If your college graduate is back in the spare bedroom, staring at their phone and calling it "figuring things out," you're in very good company. The path from diploma to direction isn't as straight as it used to be — and for a lot of families, the question isn't just what should they do with their life, it's what do we do in the meantime?

Here's how to think about it financially — and practically.

If your household income comfortably exceeds six figures, you already know the tax code wasn’t written with sympathy for success. Yet most affluent couples still leave five- and six-figure opportunities on the table each decade simply because they aren’t optimizing the tools that already exist. Below are four strategies worth exploring before the next filing season.

Why Can the Market Rise When the News Is Bad?

A common question we’re hearing from clients is how the market can perform well when the picture of the world painted by the news seems generally negative.

For this discussion, I’m using “the market” as shorthand for the broad U.S. stock market. As one example, the S&P Total Market Index was up 12.53% year to date through September 24, 2026.

So how can the market rise while the world is facing challenges like war, political uncertainty, and unexpected increases in interest rates?

I’m only writing about this now because it’s taken a few months to allow the initial trauma to wear off.

Back in January, Anne wasn’t feeling well. We were using our gas fireplace to stay warm. I went to go pick up the kids from school.

While I was gone, she turned off the gas to the fireplace with the key. When she tightened it, something came loose, and gas started flowing out of the valve. She could hear it and smell it.

Last year, I wrote about the Blue Zone phenomenon, the five areas of the world that have the highest number of centenarians.

The takeaway from watching that series on Netflix was the there is a formula for how to live a long, healthy life.

According to a 2016 study of data from 2001-2014, in the United States, there is a health and wealth gap. The higher the income, the longer the life expectancy. And that gap has grown larger over time.

Our children just went back to school this last week. They go to a university model school where they are on campus 2 days per week and at home the other days. It’s not for everyone but works great for our family.

For families who use private schools, homeschool, or even those pursuing post-high school job training outside of college, new tax law (The One Big Beautiful Bill Act, more on this next week) brought some under-the-radar benefits. 529 plans are now more flexible. But there is a catch.

Saving too much…in retirement accounts.

Investing in yourself

When you’re young, your greatest financial asset often times isn’t your assets—it’s your human capital: the sum of your future income potential.

It’s natural to think saving as much as possible is best. But when you’re young, investing in yourself may yield a greater long-term payoff by boosting your career value.

Earlier this year, a client recommended a book called Die With Zero by Bill Perkins. The title alone is provocative, but the message is worth exploring. While I disagree with some of Perkins’ framing and a few of his conclusions, he offers powerful lessons about how we think about money and life.

Every July 1, sports fans celebrate what has become known as Bobby Bonilla Day.

If you’re unfamiliar with the story, Bonilla is a former Major League Baseball player who hasn’t played a game in more than two decades. Yet every year on July 1, he receives a check from the New York Mets for over $1 million thanks to a deferred compensation agreement negotiated back in 2000.