Chris Perme
Late July, Right on Time
We often hear that good things take time — and they do. But in money and in life, there’s a difference between being thoughtful...
The Crazy Behind Us, The Crazy Still Ahead
Now that the fireworks have faded and America’s 250th anniversary is behind us, there’s a familiar feeling in the air, like the quiet after...
This Land, That Dream
Happy Semiquincentennial America!
For 250 years, the American Dream has endured because it speaks to something fundamental: the freedom to build a better life.
It has...
Rocket Man: Father’s Day Wisdom in a Trillion-Dollar World
A thousand seconds is about 17 minutes. A million = nearly 12 days. A billion seconds is more than 31 years. And a trillion?...
Why This World Cup Feels Bigger Than Sports
Even if soccer isn’t your thing, it is hard not to notice the excitement surrounding the World Cup. Traditionally, Americans have been skeptical of...
Your “Once in a Lifetime” Summer
When The Talking Heads released “Once in a Lifetime” in 1980, the world backdrop was anything but calm. Inflation was high, recession fears were...
On Uncertainty, Extremes,
One easy way to spot AI in writing is through something called contrastive framing: it’s not x, it’s y. For example, “It’s not me,...
Some Surprisingly Super Financial News
For all the headlines telling us people are burned out, overspending, under-saving, distracted, anxious, and financially behind… there’s actually some good news emerging underneath...
Living Longer Is Easy. Affording It Can Be The Harder Part
We’re living longer than any previous generation. The real measure, though, has never been the length of a life but the quality of it....
Oh, To Know What You Don’t Know
It sounds like a page out of Dr. Seuss: Oh, to know what you don’t know. But playful as that sounds, it captures a...
Your Financial Countdown to Summer 2026
“Money is like gas in the car — you need to pay attention or you’ll end up on the side of the road —...
Let’s Start With What’s Annoying You
April is both National Stress Awareness Month and Financial Literacy Month, which feels like a contradiction, since for many people, finances are the stress...
Chasing a Magic Number and Other Ways To Fool Ourselves in...
April has a way of encouraging magical thinking. Some are convinced there’s still plenty of time before the April 15th tax deadline. Others imagine...
What the Best Predictions Have in Common
Every year during March Madness, billions of dollars are wagered. A younger generation watches closely, absorbing lessons about prediction, risk, and reward that extend...
The Conversation You Almost Skipped
What if the most valuable meeting on your calendar this week is the one you’re least looking forward to?
It’s mid-March, and there’s no shortage...
And Yet, We Persist
A bold-faced phrase from a New York Times article last week got my attention. It consists of only two words, yet it speaks volumes...
Keep Calm and March On
The month of March traditionally carries a good deal of tension within its 31 days. There’s a reason people say, “in like a lion,...
What Every Generation Is Facing Now And How to Move Forward
Your future isn’t waiting — it’s being built here and now.
Latest reports show Americans over 65 own a significant share of economic activity. So...
What You’ll See When the Tide Goes Out
Some seasons announce themselves gently. Others arrive with unexpected surprises. So far, 2026 feels like the latter — filled with news that makes us...
Valentine’s Reflections on Money, Wealth, and Retirement
With Valentine’s Day last weekend, it feels fitting to reflect on our relationship with money—and how it supports the life we want to live.
In...
The Habits That Make Us Human
Earlier this week, the groundhog saw his shadow — six more weeks of winter, or so tradition says. It’s a familiar ritual that always...
Chasing Wealth: Why It Gets More Expensive Every Year
A curious inflation story from the past year: the Cost of Living Extremely Well Index—which tracks billionaire spending—rose 5.5% in 2025, roughly twice the...
The Most Honest Prediction for 2026
If it feels like every week brings a new plot twist—geopolitical shifts, emerging tech, policy changes, breaking news—you’re not imagining it. The world’s moving...
Don’t Just Think. Do.
January brings twelve fresh months and a quiet challenge to make them count. And though many resolutions this time of year focus on getting...
The Good You Give Away Has a Way of Coming Back
Some gifts don’t come wrapped. They arrive when you surprise a neighbor with food, check in on a friend, or give without expecting anything...
A Season for Reflection — and Renewed Perspective
As the days grow shorter and air turns colder, many of us find ourselves slowing down before the full rush of the holidays begins....
Getting What You Really Want This Holiday Season
With holiday season ahead of us, thoughts turn to giving —or getting—that perfect gift. The one that earns a big smile or a spark...
Is it time for strategic hibernation?
Please pass the pumpkin pie—and that paperwork you’ve been putting off.
Thanksgiving is about good food, friends, family, and gratitude. But it’s also a rare...
Is it time for strategic hibernation?
Now that the air’s turning crisp and the days feel shorter, it’s clear that nature has its own way of reminding us to slow...
Changing The Way You Think
With the recent time change, many of us have been resetting clocks and routines for the season ahead. It’s a good reminder that even...
