FINANCIaL
FIELd NOTES
The Economy Is Better Than Everyone Thinks
Last week I came across this data point. Simply asked “How do you perceive your situation now and in the future,” 1/3 of American’s reported saying “I’m thriving.” I found this shockingly high. Only 7% said they were “suffering.”
Three Fascinating Books I Read This Year
This year looked a little different on the reading front. With a newborn at home, my “books read” mainly came in the form of audiobooks on walks around the neighborhood and in the car on the way to work. It wasn’t a big reading year, but there were still a few that really stuck with me…
Why Renting Is The Smart Move in Today’s Housing Market
One of the most common conversations I’ve had with clients this year has nothing to do with their finances. It’s about their children’s struggle to enter the housing market.
Many of my clients are in a strong financial position with stable housing and meaningful savings. But they look at the current housing market and worry that their young adult kids, just starting careers or families, are being priced out of homeownership. It’s understandable, given that the cost of homeownership has skyrocketed relative to renting in recent years…
Helping an Adult Child Purchase a Home
I recently met with a couple who wanted to help their adult child navigate today’s challenging housing market. This has come up many times over the past few years as more people are getting priced out of the housing market due to high real estate prices and high interest rates.
Their plan was to give a sizable lump sum for a down payment to keep the mortgage payment more manageable for the child.
Together, we walked through several important questions…
What I'm Teaching My 8-Year-Old About Money
Zeke turned 8 this summer, and I feel like we’re entering a whole new stage. He’s taller, faster, and somehow already negotiating with me like a mini attorney. Also, here’s Wyatt ( 3), not learning a whole lot about money, but too cute not to share!
How Being Present Increases Happiness in Retirement
A few weeks ago, the last major golf championship of the year was played - The Open Championship. During the opening round, Rory McIlroy's tee shot found the rough near spectators. If you don’t watch much golf, this can be extremely frustrating for the players but very exciting for the fans, as they get to watch a shot up close.
As you might expect in this day and age, just about every fan pulled out their phone to capture the moment. Everyone, except for an elderly couple, who were standing side-by-side, fully taking in the moment…