Quick client situation with details:
Michelle (39) & Tom Gray (44)
Michelle’s in medical device sales, crushing it with a $402,000 income, Tom’s in corporate operations, making $110,00.
They have two kids (6, 4).
They live in the same house they bought before kids.
It’s getting tighter now.
Closets are overflowing, kitchen’s a bottleneck, the living rooms turned into a wrestling ring.
(who can relate!)
But here’s what’s holding them and SO many others back:
The mortgage is locked in at 2.75%.
Financially, it feels like staying put is the “smart” choice.
Emotionally, they’re at wits end.
These guys were already Know My Plan clients, so they had a plan, but during our 2025 annual review, they brought up the question:
- Can we afford to move?
- Would it throw us off track?
- What would a new mortgage mean for our long-term goals?
- Seriously, is it doable?
So, we worked it into the plan.
It wasn’t about the interest rate, yes, the numbers matter, but it’s more about living the life you want to live. Let’s stop wasting time.
Michelle and Tom’s finances supported a move. They didn’t need us to build a new plan, they needed someone to give them permission to consider a home that better fits their current stage of life.
If you’re in a similar position, sitting on equity, earning well, and feeling like your house no longer fits, it may be time to look beyond just the rate. A good financial plan creates flexibility.
After the dust settled, we got an email from Michelle: ““We bought the house we actually needed.”
If you’re trying to decide between what makes sense on paper and what makes sense for your family, I’d love to help.
—Nic
P.S. Know someone staring down a similar decision — whether to stay or go, spend or save, wait or act?
Feel free to forward this their way. Sometimes all it takes is seeing their story in someone else’s.
Please add the following: This is a hypothetical situation based on real life examples. Names and circumstances have been changed. The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual. To determine which investments or strategies may be appropriate for you, consult your advisor prior to investing.
