3rd Quarter 2025

If the stock market were a pair of 15-year-old twins, it would be equal parts brilliant and baffling—one moment confidently explaining quantum physics, the next arguing over who gets the front seat. It’s moody, impulsive, and somehow always texting in all caps. Just like parenting teenagers, investing requires patience, perspective, and the ability to smile through madness. We don’t react to every emotional spike or sudden silence, we stick to the plan, knowing that consistency (and sometimes sugary treats) will get us through. Your financial strategy works the same way: steady, grounded, and built to endure even the loudest growth spurts.

This quarter, instead of focusing on charts, rates, and economic predictions that may or may not hold water by the time I finish this letter, I want to share something I recently learned from a book called Inner Excellence, written by Jim Murphy. Yes, I—your finance guy—occasionally reads books that don’t have the words “Yield Curve” or “Stock Market” in the title. 

Investing with Inner Excellence

Jim Murphy, a former pro baseball coach turned performance coach, lays out a framework for living (and performing) at your highest level—not through control or certainty, but through clarity and peace in the present moment. This resonated deeply with me… because let’s be honest, the world of investing isn’t exactly sitting on a white sand beach drinking Pina Colada’s. It’s more like driving bumper cars with your 15-year-old twins: full of motion, noise, and an occasional unexpected crash in the back.

Here are three takeaways from Inner Excellence that apply perfectly to your financial life:

1. Let Go of Outcomes

Murphy writes, “The more you focus on the outcome, the more fear and anxiety you’ll experience.” Sound familiar? Whether it’s watching the daily market moves or wondering if AI is going to replace all of us (except me of course) we tend to fixate on results.

But investing is not about predicting what comes next. It’s about aligning your money with what matters most to you—your goals, values, and dreams—and trusting that the process, over time, will do its job. Let the market do its funny little dance. You’ve already chosen the right dance floor to stand on.

2. Master the Inner Game

The real battle isn’t external. It’s not between bulls and bears. It’s between fear and discipline. Between panic and patience. Between CNBC and your inner voice that says, “I’ve got this.”

Murphy talks about building a mindset of courage, clarity, and connection. That’s our job as stewards of your financial life—not to guess which way the wind is blowing, but to help you stay grounded in your vision when the wind picks up.

So, when markets wobble, we breathe. We stay present. We don’t sprint to sell because someone on Twitter (X) said the market is going to crash like a fiery meteor. We come back to our plan and make sure it matches your risk tolerance level. That’s real strength.

3. Detach from your Ego

One of the most refreshing parts of Inner Excellence is the idea that your worth isn’t tied to outcomes. You’re not “a good investor” if the market is up or “a bad investor” if it’s down. You’re an intentional, thoughtful person, building a meaningful life—and money is just one tool in your toolkit.

In fact, the best investors I know are humble. They’re not trying to impress anyone with their wealth or their performance. They’re trying to create confidence and flexibility. They want to know they can take that trip, support that cause, or help their kids or grandkids without first checking the current price of the S&P 500.

So Where Do We Go From Here?

We stay committed. We stay curious. We keep our eyes on our scoreboard—not Wall Street’s.

You’ve done the hard part: saved your penny’s and put a plan in place. Now we continue to execute that plan with discipline and perspective. That doesn’t mean we ignore what’s happening in the world. It means we respond with wisdom, not with fear.

And when things get noisy? We remember Murphy’s mantra: “Greatness comes from within.” So does resilience. And so does the ability to laugh at the chaos while calmly sipping coffee (or something stronger) as the market (or your 15-year-old twins) have their tantrum.

Thanks for the continued trust, the laughs, and the occasional panicked emails, that I always respond to with “you’re going to be okay”—because you are. Keep showing up. Keep breathing. Keep your eye on the prize and remember: we’re not here to beat the market. We’re here to build a beautiful life you can love.

 Warmly (and only slightly caffeinated),

Craig