“We thought if we lived like students for one more year, we could then go forward and have the life we wanted without the pressure of debt…” -Christin Vasquez
My wife, Christin, worked hard to pay off her $35,000 balance in law school student loans over the 13 months after passing the bar exam. When I walked the stage in 2010, I was debt-free. We are both millennials.
Read MoreEvery so often, especially at various transition points, it is smart to look at the whole picture and ask: are we being courageous in our business decisions? Are we looking at the broad perspective and doing what is best for clients and our team going forward?
In 2017, we celebrated our 25th anniversary, which provoked a lot of reflection. At the end of the year, we made the difficult decision to close the broker dealer portion of our business. For 25 years we had run two separate corporations.
Read MoreWhen my kids were teens we visited the LBJ ranch. During the tour, the docent talked about the huge philosophical gulf that existed between young people and adults during the Vietnam War. Later, my kids asked me more questions about the so-called “generation gap” and I was surprised they didn’t know more about this phenomenon that seemed so prevalent when I grew up.
Read MoreSome of the best money advice I’ve received was from a close friend after his 17-year marriage broke up. He said, “Don’t be cheap like me. Hire a babysitter. It is cheaper than a divorce.” Oh, the price of regret is so high. So how do we use money as a beneficial tool in marriage, instead of a source of conflict?
It is simple, but it isn’t easy. Try to think long term and work together.
Read MoreMajor life transitions almost always create stress – even the good transitions. Whether it’s leaving a career and transitioning to retirement, seeing children off to college after 18 years of nurturing and parenting them, or starting your own business after working for someone else, the stress can be great. Even events that are planned and positive can be filled with emotional and financial challenges. As a result, many people seek the guidance of a financial advisor during those times.
Read MoreAlthough we are in the thick of the holiday shopping frenzy, it’s not too late to slow down and think about how, where and when we will spend our money and time this holiday season. The pressure is on to find the best deals on the “perfect” gifts. Each year it seems that our list to buy for grows. I’m here to say it’s okay to take a little pressure off. Here are some ideas to reduce your gift-giving anxiety and enjoy your holiday season.
Read MoreYou’ve heard this from me before, but it’s always worth repeating: investing, in anything, is first and foremost an act of faith. Yes, there are many other factors that go into a great investment decision. But, whether you’re building a company, investing your hard-earned money in one, committing yourself to a marriage, starting a family, or writing massive checks for your child’s college tuition bills, you must
Read MoreYou’ve heard this from me before, but it’s always worth repeating: investing, in anything, is first and foremost an act of faith. Yes, there are many other factors that go into a great investment decision. But, whether you’re building a company, investing your hard-earned money in one, committing yourself to a marriage, starting a family, or writing massive checks for your child’s college tuition bills, you must
Read MoreIf you’ve been a regular reader, you know that we introduced the idea of “Defining Wealth” in our July newsletter. First, we discussed financial wealth. Then, last month, we explored this topic a little deeper in “Stewarding Social Wealth.” We conclude this series here by introducing the notion of “personal wealth.”
Read MoreLast month we introduced the idea of thinking about wealth as a multi-dimensional concept. We explored the idea that material wealth is just the tip of the iceberg for many people, and there is so much more beneath the surface. In my experiences, a lot of people can grasp
Read MoreHow do you define “wealth”?
For over twenty-five years I have been asking this same question to better understand how to communicate the value of a firm like Lucien, Stirling & Gray. I’ve asked clients, colleagues, friends and business associates in various settings. I’m curious to hear people’s answers, because how they define “wealth,”
Read MoreIn the short eighteen years between 1946 and 1964, almost 76 million people were born in the United States. Between 1954 and 1964 there were approximately 11,000 births per day. This was the most dramatic population explosion ever before witnessed in this country. As that huge wave of people has swept forward through time, “The Baby Boom Generation” has transformed virtually everything it has touched regarding American society, politics, and especially economics.
Read More“I remember the days when we’d have to walk down the street to the bike shop to use their fax machine.” This is one of the favorite stories that is told often (usually to the “new guy”) around the office. You have probably heard by now that Lucien, Stirling & Gray is celebrating 25 years of service in 2017, and we’re excited about it. In case you were wondering, no, we’re no longer walking
Read MoreToday’s article hits home for me. When I first heard this idea, I thought, “I don’t need to take her advice! This won’t happen to my family!” Then I thought about what she said. She said that families are vulnerable when their young adults turn 18. Teens over age 18 are seen as legal adults by the law and by the health care profession. So, if my young adults have an accident or get sick, or have mental issues, I don’t have any rights as a parent.
Read MoreI get it. You have put off having “the talk” with your parents. It’s awkward. It takes courage. You are waiting for the right time to bring things up. Never sounds like the perfect time.
My main message is this: Don’t wait any longer.
Remember when your dad had the birds and bees talk with you at 18
Read MoreOur client, Darci McIntyre, the newly published romance novelist, submitted this piece on how empty nesting gave her the opportunity to pursue a hobby that had always interested her, and to meet a goal that she had always dreamed of. While her newfound free time presented her with the opportunity, as you’ll see, it still took a plan, concerted effort, and deliberate investments of time to acquire new skills.
Read MoreAt the end of last year, my husband and I bought the first home that we visited in person. You could say I have always had a knack for “love at first sight.” For example, the wedding dress I wore when I got married happened to be the first wedding dress I tried on. I didn’t expect to fall in love with the first house we toured with our realtor – but that’s what happened. Officially on
Read MoreIn early November, six middle-aged guys set off on a challenging wilderness adventure that would take us deep into the heart of one of the most remote and inhospitable regions of the United States. We were going to travel by canoe for three days, covering approximately 40 miles of the Rio Grande River as it traced the U.S. border with Mexico, through Mariscal Canyon, one of the most distant and inaccessible sections of Big Bend National Park.
Read MoreI am a consummate planner. Not only do I plan, I usually have multiple contingencies in order. My family and friends tease me about crossing the line between planning and paranoia. So when it came to my retirement I thought I had it licked.
I had developed a formal financial retirement plan with my advisor, Megan Poore, after
Read MoreNervous about the election? You aren’t the only one. We all are. What can we do about it? Well, we can vote. Then we can get on with our lives. If it feels to you like it does to me that the four year election cycle comes around way too quickly, it could be a reminder to all of us that time is passing quickly. The world and the headlines are full of uncertainty, but here are a few things to think about.
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