FINANCIaL
FIELd NOTES
How Retirees Can Turn Money Into Lasting Memories
If you’ve ever hesitated to spend your hard-earned savings on something fun, you’re not alone. Many retirees struggle to shift from saving to spending mode. I’ve seen this first hand many times. I’ve told many clients some version of “If we assume you spend at this level, you will likely die with significantly more than you have today.”
But there is a common mental barrier to spending that is incredibly difficult for prudent savers. For the clients that do make the shift successfully, I’ve found that they start spending one two things…
The Trouble With a Single Data Point
A single headline can move the market, but sometimes, the numbers behind those headlines are more complicated than they appear. The first quarter of 2025 offers a perfect case study. U.S. GDP declined by .3% in Q1, sparking fears of a looming recession. While that may certainly materialize, a closer look at the data shows a different story.
The decline was not due to changes in consumer spending or investments, it was due almost entirely by “net exports.” When the US imports more than we export to other countries, it is a drag of growth. We imported significantly more in the Q1 than we exported…
Repairing an Old Car vs. Buying New
Some common phrases I hear when people buy a new car include variations of: “It was more expensive to repair than to buy new,” or “The repair cost more than the car.”
I’m going to debunk these claims. But before I do, let me say this—if you can afford a new car, go for it! New cars are great. They reduce stress, eliminate hassle, and, for some, bring real enjoyment. But it’s rarely an economical choice.
To be fair, I’m writing this while waiting for our old Toyota Highlander to finish its 100,000-mile service, plus some extra repairs—costing more than $1,300. So, maybe I’m just trying to make myself feel better about the expense…
The Most Searched Financial Terms of 2024
2023 was a year that brought us no shortage of interesting news, from bank failures to spiking mortgage rates to yet another debt ceiling showdown. As we approach the end of the year, let's review five of the most searched financial topics of the year…
Why I’m Skipping Black Friday
When my wife and I first got married, Black Friday felt like a golden opportunity. Money was tight, and the promise of saving big on gifts and essentials was hard to ignore. I remember us making a detailed list, then heading out to the stores at midnight, energized by the thought of scoring great deals. We were shopping for Christmas gifts, furniture, clothing—pretty much anything we thought we could stretch our dollars on. And sure, we probably saved a little here and there.
But as the years went on, life got busier. The thrill of late-night shopping started to feel more like a chore…
What I'm Teaching My 7-Year-Old About Money
Zeke, my oldest child, just turned 7! This past year, I’ve seen him come into his own. He knows what he likes and doesn’t like, and I’m learning to love it all!
He loves basketball, baseball, legos, and any bug (the more potentially poisonous, the better). One of the things we have been teaching him is how to budget his money for the things that are most important to him...