Author: cindylundberg@verdecm.com

As the lazy days of summer give way to crisp autumn air, back-to-school routines, and the final stretch of the year, investors often brace themselves for a well-known Wall Street phenomenon: the “September Effect.”

 

Historically, September has a reputation for being a rocky month for the stock market. However, at Verde Capital Management, we believe that understanding the behavioral forces behind this seasonality is the key to maintaining your peace of mind. For the disciplined investor, the September Effect isn’t a reason to panic. It’s an opportunity to stay focused on long-term wealth accumulation.

 

The Data Behind the “September Effect”

The apprehension surrounding September isn’t entirely baseless. Looking at historical data since 1928, the S&P 500 has averaged a 1.2% decline during the month of September¹. Over that same timeframe, the index has posted negative returns in September approximately 56% of the time². Even looking at more recent data starting from 1950, the S&P 500 has seen an average September return of -0.6%, making it historically the weakest calendar month for the index³.

 

So, what causes this reliable autumn dip? Analysts and market researchers suggest several behavioral and structural reasons:

• The Post-Summer Reassessment: As institutional managers and retail investors return from their summer vacations, they often take a hard look at their portfolios, leading to a wave of repositioningº.
• End-of-Quarter Moves: September marks the end of the third quarter, which naturally triggers institutional rebalancing and tax-loss harvesting†.
• A Self-Fulfilling Prophecy: Because the “September Effect” is so widely discussed, some investors pre-emptively sell off assets in anticipation of a drop, thereby creating the exact volatility they were trying to avoid.

 

Why Trying to Time the Market Damages Long-Term Growth

While the historical averages might tempt you to pull your money out of the market on August 31st and wait for October, attempting to time seasonal dips is a notoriously dangerous game for long-term compound growth.

 

First, historical averages do not guarantee future performance. If you had pulled your money out recently to avoid the September slump, you would have missed out on solid growth; the S&P 500 actually gained 2.02% in September 2024 and 3.53% in September 2025‡,Ω.

 

Second, the cost of guessing wrong is high. Attempting to time the market requires two perfect decisions: knowing exactly when to exit and exactly when to re-enter. Missing just a few of the market’s best days while waiting on the sidelines can drastically reduce your long-term returns. Despite periods of volatility, the S&P 500 has historically averaged about a 10% annual return since its inception in 1957β.

 

Volatility as an Opportunity, Not a Threat

For our pre-retiree and wealth accumulation clients, seasonal market wobbles are entirely normal and expected. In fact, a disciplined investor can view the September Effect as a strategic friend rather than a foe.

 

When the market experiences a seasonal pullback, it often creates natural rebalancing opportunities. If equities dip, your portfolio might drift from its target allocation, giving us the opportunity to buy high-quality assets at a discount and re-align your investments with your long-term risk tolerance.

 

Market history is fascinating, but it shouldn’t dictate your personal financial strategy. Your financial goals, time horizon, and retirement needs don’t change just because the calendar turns to September. At Verde, we build resilient, diversified portfolios designed to weather seasonal storms and capture long-term growth.

 

If recent headline noise has you feeling anxious about your portfolio’s positioning as we head into the fourth quarter, reach out to our team. We are here to ensure your wealth plan remains on track, no matter the season.

 

¹https://finance.yahoo.com/markets/stocks/articles/history-says-september-brutal-stocks-071000060.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAAoLlTg1v6WbL6iYpXM1CShF1So948wRxGJ_-UBv5E8CHF4g7CTnVixJQUS5dNXVoJPCHHsD58XdMCOJMn_3YHEtWdjOi_d6b2CAHIMu1K_AFJ7uDTzOYNAqDNWqMzyaf1qEcPrKFngcvx27iZqnXEpkjdC639Degl2J2NUF8wju

 

²https://finance.yahoo.com/markets/stocks/articles/history-says-september-worst-month-105700775.html

 

³https://www.fool.com/research/september-effect-statistics/

 

ºhttps://am.jpmorgan.com/us/en/asset-management/adv/insights/portfolio-insights/how-are-investors-repositioning-portfolios/

 

†https://www.forbes.com/sites/investor-hub/article/is-the-september-effect-real/

 

‡https://www.spglobal.com/spdji/en/commentary/article/us-equities-market-attributes-september-2024/

 

Ωhttps://www.spglobal.com/spdji/en/documents/commentary/market-attributes-us-equities-202509.pdf

 

βhttps://www.fidelity.com/learning-center/trading-investing/sp-500-average-return

If you have federal student loans, now is a good time to review your strategy, not just your balance. Recent legislation has significantly changed the federal student loan repayment system.

