What's in store for you:

1. Photo From My Life
2. Financial Thought: Insurance Beyond Insurance
3. Life Thought: Freedom
4. Good Sh*t: Celsius

Photo From My Life:

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Financial Thought:

Insurance Beyond Insurance: I don’t sell insurance. I only recommend buying "traditional" insurance when it truly fits someone’s situation. Term life insurance, disability insurance, and umbrella coverage can be valuable in the right situation.

With that caveat out of the way, I feel comfortable sharing the fact that I love the concept of insurance.

It's really just the idea of paying a fee to protect something you care about.

For example, I recently bought a Starlink device. Why? My home internet occasionally goes down, and we often travel to places where internet service can be unreliable. The hardware cost me about $200, and I pay $10 a month to keep it available. If it saves just one day of lost productivity each year, it’s probably paid for itself.

I also keep more cash in my checking account than I technically need. Financially, there’s an opportunity cost to doing that. But, it means I never have to worry about the timing of paychecks, bills, or unexpected expenses.

I even keep my old laptop and phone instead of selling them. If my primary device breaks, I can be back to work immediately instead of scrambling to buy a replacement.

Now, I acknowledge that these aren't traditional insurance products. But, they all protect something I value. My time, my ability to serve clients, and my desire to reduce all forms of stress.

My friend Ben often quotes a philosophy made famous by the Navy SEALs, “Two is one, and one is none.” If something is truly important, having a backup is a necessity.

I’ll leave you with two questions to consider:

1. What is so important in your life that if you lost it, it would have a meaningful negative impact?
2. How could you “insure” that part of your life, even if it has nothing to do with an insurance policy?

Life Thought:

Freedom: I think almost everyone who studied abroad, backpacked through Europe, or spent time traveling in their early twenties has had the same thought at least once. What if I just kept going?

What if I didn’t worry about the pressure to get a real job, settle-down, and start saving for retirement? What if I just chased experiences, lived in the moment, and spent the next twenty years wandering around the world?

Maybe that was just me, but I remember that feeling vividly.

A lot has changed since then. I got married. My wife and I had two amazing kids. I’ve built businesses and taken on responsibilities that 22-year-old Andy couldn’t have imagined.

Let me be clear, I absolutley love my life and wouldn't trade it for the world. But, the funny thing is that I haven’t completely lost that feeling. I still crave freedom. I still want adventure. I still want to wake up somewhere new and spend the day exploring.

The unfortunate irony is that I’m terrible at living in the moment. My brain is wired to plan. I’m always thinking about what’s next, what could go wrong, and how to prepare for it. Maybe that's why I crave freedom so much...

For a long time, I viewed life as a choice between two extremes. On one side was complete freedom: backpacking around the world, surfing every morning, and living without a care in the world. On the other side was the stereotypical cubicle life. Long commutes and boring meetings.

But, as I've gotten older, I've realized that these aren't the only two options. You can build a meaningful career and still have adventures. You can be a committed parent and still prioritize experiences. You can plan for the future without sacrificing the present.

Adulthood is simply realizing that nobody is making the rules for you anymore. Want to spend a month in Mexico City with your family? Ask your boss if you can work remotely and rent an Airbnb.

Want more adventure in your life? Sign up for a tango class, learn to surf, join a hiking group, or start saying yes to things that feel slightly uncomfortable.

The best part about being an adult is that we’re adults. We may feel the subconscious pressure from our parents, but we can learn to do things they may not approve of. No one tells us us exactly how life is supposed to look.

Sure, there are responsibilities. Bills need to be paid and kids need to eat. But, we all have way more flexibility than we realize.

We should use that flexibility.

Good Sh*t:

Celsius: I’m pretty sure I wrote about Celsius in this newsletter last year. If I did, consider this an update because my feelings have only gotten stronger. I don’t consume much caffeine. A cup of green tea in the morning and the occasional espresso when I’m feeling adventurous.

Celsius is rocket fuel.

I’ve now used it (this is starting to sound like a drug) on multiple drives between Michigan and Georgia. When you have a 17-hour drive, it becomes a very valuable tool. About 12 hours into the drive, I crack open the can. The crazy part? I literally only drink half of it.

Is it healthy? Probably not. But I'm hoping the increased safety on my long drive make up for the the long-term health concerns. If really bad things come out, I'm lucky to have a friend who is a class action lawyer (hey Kelly!) who can help me!

Disclaimer: VDB Wealth is a registered investment adviser. Information presented is for educational purposes only and does not intend to make an offer or solicitation for the sale or purchase of any specific securities, investments, or investment strategies. Investments involve risk and unless otherwise stated, are not guaranteed. Past performance is not indicative of future performance.

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