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 real, and uncertainty seemed to be everywhere. More than four decades later, the feeling is familiar — and it has us singing, same as it ever was. And you may ask yourself, “Well, how did I...
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, it’s you.” That formula can force ideas into opposition, and lately it mirrors the way many people are discussing world events. More and more, topics are framed in extremes — danger or opportunity, loss or gain,...
A Holiday Reminder About an Overlooked Asset
Some of the most important investments in life never appear on a statement. As Memorial Day reminds us, life is shaped not only by what we build, but by the people we share it with. While we often focus on growing financial assets, it is just as important to invest in the relationships that give life meaning, support, and resilience. For...
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 the surface. Last week, reports showed that the number of Americans with “super prime” credit scores — generally considered 780 and above — is growing, especially among younger adults. Even amid inflation, talk of AI taking...
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. And that raises a question that doesn’t get asked often enough: is your financial life structured to support the kind of life you actually want to sustain? Graduations, Mother’s Day, summer plans, and climbing healthcare costs...
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 familiar impulse for investors in both the U.S. and Canada right now. If we could anticipate every policy shift, market reaction, trade impact, or economic turn before it arrived, decision-making ahead of summer 2026 would...
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 — but a well-lived life is not a tour of gas stations.” Author Tim O’Reilly’s observation feels especially relevant this week as inflation and conflict with Iran add pressure to summer travel costs and everyday expenses. It’s...
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 right now. We’re just days past the April 15 tax deadline, AI FOMO is everywhere (because apparently we should all have digital agents running our lives by now), and oil tensions in the Middle East are...
Chasing a Magic Number and Other Ways To Fool Ourselves in April
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 a refund check or a raise will solve more than it actually will. And according to a new survey, Americans now believe they’ll need $1.46 million to retire comfortably, up $200,000 from just a year...
It’s 2026: Where Are Our Flying Cars and Three-Hour Workdays
In the 1960s, the TV show The Jetsons promised us flying cars, robot maids, and three-hour workdays. Six decades later, we’re still getting stuck in traffic — but we’re also carrying supercomputers in our pockets, talking to our appliances, and video-calling from anywhere on the planet. The future didn’t arrive as advertised, but it showed up in ways nobody...
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 well beyond the brackets. Meanwhile, AI is reshaping industries, global conflicts continue shifting markets, and real questions persist about where disruption begins and opportunity is present. Somewhere in the middle of all of it, you are...
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 of things competing for your attention. Spring arrived last week. Tax deadlines are approaching. And the world beyond our windows remains restless—markets reacting to an unpredictable trade environment, persistent geopolitical tension, and an interest rate...
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 about facing the future: And yet. These two words introduce a life-changing perspective, especially in times of uncertainty. Financial professionals see a distinct pattern repeat itself more often than people realize. When headlines turn alarming — conflict...
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, out like a lamb.” And so far, 2026 fits the pattern. Between escalating tensions following the U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran; the Supreme Court’s recent decision on tariffs that led to a bit of...
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 where does that leave everyone else? Millennials and Gen Z are rethinking careers designed for lifespans that stretch past 100. Gen Alpha is learning about money through apps and digital wallets before they’re old enough...
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 think more carefully about security, stability, and the people we care about most. Surprises can act as a spotlight. They draw our attention to what we value, where we may feel exposed, and what deserves protection....
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 retirement planning, there’s a common paradox: while money is essential, it is not the same as wealth. True wealth includes health, relationships, purpose, time, and peace of mind. In fact, the pursuit of money alone...
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 seems to prompt a moment of reflection: how easily life can settle into patterns that feel repetitive. Same season. Same story. Same headlines. And yet within those routines, there’s always an opportunity to see change...
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 inflation most households experienced. Yachts, private jets, designer fashion, and trophy homes—status-heavy purchases—climbed faster than everyday costs. When spending is tied to visibility and signaling success, prices tend to rise relentlessly. As Psychology of Money author...
The Point of It All? Enlightenment, or at Least Calm
When we talk about the future, the focus usually lands on numbers: savings targets, performance reports, next steps. Those matter, of course, but they aren’t the ultimate point. Part of the purpose of preparing for what’s ahead is to enjoy future freedom—stepping back from the noise and finding a sense of calm and direction that feels right to you. Every...
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 fast, and the forecasts keep coming. But the most honest prediction of all? Nobody knows exactly what’s next. And that’s okay. In fact, it’s expected. Uncertainty is part of every financial environment. What matters more is...
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 fit, true fitness strengthens every aspect of your life—physical, emotional, and financial—keeping them in balance. To highlight that, a recent Empower survey called “Money on the Mind” found that Americans spend nearly four hours each day...
Finish 2025 Strong, Step Powerfully Into 2026
Every year leaves a trail of numbers behind—evidence of choices, effort, and focus. Each contribution, payment, and investment of your resources becomes part of a much bigger picture: the story of how daily discipline transforms into lasting progress. Steady, thoughtful action has a quiet brilliance that can compound over time. This final stretch of the year can be a strategic...
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 in return. Those generous moments shape this season, and though all types of giving count, I hope you’re finding time for the kind that matters most to you. This season finds us in a time of...
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. This quieter season offers an opportunity to pause, reflect, and consider where we stand, both personally and financially. Much of the conversation in financial circles lately has centered on whether today’s markets might be over‑inflated by...
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 of surprise. But research and real life keep showing the same truth: price doesn’t equal meaning, and thoughtful doesn’t have to mean extravagant. This year, with headlines full of talk about affordability and the rising costs...
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 pause in our busy year, a moment when everyone finally ends up in the same room. Between the laughter and the leftovers, it might be the perfect time to do something unexpectedly meaningful: talk together...
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 down and get ready for what’s ahead. This year’s market activity has had a similar vibe—progress hasn’t moved in a straight line, and there’s been no shortage of noise and uncertainty. When that happens, many...
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 small shifts can make a real difference—especially in how we think about money. Most financial conversations focus on performance—returns, market swings, retirement timing. Important topics, but sometimes that focus on numbers misses the real question: What’s...
You’ve Got More Capacity Than You Think
As fall settles in, many of us turn our attention to seasonal routines—clearing the yard, checking the gutters, bringing in the plants before the first frost. It’s a time to take stock, to clear out what’s finished and make room for what still holds promise. Any seasoned gardener knows that once a plant outgrows its container, its roots stop spreading...