Recent changes to federal student loan repayment are shifting the landscape once again. According to the U.S. Department of Education¹, the Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) Plan is being phased out, and borrowers currently enrolled in the program will transition to a new repayment framework.

While the headlines have focused on legal and political back-and-forth, our focus is on what actually matters to your household and your budget sheet. How does this impact your cash flow, your interest costs, and your long-term wealth goals?

 

Why your Repayment Plan Matters

It’s easy to view student loan payments as an unchangeable monthly expense, but treating them dynamically can free up capital for other financial priorities like home buying, retirement savings, or building your wealth.

The plan you choose determines

• Your monthly payment.
• How much interest you’ll pay over time.
• Whether you qualify for certain forgiveness programs.
• How quickly you’ll become debt-free.

According to the Federal Student Aid², income-driven repayment plans are designed to tie monthly payments to a borrower’s income and family size, helping make repayment more management.

However, those plans aren’t automatically the best choice for everyone. Borrowers with higher incomes, for example, may pay less interest over the life of the loan under a different repayment strategy.

 

What Borrowers Should Do

According to the U.S. Department of Education¹, borrowers currently enrolled in the SAVE Plan should expect communication from their loan servicer explaining next steps and available repayment options.

In the meantime, consider taking a few proactive steps:

• Log into StudentAid.gov to confirm your loan information is accurate.
• Watch for notices from your loan servicer.
• Review the repayment plans available to you before making a selection.
• If your income has changed, be prepared to provide updated information if requested

Taking a few minutes to review your loans now can help prevent surprises later.

 

What About Student Loan Forgiveness?

One common misconception is that changes to the SAVE Plan mean student loan forgiveness has disappeared. That’s not the case.

According to the Federal Student Aid³, the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program remains fully active for borrowers who meet the program’s employment and repayment requirements. Other federal repayment options may also continue to provide forgiveness opportunities depending on a borrower’s individual circumstances.

Because eligibility requirements vary, it’s important to review the details of any program before assuming you qualify.

Student loan policies will likely continue to evolve, but proactive planning never goes out of style.

Rather than waiting until a payment changes or a deadline arrives, use this transition as an opportunity to review your repayment strategy. The right repayment plan can improve cash flow today while supporting larger financial goals like buying a home, saving for retirement, or building long-term wealth.

If you have any questions about how your student loan fits into your overall financial plan, a Verde advisor can help you evaluate your options.

 

 

Sources:

¹ U.S. Department of Education. U.S. Department of Education Announces Next Steps for Borrowers Enrolled in the Unlawful SAVE Plan.

² Federal Student Aid. Income-Driven Repayment (IDR) Plans.

³ Federal Student Aid. Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF).

 

Disclosures:

The information provided is for educational purposes only and does not constitute personalized investment, legal, or tax advice. Verde Capital Management (“Verde”) is a registered investment adviser. Please consult your financial advisor, loan servicer, or qualified tax professional regarding your individual circumstances.

Staying ahead of shifting tax codes and new investment vehicles is key to building multi-generational wealth. One of the most talked-about legislative updates on our radar is the introduction of Trump Accounts¹.

 

If you are a parent or grandparent looking to give a child a financial head start, this new vehicle introduces unique planning options. Here is a high-level breakdown of how Trump Accounts work, how they stack up against legacy accounts like 529s and UTMAs, and a sophisticated Roth conversion strategy to optimize them once your child reaches adulthood.

 

What is a Trump Account?

A Trump Account is a tax-deferred, long-term savings vehicle designed exclusively for minors under the age of 18. The primary intent behind these accounts is to democratize investing, allowing children to build an asset base early in life.

 

Withdrawals are strictly prohibited while the child is a minor. Once the child turns 18, the account automatically converts into a Traditional IRA in the young adult’s name.

 

Key Provisions & The $1,000 Government Seed

To incentivize early adoption, the federal government introduced a pilot program offering a one-time, $1,000 Treasury contribution².

 

• Eligibility: The $1,000 seed money is available to U.S. citizens born between January 1, 2025, and December 31, 2028.
• The Catch: It is not automatic. A parent or guardian must explicitly elect to open the account and claim the $1,000 deposit by filing IRS Form 4547 through their online IRS account.
• Older Children: Children born before 2025 who are still under 18 can still have a Trump Account opened for them, but they do not qualify for the initial $1,000 federal deposit.

 

Core Mechanics of the Account

Understanding the constraints and contribution rules is essential before incorporating these into a comprehensive financial plan.

