Woodward Financial Advisors: Quarterly Newsletter

Hi!

Summer was a season of rest, recharging, fun, and growing together at Woodward. Over the past few months, our team enjoyed opportunities to step away, spend time with family and friends, and return refreshed, all while continuing to help our clients navigate important decisions and move confidently toward their goals.

We are grateful for the trust our clients place in us and proud of the meaningful work we continue to accomplish together. We also welcomed a new face to the Woodward team and have enjoyed the energy, experience, and perspective they bring to our office.

As we welcome fall, we are excited to share a few highlights and insights from the third quarter, including an introduction to one of our newest team members, timely financial perspectives, and a look at what we have been working on!

Below you will find a list of our features in this newsletter:

Alex Richani, CFP®, explores how emotions can influence financial decisions and how a trusted advisory team can help clients remain focused on their long-term goals in “Stories About Sketches.”

Be sure to check out our “New Faces on the WFA Team” section, where we introduce Harrison, a new member on our Operations Team!

Lastly, our Business Operations Manager, Ashley Abdalla, FPQP®, wraps up our newsletter with ways to stay connected to WFA, including:

Quarter 3 blog posts
Quarter 3 "Your Money in 20" podcast episodes
WFA Social Media and Updates

Celebrating Jaye Kendzior’s Exciting CFP® Milestone!

We are thrilled to celebrate Jaye Kendzior, who recently passed the rigorous Certified Financial Planner CFP® exam! This exciting accomplishment reflects the tremendous dedication and hard work she has put toward earning the designation. Jaye will continue completing the professional experience requirement, and we could not be prouder of this important career milestone and her commitment to continuously growing!

In a recent meeting with one of our clients, I looked over and noticed she was doing some light sketching. Nothing fancy by her standards, just a few figures on a page while we talked through her financial situation, portfolio, and what was happening in the markets.

At first, I didn’t think much of it. But the more I thought about it, the sketches said something. Here we were talking about her life savings and everything happening in the financial world, and she was comfortable enough with her plan and our team supporting her to casually sketch while we talked.

It highlighted for me something that often gets undervalued in investing – that your biggest financial risk might not be rooted in your portfolio at all; it might just be your emotions.

Fear tells you to sell when markets fall.

Greed tells you to chase what’s already gone up.

Excitement tells you that this time is different.

Anxiety tells you to do something, anything, just to feel in control.

None of this is to say emotions are bad. They’re human. They’re just not usually great guides for making prudent financial decisions.

That’s where we play a surprisingly important role. Think of us as emotional surge protectors, helping absorb the emotional voltage between you and your money that comes with watching your life savings change daily.

One of our jobs is to help you zoom out when the market makes you want to zoom in, to remind you why your plan was built in the first place, and to create enough distance between what you’re feeling today and what you ultimately want your money to help accomplish.

So, to our client: thank you for the sketches. We’ll take them as a sign of a job well done.

Harrison joins us as a Client Experience Specialist, bringing a strong background in accounting, financial reporting, and supporting small business owners. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Economics from NC State University after studying at both Clemson and NC State.

“Joining Woodward Financial Advisors and getting to work alongside passionate and knowledgeable people has been such a blessing for my career. Combining my passion for helping people while continuing to learn new skills to better assist our clients has been a very fulfilling experience. Every conversation I have is informative, welcoming, and challenges me to be a better version of myself. I look forward to continuing my journey and contributing to an amazing team!” -Harrison

Get to Know Harrison:

Tell us about your family? I was born in Baltimore, MD and moved to Charlotte, NC when I was 5 years old. I grew up in Charlotte before heading to Clemson and NC State for college. I have an older sister who still lives in Charlotte after going to culinary school.

Do you have pets? I have a 5-year-old black lab named Rico who is my absolute best friend.

What are your favorite books? I'm not sure I have a favorite book, but I've enjoyed reading murder mysteries lately. I'm reading And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie currently.

What is your favorite recipe to make? I really enjoy making a nice chicken parmesan or BBQ burger. I have gotten into cooking a lot more and enjoy trying new recipes.

Favorite vacation destination? I went to the Grand Canyon when I was 10 years old and have wanted to go back ever since. I also enjoy going to the mountains or visiting new MLB stadiums when I can.

