“It is not your duty to finish the work, but neither are you free to desist from it.”
—Pirkei Avot 2:21
I remember learning these words as part of a song in day school back in the early ’90s—a catchy tune by Jeff Klepper and Dan Freelander. The melody stuck with me, as it did for thousands of other kids. And as I grew into adulthood, I realized just how poignant this verse is—and how powerful it was that Jeff and Dan gave it a tune that branded it into our hearts and minds.
When I sit with new clients and we begin talking about the planning process, I often hear things like, “I know this is important, but it’s just not the right time,” or “I wish I had the time to commit to it right now.” And I get it—building a financial plan is a real investment of time and energy. It’s a joint effort. It means gathering documents, looking not just at what we think we spend—but what we actually spend. It means talking through goals, needs, priorities, and values. It’s a lot.
But here’s the thing: it doesn’t happen in one night.
Building a financial plan—like anything meaningful—takes time, patience, and intention. Having spent over two decades as a Cantor in large congregations, raising a family of my own, I know how easy it is to let your own priorities slide. Looking back, there’s so much I’m proud of… and also things I wish I’d done differently. Had I carved out more time for exercise, how much healthier might I be now? If I had made more space for close friendships, how much deeper might those connections be? And if I’d created a financial plan ten or fifteen years ago, how much stronger would my financial foundation be today?
A financial plan is never truly “done.” It evolves. It matures. I often tell clients: let’s get something in place now, check in every few months, and revisit it meaningfully as your life changes. Your plan is like your personal Torah—a living, breathing document that reflects your values and guides your journey. Just like we return to the Torah each year with new eyes and new understanding, we’ll return to your plan regularly—updating, adjusting, refining—so that it always reflects the life you're actually living.
The second half of the verse says, “v’lo atah ben chorin”—“you are not a free person to desist from it.” That phrase—ben chorin—is the same one we use at Passover to describe true freedom. So often, we feel like slaves to our circumstances—our schedules, our money, our stress. But when we engage in thoughtful planning, when we partner with a trusted advisor, we begin to reclaim that freedom. We become b’nei chorin—not just financially, but personally. No longer reactive. No longer stuck. But free to live with intention, on purpose.
You may not finish the work today—but you are not free to walk away from it.
And you don’t have to do it alone.