Retirement. It’s the dream we’ve all been sold, and the dream that many of us are working toward tirelessly. For most, it means hitting 65, packing the job in, and enjoying your golden years in comfort, free of stress, and possibly somewhere sunny. On its surface it sounds pretty nice right?

Well, the first thing to consider is the number. Or, in other words, the number that you need to retire in style, without giving your finances a second thought.

I’m writing this in the fresh, promising early spring, post a typical gloomy end of winter where I have to digest my Dolphins disappointment once again, and the lull in quality sports activity. Amongst this gloom, there's a beacon of hope and wisdom that always shines brightly around this time: the Berkshire Hathaway annual shareholder letter, penned by the legendary Warren Buffett.

Financial literacy, or a lack thereof, has been an ongoing issue in this country. We spend most of our young lives in formal education (school and university), yet most Americans don’t have the first clue about anything financial1 . Taxes are as foreign as long-form equations and the world of investing, savings, and personal wealth can look like the most complex of scientific formulas.

“Where should I keep my money?”. This is the multi-million dollar question that every financial advisor, accountant, wealth manager - and frankly anyone in the financial field - has been asked at least once in their career. Like many questions in finance, however, the best answer is that it depends.

And just like that, 2024 has arrived. If you’re like me, the last 12 months probably felt like they simultaneously rushed by while moving at a glacial pace. 2023 had all of the usual suspects; geopolitical events, economic instability, the pessimists warning of the end, the optimists saying there was nothing to fear, and so much more.

Last Tuesday, a message in a chat of two lifelong friends — bonds forged over 25+ years —stopped me in my tracks. It contained a news article, “Charlie Munger, Warren Buffet’s right-hand man at Berkshire Hathaway, passes away at 99.” Instantly, a wave of profound sadness washed over me, compelling me to reply with a single, visceral word: “F@&%!”

Welcome to the pre-game huddle. Picture this: an athlete at the peak of their career, millions in the bank, but then, fast forward a few years, and they're struggling financially. Unfortunately, this isn’t just a cautionary tale; it’s a scenario that’s all too common among those who don't play the long game with their finances. 

In the journey of life, there inevitably comes a moment of introspection when we pause to contemplate our values, experiences, and the state of our world. Recent events in Israel have propelled me to this juncture and prompted a moment of deep reflection. Today, I am eager to delve into the significance of "Enough is Enough" as viewed through the prisms of family, identity, and community.

What do you do when you get bored? It’s an uncomfortable feeling that no one enjoys. If you’re a parent like me, you’ve likely heard the phrase “I’m bored” more times than you can count. You see, boredom is a dangerous thing. In life, too much time on your hands and too much time spent sitting around can be a catalyst for getting into trouble when you're a kid. Take me, for example. When I was little, my brother and I would have bottle rocket fights to see who we could hit first.

When considering the myriad factors that determine life's outcomes, timing stands as a paramount determinant. It holds the power to transform life's trajectory, both personally and professionally. The importance of timing was even at the center of The New York Times bestseller, and one of my personal favorite books, Outliers: The Story of Success by Malcolm Gladwell.

Why do you get up and go to work every day? Is it to provide for your family? Maintain your lifestyle? Or build to something bigger in the future? Whatever your motivations, I think that we can all agree that you will want to keep as much of your hard-earned money as possible.

For small business owners, every dollar counts. Whether it’s increasing sales, adding a new product, or cutting down on spending, I’m sure you’re looking for any way to cut costs and increase profits. At the end of the day, profits and cash flow are the fuel that drives the long-term sustainability of any great business.

We’ve all heard the saying “What doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger.” It’s used in movies, countless motivational speeches, social media graphics, and even pop songs. The problem is that as human beings, we’re hard-wired with two conflicting ideas.

One thing that most people have in common is that they would never want to lose their income. However, as the possibility of a recession continues to make headlines, it’s easy to understand why people are worried. The reality is that people may lose their jobs, or their income may be affected.

Investing can feel like a bit of a mystery – I find this to be ironically true in today's age of information. In the past, accessing information about investing wasn’t easy because it wasn’t readily available. In the early 90’s when I first started learning about investing at the age of 10, there was no internet.

We’ve all heard the cliché that “history is written by the victors.” Well, the world of investing is no different. When it comes to the news, social media, or even conversations with friends, we only hear about the victories. We hear how this influencer sold a digital picture of a monkey for X or how a teenager made Y off a speculative digital currency.

Ah, Spring has sprung! Growing up in South Florida, I had no clue what the seasons were. As my dad, a native New Yorker, often told me, “Florida only has 3 seasons, hot, hotter, and bleeping hot!” Since I have been living in New York/New Jersey for a while now, Spring has by far become my favorite season. Everything seems new, and a sense of a fresh beginning.

If you asked anyone of your friends, family, or colleagues what their goals for the future were, I’m willing to bet that purchasing a house will come up at some point. After all, this is the great “American dream” that we’ve all been spoon-fed as we grow up. Get a good job, establish your family, and then put your savings and everything you earn into a family home.

This time of the year is typically the doldrums for me. It’s still cold out, there are no major holidays, and no great sports. Football has ended and baseball has not yet begun. The highlight of this time of year has always been waiting for the Berkshire Hathaway annual report, with the corresponding letter from its Chairman, Warren Buffett.

When it comes to finding success and balance in life, you’ve probably been given similar advice to most other working people today. “You only get out what you put it”, “Time is money”, and other messages that sell us on the idea of working now, and a living later lifestyle that points us all to the "golden years" of retirement.