Discover True Wealth: Eight areas to tailor in the New Year to cultivate life’s riches.

Discover True Wealth: Eight areas to tailor in the New Year to cultivate life’s riches.
By Bart Zandbergen
For more than thirty years I’ve helped clients build strong financial portfolios — and I’ve also been there with them during tough transitions: a spouse lost, a business sold, a child leaving for college. Witnessing these moments in time was revealing. My front row seat during these chapters in my clients’ lives served as a platform for me to gain a deep understanding of a simple fact – real wealth consists of more than monetary means. True Wealth resides in your health, peace of mind, relationships and culminates in the legacy that you ultimately will leave behind.
I’ve come to define True Wealth as the things money can’t buy, and death can’t take away. Distilling the wisdom I’ve gained into eight True Wealth tenets, the following are areas I encourage clients, friends, and family to tailor so they can create a life that is rich in a way that is uniquely meaningful to them. 

1. Health – the ultimate wealth. You can’t buy fitness. You can’t buy health. We’ve seen far too many people sacrifice their well-being to build wealth — only to spend that wealth later trying to buy their health back. It rarely works. True Wealth starts with treating your body and mind like they matter — because they do.
2. Family and Friends – wealth is richer when shared. No one has ever said on their death bed, “I wish I had worked more.” What we all want is time with the people who matter most. We have circles of friends. Facebook tells me I have 3433 friends! One circle of friends might be people you know at work, the gym, or other social club. Social circles are wide — but if you have five true friends, and one “ride or die” who shows up no matter what, you are wealthy. One of my definitions of success relates to family. And that is that if your adult kids still want to hang out with you…you are wealthy! When making choices, remember: weigh Regret versus Resentment. It’s a good compass for protecting what matters.
3. Faith – a life anchored in something greater. I don’t believe everyone has to believe the same thing — but I do believe faith in something greater is essential. Studies of centenarians showed common threads: belief in a higher power, daily movement, a little alcohol, and at least some meat in their diet. Longevity isn’t just biology, it’s not about perfection. It’s spiritual grounding and a purposeful life.
4. Service to Others – true wealth is generous. Giving back is one of life’s greatest privileges. That can mean time, resources, mentorship, or financial support. The impact you make through service becomes part of your legacy — and adds depth to your own life.
5. Legacy – leaving your mark for good. True legacy isn’t measured in assets — it’s in impact. It might be a charitable foundation, a hospital wing with your name, or simply raising children who are kind and thoughtful human beings. 100 years from now you will be gone, your cars will be gone, your watches will be gone, and strangers will be living in your house. Focus on what matters.
6. Peace – stillness in the midst of life. This is priceless given our lives filled with people constantly pulling us in many different directions. I’ve found my own peace of mind comes from living intentionally. Each year I make a Statement of Vision that reads “as if” the goal or task has already been accomplished. For example, “I am in perfect health. My weight and bodyfat are in perfect balance”. I break it down by health, business, family, finance, etc. I update it every year, print it, laminate it, and keep it in my shower for a daily read!
7. The Invisibles – an intangible, undefined, moment or feeling. It could be an unsolicited “I love you” from a child, a sunset with a glass of wine, a beautiful rainbow. For me, my granddaughter recently asked me to attend her “Bring a Loved One to Lunch” at school. It was an INVISIBLE!
8. Finances – abundance, not just accumulation. At the end of the day, money is a component of True Wealth. Money isn’t the goal — it’s a tool. With the right plan, and the right advisor, your finances can give you freedom, flexibility, and peace of mind. The ability to say yes to what matters. That’s a form of wealth few people talk about, but everyone feels when they have it.

Discovering True Wealth begins with getting honest about what wealth means and consists of for you. Society may have its own idea as to what being wealthy means, but ultimately its up to you to decide how you will define that in your own life. Part of charting your own course means thinking beyond the conditioning of modern society and turning inwards to tap into what feels intuitively right for you. As we move forward into 2026, I challenge you to tailor any areas that you may need to in your life so that you can cultivate life’s riches one True Wealth tenet at a time.
 
Disclosures:
The Zandbergen Group is a DBA of Axxcess Wealth Management, LLC a Registered Investment Advisor with the SEC. Bart A. Zandbergen, CA Insurance License #OA96242. Advisory services are only offered to clients or prospective clients where Axxcess and its representatives are properly licensed or exempt from licensure.