We spend enormous amounts of time measuring wealth—how much we have, how quickly it is growing, how a portfolio performed, whether it beat a benchmark.
Those questions can matter. But they do not answer the most important question: Can the wealth do what we need it to do, when we need it to do it?
Wealth is valuable because of what it can accomplish—for us, for the people we care about, and for the purposes we choose.
Assets are not trophies. They're tools.
Why does the wealth exist?
When is it required?
How should it be structured?
Is it capable of doing the job?
Financial services has developed sophisticated answers: investments, insurance, tax strategies, portfolios, retirement plans, estate strategies, and technology.
Better questions lead to better decisions. Better decisions lead to better outcomes.
Performance tells us what an investment has done. Function tells us whether wealth is prepared to do what it needs to do.
Understand Functional CapacityUnderstand what your wealth is supposed to accomplish and when.
Separate enterprise value from personal wealth.
Change the questions that come before recommendations.
Move from performance measurement toward Functional Capacity.
A portfolio can be an important part of financial Design. But it cannot independently establish Purpose, Timing, liquidity requirements, income needs, tax considerations, competing priorities, or whether wealth is prepared to perform when required.
Gary identified a gap between useful financial ideas and a governing system for determining how those pieces should work together. He developed the financial application and codified those principles into the Function of Wealth.
The messenger should never become more important than the message.
About the Function of Wealth
Understand how Purpose and Timing determine Design and optimize Function.
Explore the Framework →Learn how the ability of wealth to fulfill its Purpose can be evaluated before the moment.
Understand Functional Capacity →Read, listen, and explore the ideas that developed into the Function of Wealth.
Explore the Library →Explore speaking topics, approved resources, and media information.
Media & Speaking →