Stories can drive prices in the short run. Fundamentals drive outcomes in the long run. Luck can feel like skill—until it doesn’t. Here’s a quick rubric I use with clients to separate narrative heat from real signal.

Not every memory needs a big price tag. Seasonal cycles — such as summer, back-to-school, and holidays — test cash flow just as much as retirement or college planning. Thoughtful planning means looking decades ahead and months ahead, so you can enjoy the moments that truly compound.

Motivation peaks at the start and finish — but slumps in the middle. That’s the Goal Gradient Effect. You see it in marathons, debt payoff, and even retirement savings. The fix? Break goals into checkpoints, celebrate small wins, and stay patient in the middle stretch. Tiny steps compound.