What's in store for you:

1. Photo From My Life
2. Financial Thought: Simplification
3. Life Thought: What do you do for a living?
4. Good Sh*t: A great question

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Photo From My Life:

Financial Thought:

Simplification: I’ve been having more conversations lately with friends who feel overwhelmed by their financial setup. And honestly, I get it.

Over time, it’s easy to accumulate financial clutter. You open a 401(k) at one job, an IRA with a robo-advisor, a brokerage account to buy some GameStop back in 2021, maybe a random HSA you forgot about. Before you know it, your financial life is spread across five institutions, three apps, and two-factor logins you haven’t used in years.

Here’s my take: simplicity wins.

Consolidating accounts isn’t just about reducing clutter. It makes it easier to:

• Track your net worth in one place
• Stick to your investment plan
• Understand your actual asset allocation
• Avoid duplicate fees and forgotten accounts
• Avoid confusion for your heirs

When everything’s spread out, your financial picture gets harder to understand. You can't get away with one account, but you probably don’t need fifteen either.

I'm aware this piece of advice isn't super sexy. But, the important stuff is rarely complicated. Take a few hours this week to consolidate. It's worth it.

Life Thought:

What do you do for a living?: This question always trips me up.

It’s such a normal part of small talk. You meet someone new, maybe you're standing at a birthday party or making conversation at a cocktail party and then it comes: “So, what do you do?”

My wife has the best answer in the world. “I’m a therapist.” Three simple words. No one has ever followed up with a confused stare. Even better, people understand and appreciate the work she's doing given the current mental health crisis.

But for me? It's complicated....

I usually dodge the question or answer vaguely. Not because I’m hiding anything, but because I genuinely don’t know how to explain it without launching into a 10-minute ramble that makes me sound like a crazy person.

Am I an entrepreneur? Technically, yes. But that word always feels like I’m trying a little too hard. It’s a label that covers everything and nothing at the same time.

The truth is, I’m building a wealth management firm and that’s probably the best, most understandable answer I can give. It’s tangible. People understand it and there's a chance they may even ask for help. I need clients so that's a a good thing!

But here’s the dilemma: I also run two other niche businesses that are harder to explain unless someone’s really curious or also spends their evenings reading about private equity, marketing, or software.

So after a bit of brainstorming, here's what I'm thinking: “I run a small portfolio of businesses, but I’m currently focused on building a boutique wealth management firm.”

It’s still a mouthful, but it feels closer to the truth. It captures the entrepreneurial spirit without sounding like I just walked off a startup pitch stage. And it highlights the thing that's most relevant for them.

Maybe I’ll get better at saying it over time. Or maybe I’ll just keep letting my wife answer first and hope no one circles back.

Good Sh*t:

A Great Question: I’ve stumbled into a new favorite question lately. It always leads to good stories and even better recommendations.

“What’s the best family vacation you’ve ever taken?”

It’s a simple question, but it never gets a simple answer. You’ll learn about what kind of traveler they are, how they define “fun,” and what memories actually stick with them. It’s a way better icebreaker than “what do you do?” (see above) and it gives you a running list of places to add to your travel goals.

I'd love to hear about your favorite family vacation. Respond to this email with any tips you have!

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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