The Objective Advisor

Most people spend more time planning a vacation than thinking about the next 20 or 30 years of their lives.

When The Talking Heads released Once in a Lifetime in 1980, the world backdrop was anything but calm. Inflation was high, recession fears were real, and uncertainty seemed to be everywhere. More than four decades later, the feeling is familiar — and it has us singing, same as it ever was. 

And you may ask yourself, “Well, how did I get here?” 

Earlier this week, the groundhog saw his shadow — six more weeks of winter, or so tradition says. It’s a familiar ritual that always seems to prompt a moment of reflection: how easily life can settle into patterns that feel repetitive. Same season. Same story. Same headlines. And yet within those routines, there’s always an opportunity to see change more clearly — and to decide how we’ll respond to it.

Habits, after all, are what keep us moving forward. They create the structure that allows for progress, while consistency turns intention into lasting results. But even the best habits deserve an occasional check in. In a world that prizes efficiency, taking time to step back, assess, and recalibrate can reveal new ways to strengthen both purpose and performance.

Have you ever wondered why some people prioritize saving every penny, while others thrive on spending? Or why financial discussions can sometimes become tense between friends, partners, or family members? The lens we each use to view money—our "money personality"—plays a significant role in how we manage finances and interact with others.

Identifying your money personality will increase your self-awareness, enhancing your approach to financial planning by allowing you to play to your strengths while also addressing potential challenges. It will also open the door to empathy and appreciation for the diverse money personalities of those close to you.

With summer upon us, many are ready for a well-deserved break or vacation. As you recharge, this season can also be a good time to reflect on your broader financial picture—especially how others’ choices are affecting your own.

We often view our financial status as a series of purely personal decisions—what to save, how to invest, when to spend. But these decisions rarely happen in a vacuum. Whether it’s a family member’s needs, a business partner’s influence, or shared living arrangements, the choices of others in our lives have a real impact. Some helpful tips are found in the articles below. As summer brings families together, we’re more aware than ever how interconnected our financial decisions can be.