Mid-Year Money Check-In: 5 Questions to Refocus Your Financial Strategy

There’s something powerful about reaching the halfway point of the year.

It’s not just another calendar milestone—it’s an opportunity.

An invitation to pause, reflect, and realign—not from a place of panic or pressure, but from one of curiosity and calm.

At Golden Ledger, we believe your numbers aren’t just data—they’re communication. And mid-year is when they often speak the loudest… if you’re willing to listen.

Here are five questions I use with my clients (and myself) to make sure our financial strategy is still working for the business, not against it.

You don’t need perfect books to do this check-in. You just need a quiet moment, a little honesty, and the courage to write a new story if the old one isn’t serving you.

1. Are the goals I set still the right goals?

Maybe you wanted to hit a revenue target.

Or launch a new offer.

Or finally hire help.

But six months later, has anything changed?

Sometimes we keep chasing a goal simply because we wrote it down. But good financial strategy means adjusting the map when the landscape changes.

Take a look at your current goals—both financial and operational—and ask:

• Is this still aligned with my vision?
• Is it realistic with my current capacity?
• Do I feel energized—or drained—when I think about it?

Golden Ledger Perspective: Financial clarity is not just about hitting numbers—it’s about aligning numbers with purpose.

2. What is my actual profit so far this year?

Not revenue. Not sales.

Profit.

This number tells the true story of your business performance—and it often surprises people.

If your systems are up-to-date, run a Profit & Loss report from January 1 through June 30. Then ask:

• Is this profit where I expected it to be?
• If not—why? Have my expenses crept up? Have payments been delayed?
• Do I feel good about the way this profit was earned?

Golden Ledger Perspective: Behind every number is a story—and this one speaks volumes.

3. Are my systems helping me—or making things harder?

Let’s talk about how you track, store, and review your financial information.

• Is your bookkeeping current?
• Can you find documents quickly when you need them?
• Are your tools (QuickBooks, spreadsheets, payment processors) working with you—or slowing you down?

It doesn’t have to be perfect. But it should feel functional, accessible, and as stress-free as possible.

If your current system makes you avoid your numbers, it’s not working. And that’s fixable.

Golden Ledger Perspective: Structure creates freedom—and good systems create breathing room.

4. What financial decision am I avoiding?

We all have one.

Maybe it’s a price increase.

Maybe it’s letting go of a client who’s draining your energy.

Maybe it’s switching banks, changing software, or facing a tax bill head-on.

Financial clarity isn’t just about spreadsheets—it’s about having the courage to make decisions.

Avoidance doesn’t make the issue go away. It just adds interest.

Golden Ledger Perspective: Clarity doesn’t come from waiting—it comes from taking one brave step at a time.

5. Do I know what story my numbers are telling me?

This is my favorite question.

Because your numbers are talking. They’re showing you:

• Where your energy is going
• Where your revenue is coming from
• What patterns are quietly repeating themselves
• What’s growing—and what’s not

You don’t have to know all the lingo. You don’t have to feel “ready.”

You just need someone who can help translate the data into decisions.

Golden Ledger Perspective: Numbers tell stories. And you deserve to understand the one yours are telling.

Ready to feel more steady?

If your mid-year money check-in raised more questions than answers, you’re not alone.

Most small business owners aren’t “bad with money”—they just haven’t had the kind of support that makes sense for how they work, think, and grow.

That’s why I do what I do.

I bring 25+ years of corporate finance experience and turn it into boutique, judgment-free, empowering financial clarity for business owners like you.

Let’s talk about what the second half of 2025 could look like—without stress, without shame, and with a strategy that supports you.

mnonnemaker@goldenledgerconsulting.com