Everyone knows you should start investing as young as possible. But not many people actually start investing at a young age. So how can we get this message into the minds and hearts of our children and grandchildren? My oldest is just 6, so I'll have to report back to you in about 15 years on whether our family has any success in this arena.

Am I concerned about rising inflation, absurdly low interest rates, money-printing on steroids across the developed world, a US political agenda favoring higher tax rates, relatively high stock valuations (compared to the past), and increasing political polarization in the US? Yes, I am concerned about those things. But those things don’t have anything to do with my family’s financial goals, so I won’t adjust my investment portfolio based on those concerns.

Mortgage rates are once again at their lowest point in US history. What is a homeowner to do? Still aim to own your home free-and-clear, or keep a mortgage at 2.5% for the next three decades?

We’re starting to hear the “I-word” mentioned more often as of late. Inflation is on the rise. The Federal government’s money printing machines have been on overdrive, and the US economy has taken note. Prices have begun to tick up across the economy – most notably in residential real estate. The counterpoint (as made by the Fed) is the inflation we are seeing today is merely temporary, a hangover from the COVID shutdowns.

One of our primary goals as financial advisors is to help our clients put good financial behaviors into place in their lives. Some of the most commonly-used phrases about finance and investing are so generic as to be ignored or met with a yawn by most of us. So, how can we make them specific – to apply them to your own personal financial situation?

When investing in US stocks, the longer your time horizon, the better your odds of success. Most of us know that intuitively, but following through on head knowledge with actual life choices is another matter.

There is always a market correction coming. We don’t know if it will happen next week, next month, or next year. Concern about a coming correction is not a good enough reason not to invest, because that concern will never go away.

I’m quick to admit that owning – and holding – stocks is not easy. I’ll never forget the moment a close family member (who shall remain nameless) told me in August 2011: “I never want to own stocks again. Get me out of stocks – completely.”

With this year's election just a month away, the temptation to [attempt to] time the market is as strong as ever. Our clients and friends are asking, "how will the stock market react to the election?"

This past weekend, my family and I did some post-summer/pre-fall outside work. We were digging through a bed of rocks that surrounds our house, which meant tearing through the lining underneath and burrowing 4-6 inches deep. My 13-year-old paused for a moment and asked, "Isn't there an easier way to do this?"

If you have spent any amount of time with me in one of our conference rooms, you know I am a big fan of a good story. However, while stories can be persuasive (and hopefully entertaining), statistics are much better guides for decision-making.

“Investing is not a game where the guy with the 160 IQ beats the guy with the 130 IQ. Once you have ordinary intelligence, what you need is the temperament to control the urges that get other people into trouble in investing.” —Warren Buffett