Favorite board game? I enjoy playing chess.

Best concert you’ve been to? I have only been to one concert in my life – Childish Gambino. I have never been a huge fan of live music despite playing the trumpet growing up.

Favorite movie? Ocean's 11 - the perfect film.

What are your pet peeves? I get frustrated when people drive below the speed limit in the left lane.

Goals for 2026 or beyond? My goals for the remainder of 2026 are to read more books, try more restaurants in the Chapel Hill area, and begin working towards the FPQP® credential.

Favorite quote? “To me there are three things everyone should do every day. Number one is laugh. Number two is think - spend some time in thought. Number three, you should have your emotions move you to tears. If you laugh, think and cry, that's a heck of a day.” — Jim Valvano

Summers seem to fly by more quickly as we age. There is plenty of science by the “reason” - one theory is that we clock fewer and fewer new experiences as we age, which then doesn’t present our brains with unique events to hold onto. I’m at the stage of life where my kids are launching, and that keeps me constantly thinking about what ways in which I can spend meaningful time with them (while balancing all the things they want to do that don’t involve dad!).

This summer marked a giant milestone in the Miller home – all three of my kids are in college this year! The nest if officially empty as my youngest, Liza, went off to college this summer. She is a student-athlete, so her summer was pretty short as she had to report to soccer training camp on July 1^st. Liza is a freshman at Middle Tennessee State University where she is studying business and playing on the women’s soccer team. No tears in this photo, I saved those for later…

My son, Mason, is a sophomore at High Point University where he is a finance major. This was a fun summer for him as he worked early mornings doing manual labor at a golf course, followed by afternoons working out with friends and taking up golf himself. We got to play together a few times and I’m excited that he is enjoying the sport so we can continue to play together in the future. He was also the only one of my kids that was home for the whole summer, so it was extra special to get to spend extended amounts of alone time with Mason, which has never really happened as the middle child.

One of my other summer highlights was a bucket list trip to Omaha to watch the College World Series with my oldest child, Ava. We had a fun weekend watching the Heels and enjoying the Midwest hospitality. Ava lived in Richmond, VA this summer (with my sister) as she completed an internship at a wealth management firm. She is a senior at Virginia Tech, studying financial planning and wealth management. It’s amazing how quickly time has flown by as it seems like I was just moving her into her freshman dorm, but she is now beginning the job search as she graduates in May. Ava has her sights set on living and working in NYC upon graduation.

I’m beyond grateful to be a dad to these three awesome humans and for the opportunity to soak up some time with them whenever I can get it.

This summer has been both exciting and exhausting. We've done a lot of travel, and I’ve been very impressed with how Mia (now 3.5) and Nicco (now 1.5) have handled it. We've always believed that exposing them to travel early will help them become flexible and comfortable travelers as they get older, and fortunately, they've proven able to handle even more than we expected.

Our travels started with a BIG trip for Mia to Norway (Oslo and Bergen) to visit my wife, Lizzy, who was there for a month with work. It was amazing to get some 1:1 time with Mia, since Nicco stayed home with his Nonna, and to see her explore a new country through the eyes of a toddler. After all of that, I think her highlight was that "we got to eat ice cream every day." Thanks to all of the great suggestions from several of our clients that made our trip even better!

Since then, we've enjoyed family trips to the beach and mountains, a long drive up to visit my family in Ohio and Pennsylvania, and a trip to California for a family reunion — and, of course, Disneyland. Some of our highlights were hiking through an old-growth forest in Pennsylvania, where Mia and Nicco found mushrooms that we ate for dinner with the trout we caught; swimming in the river; their first Disney park; and lots of time with their many cousins. If you ask Mia, though, it was still the ice cream that stood out most. Life is simple when you're 3.

On the rare occasions we've been home, we've enjoyed lots of swim lessons, a new ballet class for Mia, and some time on our new outdoor furniture on the back porch — when it's not too hot to breathe. Like everyone, though, I think we're ready for things to cool down and slow down a little this fall.

I began Summer 2026 sidelined by the need for crutches and a leg brace. Thankfully, I’ve made great strides in my recovery since having knee surgery and was able to go on my annual trip to visit family in Northern California.

