What's Your Time Worth?

Just because you can do something, does it mean you should?

Time Is the One Asset You Can’t Replenish

I was recently talking with my wife, Danielle, about this exact idea after I brought my car in for routine maintenance but I also had a tire leak. I knew the dealership’s labor rate was higher than other shops in town, but I didn’t want to schedule another appointment with a different shop. Could I have saved some money by booking another appointment somewhere else? Absolutely. But that would’ve meant more scheduling, more driving, and more mental bandwidth.

In the end, I wasn’t paying for the repair — I was paying for convenience, clarity, and time. And honestly, it felt like money well spent.

“I Can Do It Myself”… But Should You?

This same theme comes up often in conversations with clients, especially younger families. Many will say, “I can manage my finances on my own.” And they’re not wrong — they can. But between careers, kids, aging parents, and everything else competing for attention, time becomes the most valuable (and scarce) resource.

There’s also a stigma we don’t talk about enough: asking for help. Somewhere along the way, we started equating independence with doing everything ourselves. But here’s the reality — the person helping you usually gets paid. You’re not just buying expertise; you’re supporting someone’s livelihood, contributing to the economy, and often giving that person a sense of purpose. Believe it or not, helping you often makes them feel good too.

Delegating isn’t weakness. It’s wisdom.

From Snowstorms to Summer Gardens

For our retired clients, this idea shows up a little differently. After the recent snowstorms, many were out shoveling driveways themselves. Soon enough, summer will bring gardening, lawn care, and projects that fill the calendar quickly.

If you’re able to pay someone to help, why not? Every task you delegate buys back time to enjoy the life you worked so hard to build.

So here’s the challenge: What’s one thing you could delegate this month to reclaim some of your time?

As Benjamin Franklin once said, “Dost thou love life? Then do not squander time, for that is the stuff life is made of.”