People Say Guru Because Charlatan Is Hard To Spell

A friendly reminder, via Stanley Drucker, for proclaimed guru’s who make something complex look a little too simple, clean, or easy: People use the word guru because the word charlatan is so hard to spell.  I’m not saying there aren’t amazing people out there. I am saying, if they are selling something that makes normally … Continue reading People Say Guru Because Charlatan Is Hard To Spell

Setting Goals? Use Less Chores And More Aspirations

Dr. Ayelet Fishbach says how we define our goals matters.  A well-defined goal will guide our motivations and disciplines. A poorly defined goal will lose us along the way (or maybe even before we start).  Let’s say we want to save more money.  Saving isn’t the goal. That’s more of a chore when we get … Continue reading Setting Goals? Use Less Chores And More Aspirations

A Great Player Is Someone Everybody Wants To Play With: Insights from The Pro’s Pro Joe McClean

Before Joe McClean became “the money-whisperer to the NBA elite,” he was a professional basketball hopeful. After almost making the NBA on several occasions, he got cut for the final time. Frustrated but determined to start a new chapter, he made a fresh start in finance - first with asset managers, then as an advisor. … Continue reading A Great Player Is Someone Everybody Wants To Play With: Insights from The Pro’s Pro Joe McClean

Contending With Ourselves

A (spoiler-free) Game of Thrones quote, “We may have defeated them, but we still have us to contend with.”    Vanguard estimated financial advisors can add about 3% in value annually to their clients’ account balances. The largest drivers of that additional growth weren’t from picking better investments but were routed in discipline and behavior.   It’s no mistake that … Continue reading Contending With Ourselves

The Madness of Markets, My Dog, and Nic Cage Murder Mysteries

We always want to know what caused what. “The market went down because... oil! The dollar! China! Politics!” “My dog probably got sick because she… ate grass! Ate trash! Ate homework!” What do both protagonists have in common? They both will refuse to answer if you ask them to explain themselves. At least my dog … Continue reading The Madness of Markets, My Dog, and Nic Cage Murder Mysteries

No Coasting Without A Proper Climb

In our minds, we’d all love some sustained, peaceful happiness. Coasting downhill on a bicycle feels pretty good. We like that feeling, especially when it’s contrasted against struggling to painfully pedal uphill. But, what good is the coast without the climb?   “When I was your age we walked fifteen miles uphill to school! Barefoot! In … Continue reading No Coasting Without A Proper Climb

Cultivate Your Inner Narrator

There’s an expression that people are OK with ignorance, but absolutely hate being deprived of information. Ignorance is bliss - but only when everything is fine. It’s once things start turning negative that we demand answers. If our perception is that someone else is either withholding information or keeping information away from us, things can … Continue reading Cultivate Your Inner Narrator