What I believe
Developed over 30+ years of delivering personal financial advice
Good morning,
After 30+ years and countless conversations with smart, thoughtful women preparing for retirement, I've come to believe a few things very deeply.
Not because I read them in a textbook, but because I’ve seen what works (and what doesn’t) in real life.
With real people.
This isn’t a checklist or a cheat sheet.
It’s a set of personal convictions.
A lens I use to help guide my clients.
And today, I want to share a few of them with you - plain and simple.
No jargon. No sugarcoating. Just the truth as I see it.
Here’s what I believe
Simplicity beats complexity.
If your plan is so complicated that you don’t understand it - or you don’t want to engage with it - it’s not a good plan. Clarity is powerful. Confusion is costly.
Retirement isn’t a finish line. It’s a pivot.
You’re not riding off into the sunset. You’re stepping into a new chapter. One that deserves as much purpose and planning as any other stage of your life.
You only get one shot at this.
This is not a dress rehearsal. You didn’t save your whole life just to keep deferring joy or living in fear of “what if.” You’re allowed to enjoy your money now - that’s what it’s for.
There’s no free lunch.
The laws of nature haven’t changed—if it sounds too good to be true, it is. Beware of big claims and promises, especially when you have to “act now!”
More money won’t fix a vague plan.
I’ve seen people with $30 million still feel lost. Money without direction just creates more decisions. Direction gives money meaning.
The 5-Year Rule.
If you need the money in the next five years, it doesn’t belong in the stock market. That’s not investing—that’s gambling.
Control what you can control.
Markets are unpredictable. The Fed is unpredictable. But you can control your spending, your savings, your allocation, your fees, and your taxes.
Your financial future comes before your kids’ college.
I know it’s hard. But your retirement is not a group project. Your kids can borrow for school. You can’t borrow for retirement.
Planning isn’t a one-time event—it’s a practice.
A financial plan is a snapshot. Planning is what happens every time life shifts, priorities evolve, or a new opportunity shows up. It’s a process, not a product.
Wisdom is rare—and worth more than information.
Google has all the data. But judgment? Context? Knowing which lever to pull and when to wait? That’s not something you can get online. Not yet, at least.
Don’t outsource your values.
I can help you align your money with your life, but I can’t tell you what matters most. That has to come from you. Your values are the foundation. Everything else is strategy.
We choose our own reality.
I choose to be an optimist. About financial matters. And life.
The financial media is noise.
If it’s on CNBC or screaming from your newsfeed, it’s probably designed to provoke—not inform. Be selective about who gets to rent space in your brain.
Being ‘busy’ in retirement isn’t the goal - being fulfilled is.
You don’t need a packed calendar to justify your existence. You’ve earned this season of life. Fill it with things that matter to you.
Good planning is about trade-offs.
You can do anything, but not everything. There’s no “perfect” choice—just the best one based on what matters most to you right now.
Your investments should be liquid and priced daily.
If you don’t understand what it’s worth - or can’t get to it when you need it - it’s probably not a good fit for your retirement plan.
I believe these things because I’ve lived them alongside real people—people like you—making real decisions in the real world.
You don’t need to be perfect. You just need to be intentional.
The list above isn’t complete.
For example, don’t get me started on why life insurance shouldn’t be used as an investment.
And annuities? Read some of the comments on this article I wrote in 2019.
I could go on…
If any of this resonates with you - or challenges you in a good way - stick around.
These are the principles I use to help my clients retire with clarity and confidence, and I’ll keep writing about them.
Links & things
Read this Morgan Housel article where he shares a story about his son getting ice cream along with his 6 perspectives on independence:
Thanks for reading.
Until next Wednesday,
Russ
P.S. > If you'd like to dig deeper or discuss any of my beliefs, just hit reply. Or explore my previous newsletters here.