• No Earned Income Required: Unlike a traditional or Roth IRA for minors, a child does not need a W-2 or earned income to have contributions made to a Trump Account.
• Contribution Limits: Families, friends, and the child can contribute up to $5,000 per year total. (The $1,000 government seed does not count toward this annual limit).
• Corporate Matching: Employers can elect to contribute up to $2,500 per year toward the child’s account on behalf of an employee. This employer contribution is excluded from the parent’s taxable income³.
• Investment Restrictions: To keep costs low and protect less experienced investors, the law requires that Trump Accounts be invested strictly in unleveraged, broad U.S. equity index funds or ETFs (such as an S&P 500 tracker) with an expense ratio capped at 0.10%. Active trading and individual stock picking are prohibited during the child’s minority.
• Tax Treatment: Contributions are made with after-tax dollars, growth is tax-deferred, and distributions later in life are taxed as ordinary income.

 

Strategic Comparison: Trump Account vs. 529 vs. UTMA

A Trump Account should not necessarily replace your current gifting strategy, but rather complement it depending on your family’s specific goals.

 

Who is it appropriate for?

Use a 529 plan if your primary, non-negotiable goal is funding higher education with maximum tax-free efficiency.

Use a UTMA/UGMA if you want your child to have access to funds in their early 20s for flexibility (e.g., buying a car, wedding, or travel), recognizing that they get full legal control of the money at adulthood.

Use a Trump Account if your goal is generational wealth compounding. It is highly appropriate for parents who want to lock money away strictly for the long term, preventing the child from spending it impulsively at age 18 while securing corporate matching or the $1,000 government seed.

 

The Advanced Play: The Young Adult Roth Conversion Strategy

Because the Trump Account converts into a Traditional IRA at age 18, all future withdrawals in retirement will be taxed as ordinary income. However, smart financial engineering allows families to turn this tax-deferred bucket into a tax-free bucket via strategic Roth conversions.

When the child turns 18 or enters early adulthood (college years or first entry-level job), they will likely be in the lowest income tax bracket of their life. This is the optimal window to execute a Roth Conversion.

 

How the Strategy Works:

• The Hand-off: At age 18, the Trump Account becomes a Traditional IRA owned by the child.
• Exploiting Low Income Brackets: While in college or working a part-time/low-paying entry job, the child’s standard deduction will wipe out a significant portion of their income tax liability.
• The Conversion: The young adult can convert chunks of the Traditional IRA into a Roth IRA. They will owe ordinary income tax on the amount converted, but because their income is so low, they will pay minimal or even $0 in actual taxes on that conversion.
• The Ultimate Result: Once shifted into a Roth IRA, that money will grow and be withdrawn completely tax-free in retirement.

Planning Note: Parents or grandparents can legally pay the tax bill generated by the Roth conversion on behalf of the child as a gift, ensuring the entire balance remains intact to compound inside the Roth IRA.

 

 

The Bottom Line

The Trump Account introduces a compelling new layer to minor savings strategies. For families with children born between 2025 and 2028, securing the free $1,000 Treasury seed is a financial no-brainer. From there, integrating the account alongside a 529 plan and UTMA can create a powerful, dual-track structure: funding their education today while setting up a tax-free retirement runway for tomorrow.

If you want to evaluate how a Trump Account fits into your existing estate planning or corporate benefits structure, please reach out to a Verde advisor.

¹ Source: https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title26-section530A&num=0&edition=prelim

² Source: https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Trump-Accounts-Give-the-Next-Generation-a-Jump-Start-on-Saving.pdf#:~:text=Children%20born%20before%20January%201%2C%202025%2C%20who,lower%20average%20account%20balances%20for%20this%20group.

³ Source: https://www.whitehouse.gov/research/2025/08/trump-accounts-give-the-next-generation-a-jump-start-on-saving/#:~:text=Employers%20may%20make%20an%20annual%20contribution%20of,28%20if%20no%20contributions%20are%20made.%20Related

 

 

Disclosures

The information provided in this article is for educational and illustrative purposes only and does not constitute personalized investment, legal, or tax advice. Verde Capital Management (“Verde”) is a registered investment adviser. Registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training.

Past performance is no guarantee of future results. All investments involve risk, including the potential loss of principal. Tax laws are complex and subject to change. Please consult with a qualified certified public accountant (CPA), tax attorney, or your dedicated financial advisor at Verde Capital Management before executing any strategy mentioned in this article.

There is a distinct shift happening in how we view our working years, as the early retirement movement officially goes mainstream. The traditional concept of working at a single career until age 65, collecting a gold watch, and riding off into the sunset is fading. Today, people want to reclaim their time much earlier in life while they still have their peak health and vitality.

 

According to Fidelity’s 2026 State of Retirement Planning Study¹, an impressive 72% of Americans say they expect to retire entirely on their own terms. But expectations don’t always match reality. While plenty of people still eye age 65 as their exit date, data shows the average American actually calls it quits closer to 61 or 62. Driven by a mix of job burnout and a longing for genuine freedom, the early retirement movement has officially gone mainstream.

