18 Dec 2025 A Note of Gratitude

Posted at 13:44h in The Friday Brief by

As we wrap up 2025 and head into its final weeks filled with merriment, loved ones (those near, far, and those forever missed), and good food, I want to take the opportunity to say how deeply thankful we are for you.

Thank you for trusting us to walk alongside you as you navigate life and personal finance. We are grateful for the fun and sometimes challenging conversations surrounding personal wealth. Financial wealth does not exist in isolation, but is intertwined with our spiritual, social, mental, and experiential wealth. You invite us into those conversations as you navigate that interplay, and we don’t take your trust in us lightly. Those conversations, as you make decisions shaped by both numbers and values, are at the very heart of why we do this work. It is a privilege to partner with you as you clarify what matters most, make thoughtful decisions, and adapt as life inevitably changes in unexpected ways.

Thank you for reading our Friday Briefs, which help us stay connected with you in between our phone calls and meetings during the year. Amid the noisy news cycles and ever-present change, we hope these Briefs and our conversations with you offer perspective, context, and guidance aligned with your long-term goals.

During the past year, trade tensions and tariff announcements led to brief but dramatic market declines, volatility, and fear, followed by a quick recovery and all-time market highs later in the year. Tech and AI drove much of the market performance. International equity outpaced the US for the first time in many years. The Federal Reserve reduced the interest rate three times this year, in September, October, and December. The OBBBA legislation was passed, adjusting tax laws once again. All of these prompted meaningful conversations and continued reminders of the importance of disciplined planning and flexibility.

One of our roles is to help you connect financial decisions back to your values and long-term plans. Whether discussing portfolios or life transitions, we truly appreciate your continued trust and willingness to consider how money can be a blessing in your lives and others’. We look forward to more of the same in the year to come, and hope you find rest and joy in the upcoming holiday weeks.

Ellen Martin
[email protected]

After graduating from UVA (go Hoos!), I moved to Raleigh for the Raleigh Fellows program where I fell in love with the city, its people, and a fellow Fellow who is now my husband, Wesley. I worked for another wealth management firm in Raleigh for seven years before joining the Beacon team in June of 2021. When not at work, you can most likely find Wesley and me walking our dog, Ollie, on the lovely Raleigh Greenways, or trying to enjoy a cup of coffee and a La Farm white chocolate baguette while chasing our two little boys around.