A Planner’s Diary
Like many passionate advisors, I spend much of my free time thinking about planning and about my clients. Inspiration and opportunity for reflection live in the everyday moments at this intersection. This Diary, so I choose to call it, is a monthly collection of things I’ve mused on, experienced, read, listened to, watched, or sang along to that feel worth sharing for their relevance in financial planning, or simply because they brought me joy. I hope you find some amusement, maybe learn a thing or two, and get to know me a bit better along the way. I’d also love to hear from you — what’s moved you, challenged you, or added something meaningful to your life this past month? Let’s connect! hello@hylafinancial.com.
January’s Theme: Process Over Everything
Consider this my love letter to the power of process. In 2025, my husband and I planned a wedding, designed and built a house, and I set forth the foundation for the launch of Hyla. None of it would have been possible without laying out a process and committing to it. Last year was a reminder that showing up consistently doesn’t mean showing up the same way every day, it simply means pushing the ball forward, again and again.
A practical process, executed over time, sits at the heart of every financial goal achieved. It’s not always easy, but it is wonderfully simple.
In Markets
You may be seeing headlines filled with prognosticators opining on the likelihood of a market drop — often euphemistically called a “correction” — in 2026. While the timing of market shifts is virtually unknowable there are core tenets we can rely on, especially when a little stoicism is called for.
At the outset of every planning relationship, we spend time in careful conversation around both risk appetite and risk capacity. The goal is to build a portfolio you can live with on good days and bad. Markets will rise and fall, and the aim is for your mental and emotional well-being to remain in the middle zone. The right portfolio fit is the first step to staying disciplined — back to Process Over Everything —to ultimately meet your goals.
Imagine being a kid trying on tennis shoes at a department store with your mom. She makes you walk, run, jump. She even squeezes the toe box. We do the same, metaphorically (no running required), in building your portfolio. After all, you’ll be walking in these shoes for a long time. We need them to fit well for when the terrain gets rough.
Once the portfolio is in place, what can we do when a correction occurs? We take advantage of tax-loss harvesting to thoughtfully and tax-efficiently diversify away from holdings that no longer serve your needs. We also come knocking to see whether you’re sitting on too much cash in the bank and if so, we look for opportunities to invest that excess while markets are “on sale.” For clients where this strategy is appropriate, we prepare Roth conversion scenarios early in the year so we’re ready to act when markets are down, because converting at lower values means those dollars can later enjoy tax-free growth as markets recover — a powerful way to capitalize on volatility.
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Now, onto a bit of fun.
On the Pod — I love American History Tellers, and during a recent long-haul drive I listened to their season on the California Goldrush. It’s a tale as old as time: frenetic, amok with grifters, quickly over saturated. It’s a reminder of what happens when people chase something shiny with the blinding desire to get rich quick, a drive that is disappointingly still so core to our culture.
On the Page — I am revisiting Atomic Habits, and it feels more apt than ever. “Every action you take is a vote for the type of person you wish to become.” I recently started CrossFit. I am not very good, but I tell myself I am a CrossFit athlete. And so, I get up and go to class like a CrossFit athlete would do. Similarly—you are not trying to save; you are a saver.
On Repeat — You can call me an old soul for listening to the Traveling Wilburys, but “End of the Line” comes back to me time and again. I have two people to thank for that:
my dad, for introducing me to the joy of music as a kid, and
a beloved educator in my CFP program who played this song on the very last day of our coursework.
It sticks with me as a nod to the end of one chapter. It’s about peace, acceptance, and the beauty of another one unfolding before you. “…Well, it's all right, if you live the life you please..”
Until next time,
Claire
This material is intended for educational purposes only. You should always consult a financial, tax, or legal professional familiar with your unique circumstances before making any financial decisions. Nothing in this material constitutes a solicitation for the sale or purchase of any securities. Any mentioned rates of return are historical or hypothetical in nature and are not a guarantee of future returns. Past performance does not guarantee future performance. Future returns may be lower or higher. Investments involve risk. Investment values will fluctuate with market conditions, and security positions, when sold, may be worth less or more than their original cost. Advisory Services offered through Avise Financial Cooperative Inc, a Registered Investment Adviser with the SEC. Registration of an investment adviser does not imply a certain level of skill or training.
