings clarity instead of complexity.
If that’s the kind of clarity you’re looking for, I’d welcome a conversation. You can reach me directly at (317) 472-6007. And if you’d like to hear what it’s like to work together, take a look at some of my client’s stories.
About Susie
Susie Steel is COO, Wealth Manager, and Senior Shareholder at Deerfield Financial Advisors, a fee-only financial advisory and wealth management firm with offices in Indianapolis and Chicago. With over three decades of experience in financial planning, Susie’s approach has always been rooted in a spirit of service, treating each client as an extension of her own family. She simplifies the complex for clients, with the goal of creating a calm, trusting, and nurturing environment. Her unwavering commitment to the principle of “To whom much is given, much will be required” serves as the driving force behind her dedication, diligence, and empathy.
Susie obtained a business management degree from Ball State University, holds the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® designation, and held the Accredited Estate Planner (AEP®) designation from the National Association of Estate Planners & Councils (NAEPC) from 2013 to 2018. Susie is actively involved with an extensive list of professional organizations, including NAPFA (The National Association of Personal Financial Advisors), a premier association of fee-only financial advisors, and has served on multiple boards, committees, and councils. Her consistent recognition as one of Indianapolis Monthly’s “Five Star Wealth Managers” for the past decade attests to her outstanding accomplishments (2009-2025).
Outside the professional realm, Susie has contributed to her community through numerous efforts including her involvement in the Financial Center First Credit Union (FCFCU), the Indianapolis Children’s Museum Planned Giving Council, the Kiwanis Club of Northwest Indianapolis, and Junior Achievement. She mentors women through the CFP® Board’s “WIN-to-WIN” program, embodies the spirit of Rotary Club of Carmel, advocates for Indiana Canine Assistant Network (ICAN), and actively serves on the board of the Mary Rigg Neighborhood Center (MRNC).Susie and her husband, Kevin, reside in Carmel, Indiana, where they raised their three children. Outside the office, her focus centers around family, spirituality, and fostering meaningful connections. Embracing the concept of the body as a temple, her personal growth is nurtured through practices like strength training, yoga, and meditation. In her leisure time, she enjoys strolls with her dog, Lulu, and indulges in movies, podcasts, books, and the theater. To learn more about Susie, connect with her on LinkedIn.
