context and perception blog
Understanding Context and Perception
Wealth Management05/13/2026

Have you ever experienced the following illusion? You're driving along a road with tall trees on either side. Up ahead, framed by the gap in the trees, you see a mountain. It looks huge and close,...

tax strategy grid
Why It's Important to Have a Tax Strategy
Personal Planning05/13/2026

Now that the April 15 filing deadline has passed, many people are eager to put taxes out of sight—and out of mind. After all the time spent gathering documents, running numbers, and finding out...

digital estate grid
Create a Digital Estate Plan
Personal Planning05/06/2026

Imagine a family member has an unexpected medical event, and unfortunately that family member can no longer communicate. This happened to me when my father had a traumatic fall and lay unconscious...

reduce conflict grid
How to Reduce Conflict When Talking about Money with Your Partner
Financial Wellness04/29/2026

It's no secret that the topic of money can cause serious disagreements among partners and spouses. One widely cited survey found that finances are a major source of conflict for nearly a third of all...

transition grid
Transitioning to Retirement
Personal Planning04/22/2026

High achievers tend to have a hard time making the jump to retirement. This may be true for a number of reasons. Some identify strongly with their work and feel concerned about their ability to move...

money cant buy grid
Money Can’t be the Means to Happiness
Financial Wellness04/15/2026

We've all heard the saying, "Money can't buy you happiness." And yet, if you've had a big bill come due, or you'd like to take some friends out for a nice dinner, having enough money to do these...

persistent cost grid
The Persistent Cost of Doing Something
Personal Planning04/08/2026

Have you ever known someone who is absolutely committed to getting the lowest price for gas? They're willing to drive miles out of their way to save a nickel per gallon. And they derive deep...

men v women grid
When it Comes to Retirement, Men and Women need to Plan Differently
Personal Planning04/01/2026

Back in 1992, relationship counselor John Gray published Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus.1 The book was a huge best-seller, not because Gray had discovered some startling new fact, but...

liquidity grid
Liquidity has a Value of its Own
Financial Wellness03/25/2026

What's worth more, a violin with an appraised value of $10,000, or $9,000 in cash? It seems obvious. $10,000 is greater than $9,000 so clearly the violin is more valuable. However, if you need...