May 2021  Greetings, A newfound optimism and hopeful energy are in the air. The future holds a promise of new and better normal than a pre-pandemic one. How has this crisis made you reevaluate your life? So many variants of this question come to mind: Have you found a silver lining? What sustained you during the pandemic: relationships, solitude, stillness, nature, routines? What was an important change that took place around your relationships in the last 18 months? What do you wish you would have done differently to maintain your connections? What is a challenge you've overcome that felt satisfying? What new things have you learned, if any? What is a dream that you've never said aloud and are ready to share with the world? What do you want more of in your life? What are you letting go of? We may not have clarity yet about answers to those questions because they require reflection and discernment. Read on for some insights into how your financial life plan can help support where your next steps lead, whether that involves being in one of life’s “in-between” places, a financial “edit," or ideating new visions. Dream. Plan. Prosper.

EFFECTIVELY NAVIGATING THE IN-BETWEEN PHASES OF LIFE AND WORK At times we may find ourselves simply treading water in a place where the present feels more like the past but the future is uncertain. If you happen to be in what’s more than likely an uncomfortable and often unproductive “in-between” phase of your personal or professional life, learn how releasing the outcome and exercising proactive patience can help keep you moving forward. Read the full article.

FOUR STEPS TO SET YOURSELF UP FOR FINANCIAL SUCCESS Setting big, audacious goals is easy. Achieving those goals can be an order of magnitude harder. After all, we’ve probably all had some level of experience with just how difficult personal and financial change can be – and especially sticking with it over time. Here’s how to increase your odds of success by designing and building better goals in four easy steps. Read the full article.

YOUR HOME – AND FINANCIAL – EDIT The concept behind “The Home Edit” seems to have really taken hold, first as a business started by two enterprising women and now as a popular Netflix series showcasing their makeovers that blend home organizing and interior styling. Learn some practical tips for “editing” your home and finances with an eye toward estate planning conversations. Read the full article.

WHY WOULD MARKETS FALL IF THE ECONOMY IS HEATING UP? That faster-than-expected economic recovery has led to market challenges may seem counterintuitive, even dissonant. But markets must reconcile expectations with the reality that occurs. A new episode of our video podcast series, Ask Buckingham, cuts through the headlines to talk about why the stock market has experienced volatility even as the economy improves. Watch the video.

THE ONLY RIGHT WAY TO VIEW AN ASSET Just like you’d weigh the value of an athlete not only on their individual stats but also on how their play impacts the entire team, the most prudent way to evaluate an asset is to view its effect on the risk and return of your entire portfolio. Learn just how important it can be to consider investments as a whole, and why doing so argues for broad global diversification. Read the full article.

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