 

At Verde Capital Management, we are having these exact conversations with our clients every day. But stepping away from a paycheck early requires much more than just a healthy 401(k) balance. It requires a deeper look at both the emotional purpose behind your exit and the creative math required to sustain it.

 

 

Part 1: The Emotional Blueprint (The PERMA-V Framework)
When people think about early retirement, they usually start with a number. But we challenge our clients to start with a why.

 

When we work with clients to design their ideal retirement, we use a framework from positive psychology called PERMA-V. It’s essentially a roadmap for figuring out what a fulfilling life looks like once work is no longer the center of gravity.

 

Before you hand in your resignation, walk through these six critical dimensions:

 

P – Positive Emotion: What will bring you daily joy, peace, and contentment?

E – Engagement: What activities will completely absorb your attention and keep your mind sharp?

R – Relationships: Without the built-in social network of a workplace, how will you maintain deep, meaningful connections?

M – Meaning: What is your purpose? How will you contribute to something larger than yourself?

A – Achievement: How will you continue to chase goals, learn new skills, or experience a sense of accomplishment?

V – Vitality: How will you optimize your physical health and wellness to enjoy these years?

 

Retiring from a stressful job is easy; retiring to a structured, purposeful life takes intention. If you don’t know what will fill your days, early retirement can quickly feel isolating.

 

 

Part 2: The Tactical Math of a 40-Year Retirement
Once the emotional blueprint is in place, we pivot to the engineering side of the plan. Retiring in your 50s or early 60s introduces architectural challenges that a standard age-65 retirement simply doesn’t face.

 

The 35-to-45-Year Horizon
If you retire at 55, you need to ensure your portfolio can reliably fund 35 to 45 years of life with zero earned income. You must outpace decades of compounding inflation and navigate multiple market cycles before you ever touch Social Security.

 

Getting Creative: The Rule of 55
Many people feel trapped in their jobs because they worry about the 10% IRS penalty for withdrawing from a 401(k) before age 59½. This is where strategic planning comes in. Under the IRS Rule of 55², if you leave, get laid off, or retire from your job in the calendar year you turn 55 (or older), you can take penalty-free distributions from that specific employer’s current 401(k) or 403(b) plan.

The caveat is that while the Rule of 55 is a great tool that grants early access to your retirement money, if you haven’t accumulated enough money to support yourself for the next four decades, the rule is of no use to you. Access does not equal adequacy.

This rule is also extremely technical so you will want to partner with a Verde advisor to make sure you’re doing everything correctly.

 

The Pre-Medicare Healthcare Gap
Perhaps the single largest blind spot for early retirees is healthcare. Because Medicare doesn’t kick in until age 65, retiring at 55 leaves a massive 10-year funding gap. Relying on COBRA or purchasing private insurance on the ACA exchange are options, but they can be incredibly expensive if you don’t qualify for subsidies.

For clients who are relatively healthy and are not high users of healthcare, we often look at more creative setups. One highly effective strategy is pairing a Direct Primary Care (DPC) physician with a medical cost-sharing program.

With Direct Primary Care, you pay a flat monthly membership fee directly to a local doctor. In exchange, you get unlimited access to them for all of your day-to-day needs like wellness visits, routine screenings, and basic sick care all without insurance companies ever getting in the middle.

Then, to protect against the unexpected, you pair that DPC membership with a medical cost-sharing program. This functions as a form of catastrophic community-based protection. If you experience a major medical event, like a surgery or a hospital stay, the community pool steps in to share those large expenses.

By combining the two, you secure personalized day-to-day care alongside major medical protection, often at a fraction of the cost of a traditional insurance premium.

 

Design Your Own Retirement Playbook
Reclaiming your time and leaving the workforce early is entirely achievable, but making it work over a 40-year horizon requires moving past traditional financial planning assumptions. This kind of transition works best when you start planning for it early. However, it is certainly not a deal-breaker if you are getting a later start, provided you have saved aggressively so far. Ultimately, a truly successful early retirement is a masterclass in balance because you have to marry the psychological shift of leaving your career with airtight, creative financial engineering. Bridging the pre-Medicare healthcare gap and building a lifestyle that actually brings you purpose requires proactive design. Let’s look at your specific situation and figure out exactly what it takes to get you there.

