The graphic above, created by Carl Richards, CFP, is one many of you have seen before. It shows three circles: Things You Can Control, Things That Matter, and the intersection where our attention belongs.
I first came across it in a Vanguard paper about the value a good advisor can bring. Not through predictions or perfect timing, but by helping clients stay focused on what truly matters.
With so much happening in the world today, it is worth returning to that message: Focus on what you can control.
????You can control how you invest.
When markets are choppy, it is tempting to sell everything, go to cash, and wait for the storm to pass.
The challenge is that markets, interest rates, inflation, and economic cycles are hard to predict. The environment shifts, often quickly. Trying to outguess it usually creates more problems than it solves.
Interest rates remain high, especially for mortgages. Inflation, employment, tariffs, energy prices, and policy decisions continue to shape the outlook. Some data may argue for lower rates. Some may argue for staying put. If inflation reaccelerates, the case for higher rates can return.
That uncertainty is exactly why the plan matters.
Instead of trying to predict the next Federal Reserve decision, stay grounded. Revisit your goals. Align your investments with your risk tolerance and time horizon. Make intentional, not emotional, decisions.
????️ You can control how you spend your money.
During periods of disruption, many people naturally become more conscious of their spending. We eat at home more, delay purchases, and question what we really need.
Want to take it a step further? Spend some time thinking about what is truly important to you. Then look at whether your money, time, energy, and attention are aligned with that.
Simplicity can be both financially and emotionally rewarding.
????♀️You can control how you care for yourself.
This means more than living longer. It means living better.
The difference between lifespan and healthspan has become increasingly important to me. Lifespan is how long you live. Healthspan is how long you feel well while living.
The way we invest in food, sleep, movement, and relationships affects both. The same is true for our money habits. Financial stress and chronic overwhelm can wear us down. So can chasing things that do not actually matter.
Taking care of yourself is not just a wellness goal. It is a long-term financial strategy. Staying healthy longer gives you more time, freedom, and energy to enjoy the life you have worked hard to build.
????The intersection of money, meaning, and soil
Lately, I have been exploring the connection between financial health and environmental health, especially through the lens of regenerative organic farming.
These practices do not just produce better food. They build healthier soil, stronger communities, and more resilient ecosystems.
I am especially curious about the financial frustrations of farmers leading this movement. Where do traditional finance systems fall short? How can advisors listen more deeply? How can capital support stewardship instead of working against it?
I have started interviewing farmers who are Regenerative Organic Certified. My hope is to better understand what they are building, what gets in their way, and how financial systems might better support sustainable futures, both financially and ecologically.
Want to learn more about regenerative farming? Watch The Biggest Little Farm.
Just watching the trailer brings tears to my eyes.
Many of you know I have visited Apricot Lane Farms multiple times and spoken with John and Molly Chester. If you get a chance, I highly recommend visiting the farm in Moorpark, CA. They offer regular tours.
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⏺️So, back to the circle:
You may not be able to control markets, inflation, politics, interest rates, or supply chains.
But you can control how you invest, spend, save, care for your health, and align your money with your values.
That does not remove uncertainty. It gives you a place to stand inside it.
If you have been through a transition, a setback, or a transformation, or are preparing for one, I would love to hear about it.
Reach out and give me an update. I promise to listen more than I talk.
Warmly,