This year, the headliner events were a large family camping trip and taking my nephew, John, to see his favorite animal, cows, at a local farm. We camped at Gold Lake in the Sierra mountains. It was action packed and a lot of fun. We camped 15 people deep and across 3 generations! We lounged, played games, swam, and hiked over our two-night trip.

John’s trip to see cows turned out to be fun for the whole group! We were able to hand-feed calves, goats, and a few other animals on a personal tour by the farm owner. John saying “this is the best day of my life” was the best part, even if we don’t fully believe it.

Annie and I closed out summer by sneaking off for a long weekend to Beaufort, just the two of us. We enjoyed the history and restaurants in town, but the place we’ll return to again and again is Cape Lookout. We took a ferry to the lighthouse followed by a 20-minute shuttle to a more remote part of the beach and found the isolation immensely relaxing.

We had a pretty action-packed summer for the natural homebodies that we are. We took a family vacation to Oregon and stayed for a week on the McKenzie River. None of us had ever been to the Pacific Northwest, and to say it was love at first sight would be an understatement.

Before we headed inland, we hit some coastal highlights, including a huge Sea Lion cave and a whale-watching excursion (where I was the only one not seasick). On the river, we went white-water rafting, but then spent most of our time on some of the most beautiful hikes I've ever seen. The forests looked like something out of The Hobbit with huge conifers, ferns, and moss-covered rocks.

Oh, and we took my daughter, Bridget, to The University of Arkansas to begin her Freshman year! It was a hard transition for her at first, but I am thrilled to say she's settled in and doing really well.

Summer seemed to fly by this year, but I was fortunate to pack in plenty of travel, family time, and a few adventures along the way.

I kicked things off with a trip to Savannah and Tybee Island with my brother. We spent time exploring Savannah’s beautiful downtown, walking through Forsyth Park, and, of course, making a stop at the famous Leopold’s Ice Cream. I can confirm it lived up to the hype! We also made our way out to Tybee Island, where we traded the historic streets of Savannah for some time enjoying the beach and ocean.

A few weeks later, I headed back to Georgia for Father’s Day where I was able to celebrate with my dad and spend some quality time with my niece and nephews. My cousin, William, also flew down from New York for a visit, so I got to spend a few days catching up with him. One of our outings included a stroll through the beautiful Downtown Cary Park and, keeping with an apparent theme for my summer, more ice cream!

I also spent quite a bit of time on my motorcycle this summer, adding plenty of miles and building a lot more confidence along the way. I wrapped up the summer with one of my favorite rides yet, taking the back roads out to Morrow Mountain State Park. The winding back roads, lush landscape, and the beautiful view from the scenic overlook was a great way to cap off the season.

Between exploring new places, spending time with family, enjoying more than my fair share of ice cream, and putting some miles on the motorcycle, it was a summer well spent!

This summer was full of celebrations, travel, and plenty of time with some of my favorite people!

I kicked off the summer with a trip to New Jersey to celebrate one of my childhood best friends’ weddings. It was such a special weekend filled with lots of fun, laughter, and happy tears! A few weekends later, I made my way back up north to Philadelphia for my bridal shower, celebrating another exciting milestone with family and friends.

To round out the summer, my fiancé and I hosted a joint bachelor/bachelorette weekend at Lake Norman with a big group of friends. Between time on the lake, grilling good food, and plenty of games and laughs, it was the perfect way to celebrate before the wedding festivities really get underway. It was so special to have so many of our favorite people together to get to know each other a bit before our wedding in October! It was also a nice escape from the academic stress before my fiancé defended his PhD dissertation and became a Doctor in September!

Shhh... I kept a big secret from my WFA friends for most of the summer. I spent the season quietly studying for the Certified Financial Planner CFP® exam and sat for it in late July. While one or two people may have suspected something was up, I surprised most everyone when I passed and finally shared the news.

Once I got my evenings and weekends back, I took full advantage of my newfound free time. I spent a weekend with my sisters in Fleetwood, North Carolina, where we stayed in a cozy little cabin. It was so relaxing to unplug, spend time in the woods, and explore the outdoors. We hiked several trails and, of course, made an obligatory trip into Boone for coffee and a little antique shopping.

