BiggerPockets Money Podcast · Friday, August 14, 2026
Scott Trench explains his family's approach to financial goal setting, which involves creating a one-page vision statement written in the present tense. Virginia Trench adds that a "household equity check" is a valuable tool to prevent resentment in financial discussions between partners.
“The answer that I have is goal setting starts with a reasonably clear, reasonably concise description in the present tense of the future state you want to attain.”
“So we write all of it in the present tense of what we want to achieve.”
“And this household equity check is brilliant and needs to be added to the goal setting documents, Scott, that I've seen.”