Can Control (2/27/2025)

Happy Friday Friends (or Thursday night for my west coasters 🙂) - 

I first want to say thank you to all of you who took time to respond to my first message last week - I truly appreciate the encouragement and feedback and look forward to sending something valuable to your inbox each week! 

I also enjoyed all the newsletter name suggestions!! Please keep those coming and I’ll share with you as I narrow the options down. 

Last week I dedicated my message to why we shouldn’t be freaking out about the market or making rash investment decisions, basically, what *not* to do. This week let’s focus on what productive things we can do! 

Most of my client conversations this week continue to be around fear of the current administration, uncertainties, and general chaos. My best advice in response to these concerns? Go for a walk. Read a book. Have a cookie. Call a friend. Basically try to stop thinking about the news and your finances. Kudos to those of you who are finding success focusing on the joys in life!!

Realistically, we’re still going to think about these things sometimes. During times like these when the news, the stock market or inflation feel out of control, I encourage you to focus on what you *can* control, like…

• Managing your cash flow and spending (When was the last time you thought about a budget?)

• Paying off high interest debt (especially credit card balances or debt above 7%)

• Spending less than you earn each month

• Building your Emergency Fund (3-6 month’s worth of essential expenses)

• Getting life insurance if you need it (term is typically best)

• Continuing to dollar-cost-average into the market

• Adding funds to investment accounts when markets are down to take advantage of lower stock prices

• Ensuring that any dollars you have invested are for long-term goals

The market and inflation are important variables in your financial success, but there are PLENTY of other critically important variables too - ones you have much greater control over - so focus there. Limit the amount of market news you watch/read, and hang in there! 

Wishing all of you good financial health.