15 Aug 2014 It’s That Time of Year Again

It’s that time of year again–kids are going back to school, last trips to the beach are being taken, and mornings here and there are beginning to feel a tinge of crisp coolness (at least in Raleigh). Fall is coming.

And with it comes an increase in planning. With the kids going back to school, conversations may begin (or restart) about taking them out of the public school system, or putting them back in. Perhaps college is around the corner and there are worries about paying for it. We start thinking about holidays and whether or not we’ll travel, and if so, for how long and with whom? We brace for the increased busyness at work, some of us with an excitement and eagerness, and others of us with dread. The former start to question if they’ll ever want to retire, and the latter wonder how soon they can.

In short, after the summer months, we are reminded in full force that life’s trajectory is more similar to a roller coaster than a lazy river. That crazy trajectory has us on our toes, continually planning for what we can, and hoping that when the unexpected comes (as it inevitably does) we’ll be in the best possible position to deal with it.

Isn’t that what financial advice is (or should be) all about? The markets are full of the unexpected. Could it be that what you crave from an financial advisor is guidance? Guidance to be in the best possible position financially, to deal with the ups and downs of the market, and life, as they come.

If so, what you desire may not be the same as what the vast majority of the financial industry delivers, which is advice too stagnant to be able to keep up with life’s roller coaster (see below).

(via Carl Richards)

Dynamic advice for real life is a bit different, planning for uncertainty while not being obsessive about every nervous tick of the market and the events which may or may not be causing them. That kind of obsessive, emotional behavior is understandable, but it is not structurally sound enough to carry the weight of your dreams.

At Beacon, we have found that what each person desires in a financial advisor is different, but we have often seen this commonality: a desire for advice built on a firm foundation, but with enough flexibility to deal with the craziness of life.

The entire purpose and value of our business is to provide you with confidence that your dreams can be achieved, without taking on unnecessary risk, and without sacrificing the one life you have through unnecessary savings.

So as you’re having those conversations about school and travel and work and life, let us know if your dreams and goals are beginning to adjust with the weather. We’d love to help you get there.