Misperceptions about Viable Options

Julie Murphy • March 3, 2010

When I first got into the industry, to get a professionally managed account you had to have over a million dollars. Today, with retail fund accounts, you can get in with as little as $50 per month. Most people I encounter who have yet to plan for their future, or have done so minimally, think they have to have some large sum of money. Ladies and gentlemen, I’m here to tell you that this is not the case. You can accomplish pretty much anything you want to do. The industry has become very flexible, and it can accommodate almost any net worth these days. Who cares if you have to start small? At least we live in a country that makes it relatively easy to start at all!

Now for those of you who have been building your wealth for years, I’ve found you have a different challenge. The majority of people in this great country of ours have been doing business with financial professionals who don’t have access to a full array of investment options. This is where you can really experience misperceptions about what’s available and what’s best for you. I can’t tell you how many extremely wealthy men and women I meet have spent years with a stockbroker, only to wake up and suddenly yearn for something more. They’re seeking a professional relationship that gives them more than just specific stocks and bonds recommendations. Their risk tolerance has changed and they’ve become interested in more than simply stocks and bonds, but they’re not being informed about all that’s available to them. Research done by Ibbotson Associates, a leading authority on asset allocation with expertise in capital market expectations and portfolio implementation, showed that 91.5% of performance of an investment portfolio is based on how well you diversify your assets. One great way to diversify is to have investment holdings outside the stock and bond markets. I read an article recently that said that if you had $100 million, you could invest in a specific portfolio built with privately held companies. Talk about options! You may not have this one, nor do many people have a spare $100 million sitting around, but most can still be more diversified.

Here’s another misperception: Real estate is not a viable investment for everyday people. Perhaps people you know aren’t willing to take the risk of investing in real estate. What about rental property or commercial leasing? It ties up funds, but does that lack of liquidity fit with your risk tolerance? There are many options to get into real estate. They can be great investment alternatives to consider. For instance, even non-traded real estate investment trusts (REITs) or limited partnerships can perform exceptionally well. You do need to make sure you’re an informed investor, and make sure your investments match your personal risk tolerance. As you can see, your options may not be as limited as you perceive.

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How to End the Year Like the Wealthy Do

By Julie Murphy • December 10, 2025

Reset Your Money Energy for 2026 Every December, we all feel that pull, the desire to “be better with money next year.” But here’s the secret I’ve seen again and again after nearly three decades of walking alongside people from all walks of life: Financially wealthy people don’t just plan their next year — they energetically complete the one they’re leaving. They close loops. They clear emotional residue. They realign their energy field before they set a single goal. And you can absolutely do the same. As I share in The Emotion Behind Money , wealth is never created by logic alone. It comes from managing the emotions behind your money and understanding that money itself is energy. And in Awaken Your Wealth , I remind readers that energetic shifts begin when you consciously picture yourself stepping into a new reality, while compassionately acknowledging the one you’re standing in now. So let’s walk through the simple year-end process I teach my clients — one that spiritually, emotionally, and financially resets your money field for a powerful 2026. 1. Review Your 2025 Wins & Losses With Compassion Before you step into the new year, look back with the most loving, nonjudgmental eyes possible. I call it neutral observation . Wealthy people don’t spiral into shame when something didn’t go perfectly. They get curious. Ask yourself: Where did I expand financially this year? Where did I contract emotionally or economically? What choices were truly aligned with my values? Which ones came from fear, scarcity, or old patterns? In Awaken Your Wealth , the “Accepting Reality and Awakening” step of PACT teaches that awareness without judgment is how we break old money patterns for good. So breathe. Notice. Write it down. No shame. No spiral. Just truth. 2. Forgive Any Money Mistakes Here’s a truth most people never consider: Every financial mistake carries emotional weight and emotional weight blocks money flow. From my work in The 4 Spiritual Laws of Money , we know that your heart’s energy is more powerful than your brain’s logic, and intention is what redirects energy back into alignment. Forgiveness, of yourself, your past self, or others involved, releases stagnant money energy. Try this: Write down any money decisions from 2025 that still feel heavy. Place your hand on your heart. Say: "I forgive the version of me who made this choice. She/he did the best they could with what they knew at the time.” Forgiveness isn’t about letting mistakes slide. It’s about resetting your emotional money field so you can co-create something new. 3. Create an Energetic Closing Ceremony for the Year This is where wealthy people truly separate themselves; they honor the transition. You can create your own year-end ceremony using whatever resonates from your spiritual toolkit. Here are a few ideas inspired by the intention-setting and clearing practices throughout my work: Light a candle Symbolize releasing the old year and calling in the new. Write a “completion list” Include everything you’re ready to release: debts you’re no longer carrying shame over, relationships you’re energetically cutting cords from, patterns you’re finished reenacting. Burn or bury the list This physical act tells the Universe: “I’m done living from this version of myself.” In The Emotion Behind Money , we explore how inherited beliefs and emotional patterns repeat until they are consciously released. This ceremony is your line in the sand. End with intention Close with one powerful intention for 2026, aligned from your heart: “I choose a new flow of abundance.” “I trust that money comes to me with ease.” “I allow myself to receive the wealth I’ve been working toward.” As The 4 Spiritual Laws of Money reminds us: “The Universe responds to action.” Your ceremony is your spiritual action. Ready to Step Into 2026 Aligned, Clear & Empowered? If you’re craving deeper support with your financial reset, join me for my Emotions Behind Money Workshop in January. If you’ve been feeling the nudge to recalibrate your relationship with money, this is your moment. Let’s make 2026 the year your inner wealth and your financial reality finally match. You deserve abundance and you’re closer than you think. With love, alignment & a whole lot of possibility, Julie ✨