---

¹Source: https://newsroom.fidelity.com/pressreleases/fidelity-investments–study–72–of-americans-say-they-will-retire-on-their-own-terms-as-they-embrac/s/609fbcb7-3ea5-4773-a300-0659da881d2a

² Source: https://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc558

* Anarkulova, Aizhan, Scott Cederburg, and Michael S. O’Doherty. 2023. “Beyond the Status Quo: A Critical Assessment of Lifecycle Investment Advice.” Working Paper, September 21.

At Verde Capital Management, we believe wealth should be a tool for freedom, not a source of complexity. Our mission statement, after all, is to help turn money into life fulfillment. For families with significant investable assets, financial planning is less about “saving” and more about optimizing cash flow, protecting assets to leave a legacy, and ensuring your capital works as hard as you do. This guide outlines the high-level strategies our clients use to maintain control over their financial future for generations to come.

 

Successful families and business owners often face a “complexity tax” where disconnected accounts and lack of a central strategy lead to missed opportunities. A focused plan solves this by:

• Synchronizing personal and business interests to ensure your total net worth is working toward a singular vision.
• Mitigating tax drag and unnecessary risk through proactive asset location and insurance structures.
• Solidifying a legacy by preparing the next generation to manage and grow family wealth.

Step 1: Aligning vision with capital allocation

High-net-worth planning begins with a high-level audit of your “North Star.” For business owners, this often involves balancing the desire to reinvest in the company with the need to diversify personal wealth.

Take time to rank your primary objectives. Are you focused on a specific exit timeline, tax-advantaged college funding, or perhaps philanthropic goals? Once your priorities are ranked, translate them into specific dollar targets for 5-year and 20-year horizons.

 

Step 2: Advanced cash flow and liquidity management

At this level of wealth, “budgeting” is really about intentional cash flow management. The goal is to ensure that your lifestyle is funded while maximizing the amount of capital directed toward appreciating assets.

• Audit your “Lifestyle Burn”: Review the last quarter of personal and business expenses to identify areas where cash is being underutilized.
• Optimize Liquidity: Ensure you have the right amount of cash for opportunities without holding so much that you suffer from “cash drag” in an inflationary environment.
• Automate Wealth Building: Set up high-value transfers to your investment accounts the moment your distributions or salary hit your accounts.

Step 3: Fortress-level protection and the cash reserve

For families with $500k to $2.5M in assets, an “emergency fund” is more accurately described as a cash reserve. This should cover 6 to 12 months of your lifestyle expenses. This money should be in a high-yield interest savings account, like the Verde Flourish account which provides immediate access without the need to liquidate stocks during a market downturn. 

Step 4: Strategic debt and leverage

Wealthy families use debt as a tool rather than a burden.

• Low-Rate Arbitrage: If you have low-rate mortgage or business debt, it often makes more sense to keep that leverage in place while investing excess funds into potentially higher-yielding assets.
• Tax Deductibility: Always evaluate whether debt can be structured to be tax-deductible, particularly for business-related expenses or real estate investments.
• Securities-Backed Line of Credit: Using a securities-backed line of credit (SBLOC) could be a smart way to enhance your portfolio and give you flexibility for your lifestyle needs.

Step 5: Tax-efficient investing and asset location

With a portfolio between $500k and $2.5M, where you hold your assets is just as important as what you own.

• Retirement Optimization: Maximize retirement plan contributions if you are a high-income earner to significantly reduce your taxable income.
• Education Funding: Utilize 529 plans for their tax-free growth, or consider more flexible trust structures if estate tax planning is a concern.
• Tax Location: Instead of overfunding your future retirement, consult with a Verde advisor to minimize your lifetime tax burden and maximize your liquidity.

Step 7: Mentoring the next generation

The greatest risk to family wealth is often the “shirtsleeves to shirtsleeves” phenomenon. Use your wealth as a teaching tool for your children.

• Early Exposure: Introduce teens to the concepts of compounding interest and equity ownership through custodial brokerage accounts.
• Partner With Experts: Seek advisors like Verde Capital Management who prioritize education with their financial advice.
• Philanthropic Values: Use a Donor-Advised Fund to involve your children in charitable giving decisions. This teaches them how to manage money with a sense of purpose.

 

A 30-day roadmap for the high-net-worth family

• Week 1: Conduct a high-level “state of the union” meeting to align on long-term family and business goals.
• Week 2: Review your balance sheet to identify “lazy money” that is not currently invested or serving a specific purpose.
• Week 3: Consult with your tax professional and advisor to ensure your current investment contributions are optimized for the current tax year.
• Week 4: Review your estate documents and beneficiary designations to ensure they reflect your current assets and family structure.

 

Managing a seven-figure portfolio requires more than just a “set it and forget it” approach. You may benefit from Verde’s specialized services if you are facing a liquidity event, looking to optimize a complex tax situation, or wanting to integrate digital assets into your financial plan.

