A Planner’s Diary
March’s theme: Resiliency and Stoicism in Action
Last Sunday, on a quiet, early morning, I heard a thump against the glass of my front door. There on the pavers lay a large bird (which I later learned was a male mourning dove). Upon further inspection, it remained limp and looked so incredibly fragile. I hoped it was just momentarily stunned. Twenty, then thirty or so minutes passed, and there he remained. As I readied for the day, I heard my dog begin to bark at the front door. Sure enough, the bird had roused and began rustling its wings. Then, he flew away.
I thought about this bird quite a bit for the rest of the morning. I couldn’t pin exactly why I was so enamored with the series of events. After all, sometimes birds hit glass, and they fly away. This is not news.
In time, I realized why I continued to replay the events. I see it now as an example of an inexorable truth: oftentimes, it takes something extremely painful to happen to prove to ourselves just how resilient we are. Earlier this month, I wrote about resilience in action and the healing that can take place post-divorce. When it’s time to focus on yourself and your financial goals as a newly single person—where to begin?
Tackling Other Real-World Uncertainties
Maybe recent headlines related to Iran have left you feeling a range of emotions. Periods of geopolitical tension have a way of reminding us how much of the world sits outside our control. Wars begin, markets react, headlines multiply, and uncertainty can quickly take center stage in our headspace. Yet uncertainty is not a new phenomenon in investing or in life, and real financial planning is built on the understanding that the future will never unfold exactly as expected.
Rather than trying to predict each twist in global events, our work focuses on building resilient plans. This includes diversified portfolios, strategic cash reserves, and long-term strategies designed to withstand periods of volatility. In that sense, uncertainty is not something to eliminate. It is something to plan around.
Feeling uneasy about whether your plan is fit to weather the unknowns? Let’s talk.
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Now, onto a bit of fun
Out in the wild- In Arizona, we’re slowly nearing the end of perfect weather for outdoor recreational activities. As such, I’m on a mad dash to sign up for races across this beautiful valley (including one on the morning this will post!). Here I am posing (if you can really call it that) after a particularly bad go of it in a local race. It was an unusually warm day, and I failed to fuel properly. And yet, I still crossed the line in one piece with (most) on my sanity intact. Sometimes we must draw on a bit of resilience and stoicism, even in our weekend warrior hobbies.
On the page- William B, Irvine’s The Stoic Challenge has been gathering dust on my desk for far too long. Sometimes it takes a unique set of current challenges and experiences to inspire cracking open certain books. This was certainly true here. The opening chapters offer a simple but powerful reframing: What if setbacks are not misfortunes, but tests? Can challenges and stressors become opportunities to practice resilience, steadiness, and strength? I’d like to think so.
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.
