How has your year been? October starts the fourth quarter of the year. In the business world, top companies kick off “Q4” by gathering together their leadership teams to assess what’s gone right this year, what’s gone wrong, and what steps they can take to finish the year with strong forward momentum. My partner, Katie […]
In middle school, I took a class in home economics that taught me skills to run a household like a tight ship. I learned to sew (a sweatshirt) and cook (using baking soda when I should have used baking powder). My teacher, Mrs. Phelps, knew a lot about managing a high intensity household as her […]
Do you have a date set for when you will retire? Maybe it’s the day you turn 65, or maybe when you are eligible for your full Social Security benefit. Whether it is imminent or still a few years off, you have probably thought hard about how to prepare your family and your finances for […]
The medical response to COVID-19 is underway. Social distancing is the order of the day. Congress and the Fed have weighed in. Now, your professionals get to work. Among those professionals, the accountants, financial advisors, and attorneys are leaping into action to help small businesses and families. I have received e-mails and outreach from the […]
The closing weeks of 2019 gave us plenty to celebrate and plan for as investors. In contrast to 2018, where it was nearly impossible to find growth in stocks, bonds, or any asset for that matter, 2019 provided plenty of opportunity for returns. There was volatility in the mix, however, as trade talks, domestic politics, […]
“All you can take with you is that which you’ve given away” – Peter Bailey in “It’s a Wonderful Life” The journey from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day is a sprint this year. A dash from expressing gratitude over turkey in November, to giving generously in December, to new beginnings in January. I don’t know […]
How are you doing, really? Do you know someone who has floundered when they walked away from work? Think of that person you know whose identity was tied up in the ‘uniform’ that they wore for so many years; A suit and tie or the company colors. They identified closely with their role on a […]
We all have hobbies that are self-taught. Maybe for you it is cooking, or gardening, or carpentry. They are the skills we picked up by following our passions, maybe with some mentorship, but rarely with formal education. For me, guitar and golf are my self-taught hobbies; learned the hard way since my teenage years. Most […]
Making Personal Finance Decisions When Things Are Good My house starts to go silent for a few hours this week. For the first time, all four of my kids will be in school. The oldest in eighth grade, the youngest in pre-school. It has been ‘all hands on deck’ for thirteen years, always having a […]
This is about Succession. Succession in your family, your business, or anywhere else where you have become the indispensable person. The one whom everyone depends upon. LEADERSHIP SUCCESSION I witnessed succession last week as a dear friend assumed command of the 11th Air Defense Artillery Brigade at Ft. Bliss in El Paso, Texas. The 11th […]