A Financial Roadmap to Adventure

by Jillian Netherland | photography by Brewster Burns – 

Building a Foundation

As the adage says, you must walk before you can run; the same can be said regarding financial planning. While putting a plan in place may seem like the right course of action, certain fundamentals should be established prior to serious financial planning.

“Once people have their debt under control and have begun making significant contributions to their retirement plan, they often ask, ‘what’s next?’” shares Adam Dunbar, Managing Director, Wealth Manager, and Partner at Steward Partners. “With a strong financial foundation, you can begin exploring how to make your money work for your long-term goals, whether that’s a dream home, early retirement, or regular travel.”

Fortunately, this exploration—for financial stability and recreational enjoyment—does not need to be a solo endeavor. Financial advisors are relationship builders, working with clients to balance debt repayment and savings, select the right types of accounts to invest in, and prioritize financial goals. Finding the right advisor to work alongside and build rapport with is the best-proven way to boost confidence by understanding your budget and mapping out your goals.

Developing that foundation isn’t just about hitting numbers, though – it’s also about mindset. A significant component of financial readiness involves shifting from reactive to proactive thinking. This includes anticipating needs before they arise, being honest about spending habits, and developing the self-discipline to say no now so you can say yes later. It also means understanding your personal definition of financial success, which, for many, includes freedom, flexibility, and fulfillment – all things money can support but not buy outright.
 

Adding in the Fun—Wisely

Financial planning not only helps you secure your future; it supports your present. For many, the joy that accompanies planning for a trip is a big component in both categories – and although vacations cost money, travel and financial planning have more in common than you may think.

“Both financial planning and travel require budgeting, vision, and the willingness to prepare ahead of time,” Adam explains. “Understanding your income, expenses, and savings goals translates directly to travel planning.”

Just like you need a number in mind for retirement, having a vacation budget makes your travel dreams achievable. In the November 1, 2023, episode of The Wealth Is in the Details podcast, financial planner Peter Raskin highlights the strong parallels between these two forms of planning. Both require defined goals, individualized strategies, and discipline and are best achieved with a professional coach—an expert who can help guide you through options and decisions and offer support along the way.

“It’s also worth noting that budgeting for travel doesn’t mean skimping, it’s about being intentional,” Adam explains. “Travelers who plan ahead can often take advantage of better rates, maximize loyalty rewards programs, and avoid costly surprises.”
 

The Personal Touch

Similarly, a travel agent takes the guesswork out of vacation planning. From choosing the best cruise line or resort to avoiding peak travel seasons, their expertise simplifies the process.

“A good agent will ask the right questions, figure out what kind of vacation you or your family need, and eliminate the stress of researching it all yourself,” shares Erin Dunbar, independent agent for Cupcake Castles and Adam’s wife. “Planning can be complicated and overwhelming, but a professional who has been there and knows where to look can handle the researching and booking, so all you have to do is enjoy the trip and get the break from stress that you need.”

For Adam and Erin, each of their careers were built on relationships, a method that continues to be the cornerstone of their successes today. From his early days in business, Adam made it a point to be actively involved in his community, supporting philanthropic events for Make-A-Wish Maine and Saint Dominic Academy, as well as becoming involved with the Chamber of Commerce and serving on various boards. For Erin, her career calling stemmed from helping her friends with something she already enjoyed doing, and realizing she had a knack for it.

“Adam and I took our first trip together, a cruise, in 2004,” Erin recalls. “Neither of us had done this before, but we had a great time, and continued planning something year after year.”

As time went on, Adam and Erin began including friends and family in their trips. Once the couple had children and began to grow their family, the trips didn’t stop – they just included additional, smaller passengers in tow.

“I would share photos from our family vacations on social media, and people began reaching out to ask me for advice – I didn’t even realize people used travel agents anymore,” shares Erin. “I was planning trips for friends and family as a courtesy and booking everything for free—now I get to plan trips for strangers and do it as my job!”
 

Finding Joy Without Sacrificing Stability

For some, the most meaningful investments are in experiences. Multi-generational family vacations, often cruises or destination getaways with up to 30 to 40 people, are becoming annual traditions. This approach allows people to enjoy the travel experience with the people they love and gives them the opportunity to experience traveling while they are healthy and able.

“Too many people wait until retirement to travel, only to discover that life has other plans. Health issues, family changes, or financial setbacks can derail dreams,” states Erin. “Do what you can, when you can, without sacrificing the finances needed at home – you never know what the future holds.”
Creating memories today doesn’t have to mean jeopardizing tomorrow.

“It’s about balance. Setting aside a travel fund, making small monthly contributions, and consulting professionals can make family adventures more feasible,” states Adam. “Just like with retirement savings, consistency over time leads to big results.”
For the Dunbars, having a vacation on the horizon to look forward to helps them stay motivated in their day-to-day lives, especially during the more difficult or less enjoyable times.

“We really got into planning more during COVID when we were all confined to the house – we would watch travel vlogs together, plan out where we wanted to go in the future, and actively involve our children in the planning,” Adam recalls. “For us, travel is important. It’s our livelihood, it gives us something to look forward to, and for our family, it’s money well spent.”
 

Making the Most of Your Time and Money

Travel and financial planning may seem like separate topics, but they’re deeply intertwined. Both require budgeting, good advice, and a mindset focused on long-term value. Whether you’re mapping out your retirement or your next vacation, the takeaway is the same: plan ahead, make space for the things that bring you joy, and enlist the guidance of a trusted professional.

When done well, both travel and financial planning offer more than just returns – they offer the chance to truly live the life with the experiences you’ve imagined.

Steward Partners | Adam Dunbar
Portland | stewardpartners.com

Cupcake Castles – Travel by Erin
Auburn | erindunbar.cctcagent.com

Adam Dunbar is a Wealth Manager with Steward Partners in Portland, ME. The information contained in this article is not a solicitation to purchase or sell investments. Any information presented is general in nature and not intended to provide individually tailored investment advice. The strategies and/or investments referenced may not be suitable for all investors as the appropriateness of a particular investment or strategy will depend on an investor’s individual circumstances and objectives. Investing involves risks and there is always the potential of losing money when you invest. The views expressed herein are those of the author and may not necessarily reflect the views of Steward Partners, or its affiliates. Information contained herein has been obtained from sources considered to be reliable, but we do not guarantee their accuracy or completeness. Steward Partners, its affiliates, and Steward Partners Wealth Managers do not provide tax or legal advice. Securities are offered through Steward Partners Investment Solutions, LLC (“SPIS”), registered broker/dealer, member FINRA/SIPC. Investment advisory services are offered through Steward Partners Investment Advisory, LLC (“SPIA”), an SEC-registered investment adviser. SPIS, SPIA, and Steward Partners Global Advisory, LLC are affiliates and collectively referred to as Steward Partners.