“Why High-Net-Worth Clients Need to Rethink Time, Health, and Wealth” featuring Andrew Connors
Many high achievers spend decades focused on building wealth. But according to recent insights, that pursuit often comes with a cost.
In a recent InvestmentNews article, Andrew Connors, Managing Director at Hightower Signature Wealth, shared a perspective he has developed over years of working with high-net-worth clients: people often trade time and health to build wealth, only to later spend that wealth trying to get those things back.
A Different Way to Think About Success
Connors challenges the idea that success is defined by a number.
“If the answer to ‘what is your personal benchmark for success’ is a number, that’s the wrong answer. The answer should be: what does that number allow me to do?”
In his experience, most people ultimately define success in similar ways. It comes down to freedom, including the ability to choose how to spend time, prioritize health, and be present for the people and experiences that matter most.
The Three Phases of Wealth Building
Connors often frames financial life in three stages:
- Early years: Individuals focus on building their careers and financial foundations, often sacrificing time and energy along the way.
- Acceleration phase: Income and wealth grow, but the trade-offs can intensify as people continue prioritizing accumulation.
- Reflection and transition: After achieving financial security, individuals begin to reassess how they want to spend their time and energy.
“The challenge people have is understanding which phase they’re in,” Connors explains. “They tend to be more reactionary.”
Without that awareness, many people delay important decisions until a life event forces the conversation.
When Priorities Shift
Connors shared examples of clients who made significant changes after reevaluating what mattered most. In one case, a business owner sold a company after realizing it was no longer aligned with his personal goals. In another, a senior executive chose to leave future earnings on the table to spend more time with family.
These decisions often come down to understanding what “enough” looks like.
The Role of Better Conversations
At the center of Connors’ approach is a simple but powerful shift in perspective. Instead of focusing only on accumulation, conversations should focus on purpose.
By asking better questions earlier, individuals can make more intentional decisions about how they balance time, health, and wealth throughout their lives.
The Takeaway
Wealth is an important tool, but it is not the end goal. Defining what it is meant to enable, and making decisions with that clarity, can help create a more balanced and fulfilling path forward.
This material is for general information and educational purposes only. Information is based on data gathered from what we believe are reliable sources. It is not guaranteed as to accuracy, does not purport to be complete and is not intended to be used as a primary basis for investment decisions.
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