The following story is based on facts, both real and imagined.  

Names have been changed to protect the innocent.

Ms. Money was looking for a financial advisor. As a busy professional she was concerned that she wasn't saving enough for her future and her investment performance was, in her opinion, below average. She was interested in finding an advisor that specialized in working with women and a friend of hers mentioned that she should call Cali Pearl. So she called and scheduled a complimentary consultation.

When I first saw her I noticed right away that Ms. Money was a very beautiful woman. There was something about her that was enchanting...distinctly fascinating. But behind the beauty, I could tell that she was hiding something. Her eyes were guarded and her attitude was tense. I did my best to put her at ease but to tell you the truth she was making me uncomfortable. I offered her something to drink and we made small talk for a few minutes. After a while she opened up and this is what she told me.

The night before our meeting, Ms. Money fell asleep going over her monthly bills and reviewing her investment account statements from her broker. While she was sleeping she had a very strange dream. She dreamed that she was in hell and she went on to say what everybody already knows about hell, it's very hot!

Ms. Money had no idea why she was in hell and she was very afraid of what was bound to happen. But she couldn't even focus on her impending demise because her throat was horribly dry and scratchy. She could see the outline of a drinking well in the distance and as she made a move towards the well, she couldn't. She was chained to a stake in the ground. At that very same moment, the devil appeared. He noticed her beauty and was immediately enamored by her. The devil said to her, "If you'd like some water, I'll have my minion bring some to you." The devil's offer caught Ms. Money by surprise and she was pleased that her initial meeting with the devil seemed to be a pleasant one. She agreed to have the water brought to her by the minion and thanked the devil for his kind gesture. What she didn't realize was that his minion was the clumsiest stooge in hell and before he could get the cup of water to Ms. Money -- he spilled it. The devil roared with laughter and Ms. Money could see that the devil couldn't be trusted.

So instead of expecting the devil to take care of her needs, Ms. Money asked if she could be moved closer to the well. The devil agreed and Ms. Money was moved. But the devil had another surprise. Hell is hotter as you move closer to the water. It is so hot that by the time she dipped her ladle in the well and brought it to surface, the water in the ladle evaporated.

Extremely frustrated and feeling like she was about to die of thirst, Ms. Money was ready to give up. She didn't know why she was doomed to die in hell, but she was ready to accept her fate. The devil sensed that she was accepting defeat which put her right where he wanted her. The devil said to her, "Ms. Money, if you agree to be my wife, I'll put you in a beautiful home by the Styx River and you can have as much water as you desire." The mere thought of marrying the devil sickened her but she rationalized that her beauty presented her with a distinct advantage and she would be foolish to refuse. She wasn't going to waste this opportunity so she agreed to marry him and the devil, true to his word, transported Ms. Money to a beautiful home on the bank of the Styx River. Ms. Money immediately jumped in the river and cupped her hands in the cold, clear water. And as she bought her arms up to her face to drink from her cupped hands she made a horrible realization - she no longer had a mouth!

Ms. Money woke from her dream in a state of terror and she asked if I could help her try to understand the underlying message. To tell you the truth, by then I was scared and thought she was crazy! I had never heard anything like that before. But I gave her my best interpretation of what the dream could have meant.

--My interpretation--

The clumsy minion may represent the way you've approached saving money and financial planning. Your path to financial success has been wrought with poor money management habits and procrastination. Instead of making decisions about your money that will create a better future, you live beyond your means and the only savings you have is the minimum you invest in your 401(k). You subsidize your lifestyle by using credit. The water spilling out of the cup represents all the money you've wasted over the years.

Moving closer to the water suggests that you like shortcuts and you're always looking for the next "hot stock" and other get rich quick scheme. You believe that you can turn $1,000 into $10,000 within a matter of months so you're constantly on the lookout for the broker or financial advisor or investment that promises to double your money and guarantee a 20% return. The danger in buying "hot stocks" and falling for get rich quick schemes is represented by the evaporated water in the ladle because those strategies don't work and will leave you high and dry.

Selling your soul to the devil is definitely a sinister move. It means you'll compromise your life in order to get what you want, no matter the price you have to pay. Everyone wants to play the stock market game and everyone wants to win BIG! Once you've been promised paradise and sign your name on the dotted line you'll find that in the end the devil ALWAYS gets what he wants. Do you?