Verde offers judgment-free financial coaching and comprehensive wealth management for families who value their time and want a professional partner to navigate the complexities of wealth.

Ready to optimize your family’s financial future? Schedule a discovery call at bit.ly/callwithverde.

Every time the news cycle intensifies, whether it is wars, elections, geopolitical tensions, or economic headlines, it is natural for investors to feel uneasy. Clients often ask us some version of the same question:

 

“Should I be worried about my portfolio because of everything going on in the world?”

 

It is a fair question. The events we see in the headlines are often tragic, serious, and important. But there is also a key distinction investors need to make.

 

Not every global event meaningfully changes the long-term value of the companies you own.

One way to think about this is what we like to call the “Netflix Litmus Test.”

 

The Netflix Litmus Test

Imagine you own shares of Netflix.

 

Now ask yourself a simple question:

 

Does this news fundamentally change how Netflix runs its business?

 

• Are people going to stop watching shows?
• Are subscriptions likely to collapse?
• Is the company unable to produce content or distribute its service?

 

If the answer is no, then the event, while possibly significant from a global perspective, likely does not meaningfully affect the long-term value of the company. Of course, Netflix is just an example. You can apply this same question to any company in your portfolio.

 

This framework helps investors filter out noise and focus on what truly matters.

 

The Difference Between News and Investment Impact

 

The global news cycle is built around immediacy and urgency. Every headline feels like it demands attention.

 

But the stock market reflects business ownership, not just headlines.

 

When you own investments through diversified portfolios or broad market funds, you are essentially owning pieces of hundreds or thousands of businesses. Those businesses continue operating through events such as:

 

• elections
• geopolitical tensions
• policy changes
• economic cycles

 

History shows that while markets can be volatile in the short term, strong businesses adapt and continue generating value over time.

 

A Balanced Perspective

Acknowledging that many global events are tragic or deeply important is essential. Wars, humanitarian crises, and political conflicts impact millions of lives and deserve thoughtful attention.

 

But from an investment perspective, reacting emotionally to every headline can be damaging.

 

If investors constantly adjust their portfolios based on the latest news cycle, they risk:

 

• selling at the wrong time
• missing long-term growth
• abandoning well-built financial plans

 

In other words, short-term reactions often hurt long-term outcomes.

 

What Actually Matters for Long-Term Investors

Instead of focusing on every headline, long-term investors are better served by concentrating on the fundamentals:

 

• Strong businesses generating earnings
• Global innovation and productivity
• Long-term economic growth
• Diversification across industries and markets
• Staying disciplined with a financial plan

 

These factors have historically mattered far more than any single news event.

 

Why Discipline Matters

Investing success rarely comes from predicting the next geopolitical development.

It comes from consistency and patience.

The investors who tend to succeed over decades are the ones who:

 

• avoid panic during uncertainty
• stay focused on long-term goals
• maintain diversified portfolios
• tune out the daily noise

 

The Netflix Litmus Test is simply a reminder that not every headline requires a portfolio response.

 

The world will always have uncertainty. History is filled with periods that felt overwhelming at the time.

 

Yet businesses continued to grow, innovate, and create value. When the next big headline appears, pause and ask yourself, “Does this actually change how the companies I own operate?”

 

If the answer is no, it may be a signal to stay focused on the bigger picture. That bigger picture, long-term investing, has historically rewarded patience far more than reaction.

 

If you would like help building an investment strategy designed to weather uncertainty and stay aligned with your long-term goals, the team at Verde Capital Management is here to help.

 

Valentine’s Day is often filled with flowers, dinner reservations, and thoughtful gifts, but one of the most meaningful ways to prepare for a strong marriage is through honest money conversations.

At Verde, we often see couples spend months planning a wedding and very little time planning their financial life together. Yet money remains one of the most common sources of stress in marriage.

The issue is rarely the math. It’s unspoken expectations, different money habits, and assumptions that were never discussed.

Before walking down the aisle, or early in marriage, here are 5 essential financial conversations every couple should have.

1. What Does Your Full Financial Picture Look Like?

Transparency builds trust.

This conversation isn’t about judgment, it’s about understanding what exists today so you can plan responsibly for tomorrow.

Before marriage, couples should openly discuss:

• Income ranges

• Outstanding debts such as student loans, credit cards, or car loans

• Savings and emergency funds

• Retirement accounts and investments

• Major financial obligations

• Credit history

Financial surprises, not financial numbers, are what tend to create conflict. When both partners understand the full picture, decisions become intentional instead of reactive.

2. What Was Money Like Growing Up?

Money habits are shaped long before adulthood.

