What's in store for you:

1. Photo From My Life
2. Life Thought: Mentors & Perspective
3. Financial Thought: Picking Stocks (In Moderation)
4. Good Sh*t: The $20 Casio Watch

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Photo From My Life:

Life Thought:

Mentors & Perspective: I grabbed coffee this past week with someone who’s about 20 years ahead of me in our industry. To be successful in our industry, you need to be curious, thoughtful, and educated. Some of that can come from books, trainings, and life experience, but a lot of it comes from "time in the seat." Sitting down with someone who has 20+ years of experience is invaluable.

What stood out most was how their career had quietly snowballed over time. They didn’t seem like someone who had chased big wins. They kept showing up, learning, building relationships, and slowly stacking wins. And now, they’ve built something incredible.

It was a reminder that my success won't be built in a big leap. It will be built in small, steady steps that compound. As I start my firm, I often feel like I'm standing at the bottom of Everest and get intimidated. But, when I go back and think about my 25+ year time horizon, it's the small daily actions that will make a difference.

If there’s someone in your world who’s further down the path, I’d highly recommend reaching out. Buy them coffee. Ask them about their story. You might walk away with a little more clarity, a caffeine high, and maybe even a dose of motivation.

Financial Thought:

Picking Stocks (In Moderation): My investment philosophy is straightforward. I focus on building a globally diversified portfolio and layering in a few long-term themes I believe in. I’m not trying to run a hedge fund. I don’t spend hours digging into earnings calls or technical charts. My goal is to stay balanced, with broad exposure and a few intentional tilts toward ideas I think will play out over time. With a focus on tax efficiency, and a sprinkle of private investments for the right clients, I believe this approach is best for the long-term.

Still, I get it. Picking individual stocks is fun. There’s a unique satisfaction that comes from finding a company you believe in, buying shares, and watching the story unfold. It’s part logic, part instinct, and a little bit of adrenaline. Who doesn't want to be the star in the next Big Short?!

For anyone who enjoys that part of the game, I’m not against setting aside a small piece of your portfolio for it. Something modest, like five percent or less, where you can play without jeopardizing your long-term goals.

Do I think you’ll outperform a diversified portfolio over your investing lifetime? Probably not. Even the professionals struggle with that. The latest SPIVA report found that over the past fifteen years, more than ninety percent of actively managed US funds underperformed the S&P 500. These are full-time managers with research teams and resources, and most still fall short even before you consider the tax impact.

But here’s the thing. Not everything in life needs to be optimized. If making a few stock picks keeps you engaged and excited about investing, that can be valuable too. Just make sure the foundation of your portfolio stays solid. Let the core stay boring. The fun stuff can sit at the edges.

Good Sh*t:

The $20 Casio Watch: I’ve got to give a shoutout to the $20 Casio watch.

It’s not fancy. It’s not flashy. But it’s functional, durable, and gets the job done. The one I have has a digital display, a plastic strap, and a battery that lasts ten years. That kind of simplicity is pretty refreshing. The best part, I think it looks pretty cool.

Don’t get me wrong—I understand the attraction to nice watches. There's definitely a place for them. But for day-to-day wear, workouts, travel, or just not caring if your toddler flings it across the room, this Casio is hard to beat.

It tells the time, has a backlight, an alarm, and costs less than a round of drinks. That’s a win in my book.

If you’re looking for something no-frills and oddly satisfying, give it a try. You might be surprised how often you reach for it.

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