Wisdom, she was present at the beginning of time and is expressed throughout history.
When I think of Wisdom, she conjures up the spirit of my grandparents. They were very special people. They were World War II survivors that packed up their life in the Netherlands to build a new life in the United States when my mother and aunt were both teenagers. I regret not having the presence of mind to specifically ask either of them why they immigrated. What was their Why? What was their hope? Why the United States? They were very proud of their Dutch/Indonesian heritage, that I know, but they were also very proud to be Americans.
I had the privilege of learning fundamental financial truths from my grandfather. He would show me his graphs that illustrated their financial journey and future goals. (Grandpa's graphs were before personal computers! He was an engineer so everything was plotted out and lines drawn on green grid paper.) He was very intentional and taught me a few essentials that ultimately led me to my career. Grandpa advised me to 1.) work for a company that offers a pension, 2.) buy dividend paying stocks, 3.) buy treasuries, 4.) spend less than you make so you are prepared for the unexpected. Work hard, plan, save and invest so you are prepared and able to provide for yourself and your family. That was grandpa's message. Seems simple, but yet it can be difficult to achieve. I believe that a lot of his advice came from his own past experiences, perhaps some financial missteps?
Grandpa would not recognize the financial environment we are in now as it has become more complex. Most notably, for those planning for retirement pensions are on the retreat and social security is under a lot of pressure. We have a sea of investment options, solutions, ways to receive "financial advice". We are living longer, the world is shrinking, information and news is circulated at the speed of the internet that creates a volatile market place. Does Wisdom teach us that planning is as essential now as it was when my grandparents planned their journey and for their future? I believe the answer to that question is Yes!
I enjoy working for individuals and families that value professional advice. In honor of my grandparents, my goal is to help my clients set a course based on what they want for their future and their family. I have found that most people reach out for professional advice when they have reached a critical moment in their life. Perhaps yours is your impending retirement, a recent inheritance, an unexpected job change, the loss of a loved one, marriage, divorce. For my grandparents, their critical moment was when they decided to immigrate to the United States.
Feel free to contact my office for a complementary consultation and learn more about how I work with my clients. Our phone number is #707-685-9790.
This is meant for educational purposes only. It should not be considered investment advice, nor does it constitute a recommendation to take a particular course of action. Please consult with a financial professional regarding your personal situation prior to making any financial related decisions. (07/20)