Concrete Gardens

Concrete Gardens

There’s a particular house in my neighborhood that always catches my eye. I’ve jogged past it for 12 years but it still makes me smile. Rather than employ mulch or landscaping pebbles, the owners opted to literally encase their flower beds in concrete: creating a...
Excuse Me, I Believe You Have My Stapler

Excuse Me, I Believe You Have My Stapler

  The term “quiet quitting” has received a lot of press recently. If you’re unfamiliar with the term, it simply refers to an employee that decides to do exactly what their job requires, and no more. New term; not exactly a new phenomenon. This is merely the...
Not All Advisors Wear Capes

Not All Advisors Wear Capes

  I have a t-shirt from a financial planning organization I belong to with the statement “My red cape is at the cleaners – #realfinancialplanning” emblazoned across the back. I’ve never worn it. Frankly, as much as I like the organization, I couldn’t...
When Helping Hurts

When Helping Hurts

  A Noxious Weed If you’ve spent any time in the southeastern United States, you’ve probably come across Kudzu. The epitome of a noxious, invasive species, Kudzu is a dense, fast-growing vine that spreads at an astonishingly 2,500 acres or more each year. It is...
“Double Stuf” Fiduciary

“Double Stuf” Fiduciary

  That’s The Way The Cookie Crumbles The term “Fiduciary” is a hot buzzword in the financial industry these days. Unfortunately, its frequent use leads to misuse, and it’s easy to forget the level of importance a fiduciary actually holds. Not all financial...
Auditing The North Pole

Auditing The North Pole

An email from my compliance support team last week put a slight damper on my holiday spirit with its reminder that all PA Registered Investment Advisors are required to submit their year-end balance sheets to the state at the year’s end. I’m happy to reveal that...