---
title: The Ultimate Way to Level the Financial Playing Field
description: Do yourself a favor and seek fee-only financial planning advice - it's the best way to level the playing field.
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---

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# MONEY matters

Mark Zaifman's thoughts on money, global economic trends and politics

# The Ultimate Way to Level the Financial Playing Field

** [Mark Zaifman](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/author/mark-zaifman)   |   ** Sat, Nov 20, 2010 @ 02:28 PM

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On Thursday, I watched in shock and horror as the US House of Representatives failed to approve a bill that would have authorized additional insurance for the long-term unemployed. The unemployed do not have lobbyists in DC fighting for them. They are in fact politically disempowered. Yet against this backdrop of events, there’s wide agreement among most economists that UI insurance helps the economy and provides many a chance to barely keep their head above water.

But think about what’s going on here. According to the Center for Responsive Politics, 237 members of Congress are millionaires. That’s 44 percent of the body-compared to (CRP) about 1 percent of Americans overall. CRP says California Republican Rep. Darrell Issa is the richest lawmaker on Capitol Hill, with a net worth estimated at about $251 million. And in the Senate, it’s even more out of whack with 60 out of our 100 Senator’s multi-millionaires. Out of touch much?

**Enough is Enough - It’s Time to Level the Playing Field**

In all my adult years, I have never seen the middle class get so hammered by an economic downturn. The safety net we do currently have in our country is under assault and being gutted at every turn. The financial playing field is not level and the people that are getting screwed the most are the middle and lower middle class. This is the group of people that could and would benefit the most from honest, objective financial advice.

Unfortunately, most people in the middle are unfamiliar with the services offered by a [**fee-only financial planner.**](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/spiritus-approach/) In general, this group has been oversold and underserved. They are usually sold crappy commission based products and offered “free financial planning” which usually means you’re about to be sold an annuity or other life insurance product under the guise of financial planning*.* Enough is enough!

**Become Financially Empowered *Now!***

Being **proactive** instead of **reactive **when it comes to managing your money makes all the difference in the world. If you think financial planning is a service reserved only for the wealthy, please, reconsider this assumption. **Fee-only financial planning offers you the ultimate opportunity to level the financial playing field**.

Financial planning done well has the power to change your life. That’s because ***planning* **for a future you desire is much more empowering than ***hoping*** for a future you desire. Imagine the feeling you receive when you have truly put your financial house in order. It’s that feeling my clients describe as peace of mind - and that feeling is ***priceless!***

 

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