A Planner’s Diary
February’s Theme: Details, Deep Work & Attention Span Demands
Last month ended with my husband and me testing every window, door, handle, switch, drawer, and faucet in our new home. It was effectively our final chance to catch small mistakes or adjustments while we still had the full attention of contractors. In some ways, building this house has followed a similar coming-into-it’s own as Hyla. Both began as an idea—worked and reworked—before being built with intention, down to the smallest functionality.
Hyla extends a level deeper. Its name is inspired by my childhood. It reflects a willingness to take risks, skin knees, and keep playing anyway. It is both a homage to—and a reminder of—what life is meant for: getting out of our own way, moving beyond discomfort, and growing through failure, success, and everything in between. And simply put, Hyla was created to help clients embrace their version of a life well lived.
Last month, I wrote about the power of process in shifting ideas from the abstract into something concrete, tangible. Since then, I’ve spent a great deal of time on some very important minutiae: from shaping a client onboarding experience that feels both special and effective, to building out a process to deliver ongoing, real, and quantifiable value. The time invested in choosing the right tools and building repeatable processes has demanded a level of undivided attention that I’ve found energizing and purposeful.
But working in a true state of deep focus does not generally come naturally to us anymore. In 2004, people averaged 150 seconds on a computer screen before switching to a different one. Currently? We average somewhere between 44 and 50 seconds. These stats bother me. So, this past month I found myself re-reading Deep Work by Cal Newport as a form of protest against this attention atrophy (more on that below).
Thoughts on AI in Financial Planning
It’s no surprise that AI isn’t doing us many favors when it comes to building habits that invite deep thinking, especially when it can handle the leg work for us in an ever-expanding number of ways. And while I’m open to its application in many parts of my personal life and business, I am fiercely—stubbornly—resistant to allowing it to hijack my writing process. After all, the entire reason I ventured out to start Hyla was to put my soul into my work, and I want my clients to get the best of what working with a human can bring.
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Now, onto a bit of fun.
On the Page — This past month, I re-read Deep Work: Rules for Focused Work in a Distracted World by Cal Newport. At its core, Newport argues that deep, focused work is becoming both increasingly rare and increasingly valuable. In a world optimized for immediacy—notifications, pings, constant responsiveness—our ability to concentrate deeply has eroded. And yet, it is sustained attention that produces the kind of work that is meaningful, durable, and hard to replicate. To me, this book is about a posture toward attention: choosing depth over noise, intention over reflex, and process over performative busyness.
On the Pod — Last month, George Kinder joined Michael Kitces on the Financial Advisor Success podcast. Their conversation focused on what it means to be a good planner. Geroge’s reflections were a reminder that the most impactful planning work doesn’t come from rushing to answers, but from slowing down to really listen, be curious, and bring your full self into the work.
“The wild creativity in planning and the human connection are things that I think will not be replaced by AI.” – George Kinder
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.