My boyfriend, Jaxson, and I also had the joy of hosting friends, one of the first times we’ve been able to do so since moving to North Carolina last year. We also spent a weekend in Virginia Beach, where we took a dip in the ocean and saw one of our favorite musicians and saxophone players perform.

As I write this, I’m packing for a trip home to Florida for my birthday, which feels like the perfect way to round out the summer. I’m looking forward to spending time with my parents and grandparents and soaking up a few more moments with family.

I’m ending the summer feeling incredibly grateful for the wonderful people in my life and the time I’ve been able to spend with them. My summer began with late nights of studying and gratitude for meaningful work, and it ended with late nights filled with laughter, conversations, and memories made with friends and family.

One of the biggest highlights of my summer was getting engaged to my fiancée, Amber, in June. It was an incredibly special moment and the beginning of an exciting new chapter for us. We have enjoyed celebrating with family and friends and look forward to planning our future together.

Also in June, I had the honor of standing beside one of my best friends as a groomsman at his wedding in Richmond, Virginia. It was a wonderful weekend filled with laughter, celebration, and time with close friends. As an added bonus, the groomsmen played a round of golf at the Country Club of Virginia, making the weekend even more memorable.

The most exciting news of all is that Amber and I are expecting our first child in January 2027! We are incredibly grateful and thrilled to begin this journey into parenthood. This season has brought us so much joy and anticipation, and we cannot wait to welcome the newest member of our family early next year.

In August, my wife Hannah and I spent a week on Peaks Island, Maine, with her family. We enjoyed plenty of lobster, shellfish, and time together while taking in everything the island had to offer. I did my best to balance all the great food with plenty of running and exercise. Basically, I spent the week eating really well and then running enough to convince myself it was okay.

I also traveled to Myrtle Beach with a group of friends for a golf trip. We played plenty of golf, enjoyed some great food and drinks, and probably spent more time talking about our rounds than we should have. It was a fun few days filled with friendly competition, a lot of laughs, and quality time with friends.

Hannah and I also made it down to Ocean Isle a few times throughout the summer. Our visits were simple and relaxing, with good beach weather and plenty of time to unwind and enjoy being together. It is hard to complain about a summer that includes multiple trips to the beach!

While most of my summer was spent joining the Woodward team and getting acclimated, I was able to get out and do a few fun things!

My summer started in June with the Carolina Hurricanes playoff run to the Stanley Cup. I got to go to all of the home playoff games and celebrate the Cup at the parade through Raleigh. It was so fun to share the highs and lows of a Stanley Cup playoff run with friends and family! Later in the summer, my dad and I went to Daytona for the NASCAR race. It was a fun weekend to watch some racing and head to the beach for a little. Finally, before summer wrapped up, I headed up to the northeast to visit my college roommate and see the Phillies, Mets, and most importantly, the Orioles play.

Outside of the few excursions, I spent time taking my dog, Rico, for walks and some surprise visits to my parents house to run around the yard. I also enjoyed going to some Durham Bulls games and relaxing with friends and family.

This summer went by so quickly! Hudson wrapped up his kindergarten year and loved every minute of it. It was so fun watching him grow, learn, and become more independent throughout the year.

One of the best parts of our summer was watching Hudson enjoy so many fun camps and new experiences! He returned to Sun Star Farm for Reptile Week and also tried Gems and Minerals Camp. He loved every minute of it ... while our washer and dryer may have felt differently. He came home impressively dirty every single day! He also fit in a few weeks of basketball and baseball camps, keeping both himself and our calendar very busy.

We spent lots of time with family, especially Hudson’s cousins. There were movie nights, backyard cookouts, and plenty of opportunities for the kids to play together. We also made it to a few Durham Bulls games, which have become one of our favorite ways to spend a summer evening. Most of the time we stuck with our stadium food favorites, but before one game, we tried the Durham Food Hall to mix things up a little!

We even snuck away to Topsail Island for a little rest and relaxation. We spent plenty of time on the beach collecting seashells, but also enjoyed relaxing and playing at the pool. It was nice to slow down and spend time together before the summer came to an end.

At Woodward Financial Advisors, our team members are always brainstorming interesting blogs and podcasts to share with our clients. If you missed any this quarter, use the links below to catch up!

If you have an idea for a future blog or podcast, please email us!