My notes to you this summer have focused on the 8 Sacred Money Archetypes, as outlined by Kendall Summerhawk, with an invitation to find your own archetypes by taking the assessment. (You can still get your copy of the Sacred Money Archetype Assessment created by Kendall Summerhawk -  email me here.)

My first time taking the Sacred Money Archetype Assessment was about 5 years ago. Since then life and work has changed and evolved: my children are teens and young adults, I transitioned to RBC Dominion Securities, and I started writing this weekly blog, for example. I thought it would be interesting to take the Sacred Money Archetype assessment again, now, to see if I’d get different results.

Kendall Summerhawk suggests that, if taken honestly, the assessment is uncannily accurate. When her clients feel something is off or not resonating, it often turns out that the assessment is accurate – it’s just a trait they haven’t noticed yet – or they’re in denial!

Also, while other assessments may suggest that our results will change as we travel through different circumstances, life stages and situations, the SMA assessment represents who we are at our essence, and that doesn’t change over time.

So – like the Nature vs Nurture debate – I was curious whether my archetypes would be different. Here’s what I found.

Five years ago my top three archetypes were the Maverick; Nurturer and Ruler were an exact tie for second; and in fourth place was the Accumulator.

When I re-did the assessment this summer, it gave me Maverick; Ruler; Accumulator; and Nurturer in fourth place. I scored far higher numbers for Maverick and Ruler this time, which suggests to me that I’m playing to my strengths and my values more fully.

The Maverick is the rebel with a cause. I’ve significantly increased my work in the mental health arena: I’ve joined the board at the Royal Ottawa Foundation for Mental Health, I co-founded the Fore-Play for Charity Ottawa Women’s Networking Golf tournament, which gives back to the community in general, and mental health in particular. We established the tournament to serve several purposes: first, fun for everyone involved. With an opportunity for networking and Business Development by getting more women out on the golf course (I’ll speak to this in next week’s blog). And we focus on raising money for Women for Mental Health at the Royal. Women for Mental Health is a philanthropic program that started in 2011. I’m a founding member, and our members speak publicly to remove the stigma around mental health issues, as well as commit to a multi-year stretch contribution.

The Ruler is an empire builder. Most entrepreneurs have Ruler show up in their top three. I believe my Ruler helped me create this consistent blog series, and propelled me to launch my podcast I’m a Millionaire… So Now What?

I know – a podcast might come as a surprise to some of you but in fact I’ve been toiling away at this initiative since last fall. It’s about to get real in September. The podcast will feature inspirational stories, practical strategies, and fun frank advice for self-made millionaires and wealthy families. We’ll celebrate and honour everything self-made millionaires and wealthy families bring to their communities and the world. (My rebel with a cause crops up again!).

Do people ever really change?

I believe that as we evolve, gain wisdom, become more self-aware, we can intentionally create more positive, profitable, and productive habits over time. Our relationship with money may be deep-seated – the archetypes may represent our roots, but what blossoms from season to season will depend on how we nurture those roots. If we’re blind to our natural instincts, don’t take responsibility for our actions, or dwell on the perceived flaws of our archetypal relationship with money, then drama, chaos and financial woes may follow.

We can always change how we react, relate and adapt. We can definitely improve our ability to embrace our gifts, face our challenges, play up our strengths, step fully into our talents and choose how we’ll spend, save, and share our wealth (optimally – leave this word at the end of this sentence or end it on wealth?).

Bottom line I would say I found the Sacred Money Type assessment to be accurate, even over time. Try the assessment (email me here), make a note to do it again in a few years, and see what it says. I’ll be doing that for myself.

In the meantime, I’m playing to my Maverick Ruler strengths – so stay tuned for more about Fore-Play for Charity Ottawa Women’s Networking Golf Tournament and the launch of I’m a Millionaire… So Now What?

Wondering how your SMA affects how you spend, save, and share your wealth? Email us here and let’s start a conversation.