Every great journey starts with a story. In The Open Road, CFP professional Cory Christiana uses the metaphor of a cross-country road trip to guide you through one of life's most important journeys: building a financial plan that actually reflects the life you want to live. Too many financial conversations start with spreadsheets and numbers. This book starts somewhere else, with your story, your goals, and the people you love. Cory introduces the LEAP framework, a four-phase approach built on Listening to your story, Exploring your goals, Aligning your wealth, and Progressing together with guidance and support. Drawing on his own family's cross-country road trip and years of experience helping clients navigate the different stages of a financial journey, from instability to independence, Cory shows readers how to move past reactive, numbers-only planning toward a values-driven approach that connects money to meaning. Inside, you will learn how to: Identify where you currently stand on the path from financial instability to independence Clarify your vision for the next ten years and beyond Build a legacy that reflects what matters most to you and your family Choose and partner with a financial advisor who will serve as your co-driver, not just a service provider The book is paired with the companion Open Road Travel Guide, a set of guided exercises designed to help you surface your own story and apply the LEAP framework to your goals, whether you are planning solo or with a partner. Whether you are just starting to think seriously about your financial future or you have been on the road for years and want to make sure you are still heading in the right direction, The Open Road offers a refreshingly human way to think about planning, one built on stories, relationships, and the life you actually want to live.
