Insights

Financial success may create opportunities for future generations. It may also create complexity.

Success is often measured by milestones such as building a business, reaching financial independence, selling a company, or completing a major transaction. These moments are celebrated because they often reflect years of discipline, sacrifice, and perseverance.

Financial complexity rarely arrives all at once. In most cases, it builds quietly over years as life and success evolve. A business may continue growing, investment accounts may expand across multiple platforms, real estate holdings may increase, and compensation structures may become more layered over time. What once felt straightforward may gradually become more difficult to organize, oversee, and coordinate effectively.

June 14, 2026 LARGEST EVER AND RICHEST EVER: On Friday, SpaceX debuted as the largest IPO ever. It priced at $135 as it hit the market, but most retail traders were crowded out as trading was halted for a while before reopening at a higher price. The stock ended the day up 19% to close at about $161. SpaceX is already the sixth largest publicly traded company in the U.S. and Elon Musk is a the world's first trillionaire. IPOs for Anthropic and OpenAI are still on their w

June 7, 2026 A GREAT MONTH FOR JOBS: On Friday, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the U.S. economy added 172,000 net new jobs in May, a lot more than was generally expected. The unemployment rate remained unchanged at 4.3%. STOCK WINNING STREAK ENDS: The Iran war seemed to take a back seat this past week. Oil prices did not move much, and news from the Middle East was indecisive. So what moved markets to decline? The tech sector took center stage once ag

May 31, 2026 OIL PRICES FALL BELOW $100 AND GAS PRICES BUDGE: The Brent Crude Oil Wholesale Spot price continued to decrease, ending the week at about $95 per barrel. Gasoline prices have not moved as decisively, but they have come down. On May 20, the average price for regular gasoline in the U.S. was $4.56. It is now $4.39. Summer driving season tends to push demand, and thus prices, up, and global oil supplies remain vulnerable. Even if (a big 'if') the Iran war wind

Some financial risks are obvious. Market volatility, inflation, taxation, and economic uncertainty tend to receive the most attention because they are measurable and visible. But some of the most significant financial risks develop quietly through avoidance.

May 24, 2026 HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY AND HAPPY GRADUATION SEASON: All of us will experience Memorial Day this weekend, and many of us will get the opportunity to celebrate a graduation this season. In that spirit, I will share words from a graduation speech last week...good advice for all of us, not just recent grads: "Friendship now requires much more intentionality than it once did. So my advice, as you think about what does and doesn’t deserve your attention, is reach out to

May 17, 2026 THE EXPECTED CPI INCREASE: The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics released April's consumer price index. The CPI rose 0.6% after increasing 0.9% in March. Energy prices rose sharply once again, up 3.8%. The 12-month CPI number has moved back up to 3.8%. Those are ugly numbers, Energy prices accounted for 40% of the rise. Once the war winds down, it should bring oil prices back in a downward direction, but for now we are all paying higher prices, and the over