One partner may have grown up in a household that avoided debt at all costs. Another may have seen credit used freely. One may value financial security above all else, while the other prioritizes experiences.

These differences are not right or wrong, they’re just different.

Understanding each other’s financial background often explains present-day behaviors, spending patterns, and comfort levels with risk.

Without this conversation, couples may misinterpret habits as character flaws rather than learned behavior.

3. How Will You Manage Money Together?

There is no single correct way to combine finances in marriage.

Some couples fully merge accounts.
Some keep finances separate.
Others use a hybrid system.

What matters most is that both partners agree on the system and understand how it works.

Before marriage, discuss:

• Will accounts be combined, separate, or both?

• How will shared expenses be divided?

• Who will track bills and cash flow?

• How will large purchases be decided?

Having these conversations early prevents assumptions from turning into frustration later.

4. What Are Your Shared Financial Goals?

Marriage isn’t just combining households, it’s combining direction.

Couples should talk through:

Short-term goals

• Wedding expenses

• Moving

• Paying off debt

Mid-term goals

• Buying a home

• Starting a family

• Travel plans

Long-term goals

• Retirement

• Financial independence

• Legacy planning

When couples define goals together, financial decisions feel connected to something bigger than the monthly budget.

5. How Will You Handle Money Disagreements?

Even aligned couples will disagree about money at times.

Instead of avoiding that reality, decide in advance:

• How will we talk about financial stress?

• How will we make decisions when we disagree?

• How often will we review our finances together?

A simple monthly or quarterly “money date” can prevent small issues from growing into larger ones.

Why Financial Conversations Before Marriage Matter

Financial conflict is one of the leading sources of stress in relationships.

Structured conversations before marriage help couples:

• Reduce anxiety around money

• Build trust through transparency

• Create shared direction

• Prevent avoidable misunderstandings

• Strengthen long-term partnership

It may not feel traditionally romantic, but building a shared financial foundation is one of the most practical ways to strengthen a marriage.

At Verde, we believe financial discussions should feel steady, organized, and productive.

For couples who want guided support before marriage or early in married life, Verde’s Newlywed Money Plan provides a structured environment to work through these topics together.

Preparing for marriage isn’t just about planning a wedding, it’s about building a life on a strong financial foundation.

Identity theft and credit fraud aren’t just annoying inconveniences. They can derail your finances, damage your credit, and create months of cleanup stress. Unfortunately, many people don’t realize they’re victims until after the damage is done.

One of the most effective and underused tools to protect yourself is a credit freeze, also known as a security freeze.

Let’s break down what it is, when you should use one, and exactly how to set it up with the three major credit bureaus.

 

What Is a Credit Freeze?

A credit freeze restricts access to your credit report so that new credit accounts cannot be opened in your name without your explicit permission.

That means:

• No new credit cards
• No new loans
• No fraudulent accounts opened behind your back

Even if a criminal has your Social Security number, date of birth, and address, this stops them cold.

It’s important to note that doing this is free and does not affect your credit score.

Who Should Put a Freeze on Their Credit?

More people than you think.

You should strongly consider it if:

• You’ve been a victim of identity theft or credit fraud
• Your information was exposed in a data breach
• You receive suspicious credit alerts or collection notices
• You want maximum protection and don’t open new credit often

We work with many people who are high income earners, responsible savers, and tech savvy who still experience fraud. Identity theft isn’t about being careless, it’s about being exposed.

How to Place a Credit Freeze (Step-by-Step)

You must place a freeze separately with each of the three credit bureaus. Here are the direct links so you can do it quickly and securely:

Equifax 
Place, manage, or lift your freeze here:
https://www.equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services/credit-freeze/

TransUnion
Set up or manage your freeze here:
https://www.transunion.com/credit-freeze

Experian
Freeze or unfreeze your credit through Experian here:
https://www.experian.com/freeze/center.html

You’ll create an account with each bureau and can lift or temporarily unfreeze your credit anytime if you need to apply for credit in the future.

Will This Affect My Existing Accounts?

Many people think it does, but it:

• Does not cancel existing credit cards or loans
• Does not impact your credit score
• Does not prevent you from using your credit
• It only blocks new accounts from being opened.

How Do You Temporarily Lift It?

If you’re applying for a mortgage, car loan, or new credit card, you can:

• Temporarily lift the freeze for a specific time window
• Unfreeze it for a specific lender
• Re-freeze it once the application is complete
• It only takes a few minutes and can usually be done online.

Why We Recommend This to Our Clients

We’ve worked with too many families who:

• Didn’t know fraud happened until months later
• Lost time, money, and peace of mind fixing it
• Thought “this won’t happen to me” until it did

It’s one of the highest-impact, lowest-effort protective steps you can take. If you rarely open new credit, there’s almost no downside.

