That idea came from managing my own finances. I was paid on a schedule that didn't line up neatly with the bills, and I needed a better way to see how money would move through the month. So I built a spreadsheet. Over the years, I kept changing it — sometimes adding detail, sometimes simplifying — until it became a system I could use to make decisions with confidence.
The part that mattered most wasn't tracking every transaction. It was being able to look ahead. If I could see the next 30 days clearly, I could tell whether things were on track and adjust before a tight month became a crisis. I didn't have to guess from today's account balance. I could see where it was headed.
That perspective has stayed with me. When I ran a small company, I handled a lot of the day-to-day myself. We offered retirement plans, and I'd talk with people about how consistent saving had worked for me over time. Knowing what to do and knowing how to fit it into your own financial life are two different things. Now, working in lending, I see how much difference it makes to understand the numbers behind a choice: whether a payment fits, what carrying a balance will cost, or how a change today affects the rest of the month.
The Financial Game Plan grew out of the system I built for myself. It's meant to help people see their financial picture, look ahead, and make informed choices without having to manage every dollar by hand.
As a former college and professional athlete, the game-plan idea has always felt natural to me. I think of it like watching a game from the coach's box. You don't need to inspect every play to see when the overall plan is working — or when it's time to adjust. It's preparation. A good plan gives you a clearer view of what's ahead and more room to respond.
I built The Financial Game Plan because this system has helped me, and I believe it can help other people feel more in control of their financial lives. If it helps someone see what's ahead and make a better decision with time to spare, it's doing what I hoped it would.
— Damien Bauman, Founder, The Financial Game Plan