Book Review: Overworked, Overwhelmed & Underpaid

    After years of working for other people, Lous Barajas opened his own financial planning business in 1991, working with clients of moderate income who sought education and financial guidance.

When Barajas, a UCLA graduate, began to see a growing number of clients complaining about their workload, stress, pay and how these factors were affecting their lives, relationships and even their marriages, he took notice. 

Barajas saw a need for a guide that could offer tools and advice to help people bring all aspects of their lives back into a manageable state. With this goal in mind, Barajas wrote, "Overworked, Overwhelmed & Underpaid".    

Barajas took some time to talk with Divorce360 about the meaning of being overworked, overwhelmed and underpaid.

Divorce360.com: What inspired you to write this book?
A: In the last five years I had been traveling the country speaking to groups that are usually overlooked and underserved. I started to see a trend of middle class Americans attending my speeches that I hadn’t seen before. As the economy started to shift and I started to see people losing their homes, jobs, and marriages due to financial stress, I realized that people needed some tools to help them move from stress to success. The launch of this book coincided with the economic meltdown and has made this book even more valuable during this stressful time.

Divorce360.com: In your book you mention the need for proper financial planning. How can financial planning benefit someone beginning, in or completing a divorce?
A: My focus on financial planning is one based on “using” money to help you live a life that is deeply aware of what is important. In my 25 years of working with the “financially stressed”, I have never seen a U-haul behind a hearse. What mattered to people was not the amount of money they left behind as much as the love they left behind. When a couple comes in to see me for retirement planning, I always ask them two questions – How important is their marriage to them? And, on a scale from 1-10 (one being non-existent to 10 being an ideal marriage), where are they on their marriage?

I end the question by saying that "All progress starts by telling the truth". If a couple mentions that their marriage is not very strong (maybe a level 6 or below) we don’t even discuss their 401k as much as how we can invest to make the marriage strong, one that will endure emotional or financial hardships. I sometimes use their money they want to invest in marriage counseling for them. This is what money is to be used for. To help people live happier lives. It’s amazing how focused people can be when their marriages are strong and harmonious. The paradox is that once they see their marriages stronger, they always seem to find the money to invest in their future (retirement).   

Divorce360.com: Financial stress and conflict is a serious problem in many marriages. How can someone work to reduce their financial stress?
A:  Gaining perspective about what is truly important in life. I use the Life Blueprint in my book to help my clients gain perspective and realize that a strong and harmonious marriage is the most important factor in overcoming life’s financial obstacles.

Divorce360.com: In your book you stress the importance of the three M’s. Can you explain to us what those are and how they affect us?
A: The 3 M’s are Mindset, Money, and Meaning. I want my clients to work from an abundance (loving) mindset, not from a poverty (fearful) mindset. This opens the heart and the head to endless possibilities of how they can achieve their financial dreams. The Money – is the focus on how to create, leverage, use, or manage money for the third M. That is Meaning. Money is to be used to express your full potential and live your highest purpose. For many this is just being the best mom, or spouse. It’s about living a happier life.