Farewell

This is my last post of 2024, and my last post as Engage Advising. Retirement calls! My goal over the years on this journey was to share learnings and information through these posts. Turns out, I also learned a lot from all of you over the years.

For me, I have always been interested in personal finance. I started learning about savings rates, and how to check stock prices in the newspaper (yes, an actual newspaper!!) when I was in junior high. Consumer, and also money psychology, have always fascinated me. This all came together nicely when I discovered fee-only financial planning later in life as an adult. I really wish this field of study had offered at least one class in high school. I think if we added at least one class of personal finance to our high school curriculum, Americans would be more comfortable with money decisions, and overall, make better decisions. I also think there would be more folks better prepared for retirement. Ok, that’s my rant – done! Time to pack away the soapbox.

Mostly, for this last post, I want to extend a huge, heart-felt thank you to everyone who has supported and encouraged me over the years. It really meant the world. I especially want to say a big THANK YOU to those of you who became clients. I am beyond grateful for your support and trust all these years. It’s been a wonderful journey.

Learning about personal finance and financial planning in an educational setting was one thing. Putting it into practice in the real world and seeing how folks really respond to situations was enlightening. Just because something can be done, doesn’t always mean it should be done. Sometimes, you showed me the why behind your action and proved that peace of mind and sleeping at night were just as important as the most mathematically advantageous outcome. Quality of life is important. You also showed me that even if we put the best plan in place, life had a way of stepping in along the way and upending all that great work. Recognize, react, and recover are perfectly acceptable in our pursuit of goals. More than once I stepped in and helped with a course correction. As clients, you showed me resiliency and commitment. Thank you!

The question I got the most when I announced my firm’s closing was, ‘what are you going to do?’  For one thing, I am still interested in financial planning so I am keeping my credential.  I am simply wrapping up my business. As for the do part of the question, I am looking forward to more time in the Sierra, more fly fishing, more travel, more oil painting, more quilting, and more language practice. My Japanese is getting rusty and I really want to beef-up my Italian. When it comes to the doing of things in life, it’s not a lack of interest for most of us, it’s a lack of free time. I am now claiming more of that time.

With all that said, I wish you the very best for the coming year. I also wish you great success and continued progress on the plans we have started. Keep up your great work and keep going!

Thank you!