What's in store for you:

1. Photo From My Life
2. Financial Thought: New SUVs
3. Life Thought: Saying Thank You
4. Good Sh*t: Dark Chocolate Pretzel Crisps

Photo From My Life:

Financial Thought:

New SUVs: Let me start by saying this: I’m not Dave Ramsey. A lot of people in my network can afford to buy a new car whenever they want. And if that aligns with their values and goals, great. My job isn’t to tell them not to.

As I've shared before, I build financial plans and investment strategies around people’s goals. If a luxury SUV makes you happy and it fits your plan, go for it. But one of my biggest fears is when people make big purchases without understanding the full impact on their long-term goals. Cars are probably the number one offender here.

I find these decisions are best framed with questions:

• Would you rather drive a new Chevy Suburban or buy a 1-year old Honda Odyssey and take your kids and grandchildren on a vacation every year in retirement?
• Would you rather drive a new Chevy Suburban or buy a 1-year old Honda Odyssey and help with your kid’s first down payment on a starter home?

A while back, financial blogger Ben Carlson said, “The Ford F-150 is bankrupting America.” While that might be a bit dramatic, I get what he means. Cars have gotten insanely expensive. The average large SUV is pushing $70k. And yet, these decisions feel “normal” because everyone else is doing the same thing.

But what if, instead of buying that $70k SUV, you bought a $35k car and invested the difference? The chart below gives you a quick look at how that decision compounds over time. Spoiler: the numbers are mind-blowing. For families with two cars, the impact is even higher.

Once again, this isn’t about guilt or judgment. It’s about awareness. If you can manage spending around the big decisions like your house and car, you're giving yourself a massive financial head start.

Life Thought:

Saying Thank You: One of the businesses I co-own serves private equity firms. The work is intense and the expectations are high. Recently, one of our clients asked to schedule a call. In this world, a “catch-up” can mean anything good, bad, or somewhere in between. I braced myself.

Turns out, the call was just a simple thank you. They appreciated our work and apologized for the delay in our retainer payment. That was it. I was shocked not because I thought we did anything wrong, but because no one ever just says thank you.

In the five-plus years of running this business, I can probably count the number of thank you's we’ve received on one hand. It made me pause: do I say thank you enough?

I doubt it.

That single moment has stuck with me all week. Where in my personal or professional life could I be showing more appreciation? It's such a small gesture. It's free, easy, and often overlooked. But I have a hunch that saying thank you a little more often might make a much bigger impact than I realize.

Good Sh*t:

Dark Chocolate Pretzel Crisps:

Costco is a dangerous place. You go in for paper towels and leave with a 22oz bag of dark chocolate-covered pretzels that single-handedly fuels your sugar addiction. Sweet, salty, crunchy. It checks all the boxes.

There's something about the combo of rich dark chocolate and just enough salt that keeps me coming back. These things are basically edible dopamine.

If you’re trying to stay off sugar, don’t buy them. But if you’re ready to embrace your vices and crush a bag in two sittings, you know where to find them.

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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