Welcome to Motif Planning!
I’m Spenser Liszt, a passionate financial planner dedicated to helping musicians and music industry professionals achieve artistic freedom. I spent 17 years as a professional musician and understand the financial challenges creatives experience.
As a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional, I help my clients make sound decisions. Held to the fiduciary standard, I always act in my clients’ best interest. I don’t receive compensation from the sale of investment or insurance products.
To help musicians facing financial hardship I also offer pro bono financial planning.
My financial literacy talks and workshops are presented at music schools and conferences including The University of North Texas, Texas Southern University, The Jazz Education Network, Springboard Music Festival, Financial Freedom for Creatives Club and more. My financial insights are featured on CNBC, USA Today, Reuters, Bloomberg, Investopedia, Morningstar and other reputable publications.
Education
I hold a Master of Music degree from The University of North Texas and the CFP® certificate from Southern Methodist University. I fulfilled the CFP® Board’s rigorous education, exam, experience, and ethics requirements. I also hold the Certified College Financial Consultant (CCFC) designation to help families plan for college.
I completed the first step toward the Registered Life Planner (RLP) designation through George Kinder’s training program. I am a member of the Financial Planning Association (FPA), National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA), XY Planning Network, and independent musician communities.
Passionate about teaching musicians financial literacy, I write about financial topics at MoneyMaestroBlog.com.
Experience
As a holistic financial planner since 2019, I collaborate with a variety of individuals and families to plan for major financial decisions. I work with families of various ages, levels of wealth, educational backgrounds, and personal lifestyles.
Proper planning involves reviewing financial documents, creating tax-efficient strategies, and encouraging healthy communication around money. Since every plan is unique, I enjoy being a trusted guide when life, and inevitably the plan, changes.
Why
Back in August of 2015, something happened that changed my life. Until that point I was dedicated to becoming a professional musician.
People believe a career in music is risky. They say musicians never make any money and need a backup plan. I never accepted that belief and knew there was a way.
I earned a master’s degree in Jazz Studies from the University of North Texas and played with incredible artists on countless albums. I was proud to make a living performing.
I learned about money from my parents. My mom grew up poor and showed me the importance of saving. My dad’s business went under in the late 80s, forcing us into bankruptcy which taught me about taking risk and how to recover from financial mistakes.
In the summer of 2015, I returned from a tour to my run-down rental home paying $300 dollars a month in Dallas. I checked my bank account and had $67 dollars left to my name. It was like a punch in the gut, my first personal financial crisis. I felt lost and vulnerable, not knowing what to do.
I remember telling myself…
“I never want to feel this way again and no other musician should either.”
From that moment on, I was determined to avoid such a dire situation again. So, I started reading books and listening to podcasts about financial literacy and implemented what I learned into my life.
I changed my mindset, focused on accumulating assets, and became more selective when accepting gigs. Those small adjustments made a big difference. In just two years, my income shot up, I started saving for retirement, and I bought my first property.
I learned that when you’re intentional with your time, money, and mindset, it leads to more artistic freedom. Something not many creatives experience.
There are too many stories of musicians going broke, getting caught up in tax issues, or struggling to make ends meet.
It doesn’t have to be that way. With the right tools and knowledge, musicians can achieve things people might not expect, like buying a house, starting a family, or saving for retirement.
I started sharing everything I learned with musicians in my community. Then I became a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) and now I’m helping artists achieve that same artistic freedom I found.
My mission is to help musicians make sound financial decisions so they can share more art with the world.