Lock It Down Before You Need To

Identity theft isn’t slowing down, but you can slow criminals down. Taking this action:

• Costs nothing
• Takes less than an hour total
• Can save you years of financial cleanup

If you want help understanding whether a credit freeze or broader financial protection plan makes sense for your situation, that’s exactly the kind of conversation we have with clients every day so reach out to a Verde advisor.

Your money should be working for you and not cleaning up someone else’s mess.

Loud budgeting is a money trend where people openly and unapologetically talk about their financial boundaries, especially when saying no to spending.

Instead of quietly skipping plans or feeling awkward about money decisions, loud budgeters say things like:

• “That’s not in my budget.”
• “I’m saving for something more important.”
• “I’m choosing not to spend money on that right now.”

The goal is to remove shame around money, normalize financial boundaries, and push back against pressure to overspend.

This trend gained traction on social media as people grew tired of “quiet luxury,” lifestyle inflation, and pretending to afford things that don’t actually fit their lives.

 

Why Is Loud Budgeting Trending Right Now?

This trend didn’t come out of nowhere. It’s a response to several real financial pressures:

• Rising costs (groceries, housing, childcare)
• Burnout from performative spending
• Post-pandemic mindset shifts
• A desire for more intentional living

People are searching for permission to spend differently and this “strategy” gives them language to do it.

This is why searches like “what is loud budgeting” and “is loud budgeting good or bad” are spiking right now.

 

Does Loud Budgeting Actually Work?

Sometimes! It can be helpful if it’s supported by a real financial plan. On its own, it often falls apart.

 

When Loud Budgeting Works

It can be effective when it helps you:

• Set clear boundaries around spending
• Reduce guilt and shame around money
• Align spending with personal values
• Say “no” without over-explaining

For people who’ve never talked openly about money, this can be empowering.

 

When Loud Budgeting Fails

It tends to fail when:

• There’s no actual budget or cash flow system
• Saying “no” replaces planning
• It becomes performative instead of practical
• People use it to avoid deeper financial decisions

In other words, being loud about money doesn’t automatically make you good with money.

 

Is Loud Budgeting Just Being Cheap?

No, but it can look that way if it’s misunderstood.

This strategy isn’t about spending the least amount possible. It’s about spending intentionally and being honest about tradeoffs.

However, without clarity, it can easily turn into reactive decisions, over-restriction, or confusion masked as confidence.

True financial confidence doesn’t come from announcing boundaries, it comes from knowing why those boundaries exist.

 

Is Loud Budgeting Good for High-Income Earners?

This is where the conversation gets interesting.

Many high-income earners struggle with money not because they don’t earn enough, but because they don’t have a system guiding their decisions. There could also added pressure in these social circles to “keep up with the Joneses.”

For them, loud budgeting can help reset social expectations, reduce lifestyle creep, and normalize intentional choices. But it often doesn’t go far enough.

High-income families usually don’t need louder boundaries,  they need better cash flow visibility, clear priorities, and a plan that balances today and the future.

Saying “no” is useful, but knowing what you’re saying yes to instead is far more powerful.

The problem? Both miss the mark if they don’t reflect real life.

A modern money system should:

• Adapt to changing income and expenses
• Support long-term goals
• Reduce mental load
• Make decisions easier, not necessarily louder

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Smarter Alternative

Here’s the truth most trends won’t tell you:

You don’t need to announce every spending decision.
You need a plan that already made the decision for you.

When your money has a clear purpose:

• Saying “no” feels obvious, not awkward
• Spending becomes intentional, not emotional
• You stop reacting and start choosing

At Verde, we see the most success when people move beyond trends and into simple, repeatable systems that reflect how they actually live.

 

Frequently Asked Questions About Loud Budgeting

Isn’t this the same as regular budgeting?

No. Loud budgeting focuses on communication and mindset, while budgeting focuses on structure. They work best when combined, not when one replaces the other.

Do I need to tell people my financial boundaries?

Only if it helps you. Financial clarity should reduce stress, not create performative pressure.

Can this strategy help me save money?

It can help short-term behavior, but long-term progress usually requires a clear cash flow system and defined goals.

Is this just another trend?

Yes, but it highlights a real need: people want permission to make intentional financial choices without shame.

 

Loud budgeting isn’t bad,  it just seems to be incomplete.

It opens the door to better conversations about money, but it doesn’t replace clarity, planning, or systems. If the trend helps you stop overspending and start asking better questions, that’s a win.

Just don’t confuse being loud about money with being intentional about it.

If you’re ready to move beyond trends and build a plan that supports the life you actually want, that’s where real financial confidence begins.