What's in store for you:

1. Photo From My Life
2. Financial Thought: More Money, More Decisions
3. Life Thought: Family & Chosen Family
4. Good Sh*t: Aristotle Aardvark

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Photo From My Life:

Financial Thought:

More Money, More Decisions: I’ve been having a bunch of conversations with people who have objectively “made it.” They're either high-earners or their net worth includes multiple commas, and on paper, they look like they’re playing the game well.

But I've found, when you peel back the layers, the truth is messier. Even high earners fall into certain traps.

I recently read a tweet thread by Mark Cecchini that put words to something I’ve been sensing for a while. Having money doesn’t mean you’re handling it well. In fact, the more money you make, the easier it is to lose track of the basics.

Notorious BIG is famous for saying "More Money, More Problems." He's not wrong. But, I've revised his famous quote to something I think is a bit more relevant.

Here are a few blind spots that tend to be relevant for almost everyone. Some I’ve dealt with personally, others I’ve seen in friends or clients. Hopefully, they’re a good gut check:

1. Ignoring the power of a plain old brokerage account. Everyone maxes their 401(k), maybe an IRA. Then they stop. But your brokerage account is one of the most powerful tools for long-term wealth and optionality. Dollar-cost averaging over 10+ years in that account creates quiet, compounding freedom.
2. Over-concentration in a single asset. There’s a difference between concentration and over-concentration. Betting big on your business, your company stock, or real estate portfolio can be a wealth accelerator. But it can also be a trap. I’ve seen people put everything into one outcome and end up stuck or blindsided.
3. Chasing alpha without a foundation. Why are we comfortable YOLO-ing into angel investments, crypto, or some random startup, but haven’t even built a basic plan around cash flow or risk? People like to chase “interesting” before locking in “boring."
4. Tax optimization as a one-year game. I’m guilty of this. When tax season rolls around, I try to scrape every deduction I can. But real wealth builders think in decades. They optimize their structure. It’s less about chasing write-offs and more about playing a long-term game.
5. Lifestyle creep is real. When you make a lot of money, it’s easy to feel like you don’t need a budget. But expenses have a funny way of keeping pace with income. Taxes, private school, travel, house upgrades, second homes, boats, whatever. You wake up one day and realize you’re making $750k and still feel stretched. Without guardrails, there’s no number that’s “enough.”
6. No system for liquidity events. Your company sells. You get a windfall. Now what? Most people panic (or ask coworkers in Slack what they should do). Major events need a plan before they happen, not after the wire hits.
7. Avoiding the unsexy stuff. Insurance. Estate planning. Gifting strategies. All of it sounds dull. The first step to protecting wealth is not losing it. The second is making sure it lands where you want it to.
8. No clarity on what it’s all for. You’ve built the machine. But why? I know multiple people with $5M+ net worths who can’t answer that question. No plan for giving. No intentionality around spending. No shared understanding with their spouse.
9. DIY mindset gone too far. Complexity compounds. At a certain point, being smart enough becomes a liability. The right team (CPA, financial advisor, estate attorney) buys back your time and lets you focus on what you actually care about.
10. Estate planning is outdated or missing. Especially true for parents. If something happened to you tomorrow, would your assets be protected? If the answer is “I think so,” it’s probably not.

None of these points are revolutionary. But they’re easy to forget when things are going well. You get busy. You feel like you’ve got time. You assume it’s all under control.

It’s all about making consistent, repeated decisions. Over time, that’s what builds resilience and freedom.

Life Thought:

Appreciation: Over the past few weeks, we've been adjusting to life as a family of four. It's been equal parts chaos and joy. What's made it manageable has been the support of our family. Even though we don’t have anyone local, our parents have flown in to help with meals, childcare, laundry, or just to give us a break and remind us we’re not in this alone. It’s been a gift.

That support got me thinking. Not everyone has family who can hop on a plane. Life circumstances, distance, or complicated relationships can make that kind of help impossible. But I’ve come to believe that you can replicate family with community. Over time, strong friendships can grow into something just as dependable. I remember growing up we celebrated a lot of major holidays with our closest family friends, the Salaymeh family. Even just thinking about those times puts a smile on my face.

It doesn't happen overnight. It takes time and intentional effort. Checking in, showing up, and offering help when it’s not convenient. But those small moments of support stack up. Eventually, you look around and realize you've built your own version of family. We've only lived in Savannah for two years, but it's clear we're already building these types of friendships. I feel lucky and grateful.

Good Sh*t:

Aristotle Aardvark:

My friend Russ recently wrote a children’s book: Aristotle the Aardvark and the Search for the Golden Acorn. Now, I’ll admit my bias. But, even if I didn’t know Russ, I’d still be recommending this book. It's already the #1 New Release on Amazon*.

It’s a fantastic read with a fun, adventurous story and seriously impressive artwork. If you’re looking for a gift, a new bedtime read, or just want to support a great creative project, check it out here.

*For Children's Philosophy Books

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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