Author: cindylundberg@verdecm.com

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.

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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.

 

By Carl Szasz, Founder & CEO

 

 

I want to tell you a story. It is not about magic beans or fairy tales, but about two simple portfolios. One sounds safe, the other sounds completely unhinged. Yet when The Motley Fool ran an experiment a couple years ago, half their paying subscribers, people who pride themselves on being sharp investors, chose the safe one. That blew my mind then and it still does today.

 

Here’s what they showed people. Portfolio A had 2 stocks, both rising 70%. Simple math that turns $100 into $170. Smooth sailing, nothing flashy. Portfolio B also had 2 stocks, but one crashed to zero while the other exploded 1,000%. That same $100 loses $50 on one side and grows to $500 on the other. The final result is $500, far better than $170. Every logical metric points to Portfolio B as the winner, yet nearly half the respondents still chose the safe, quiet route.

  

 

If you’re thinking “Carl, people don’t understand math.” That’s not it, they do. The real issue is they don’t like how the numbers feel. That’s the point. For 22 years I’ve watched investors, and myself, fall into the same trap. We care more about the road than the destination. We want every mile marker to sit higher than the last, with no potholes or detours. We want the sausage to look perfect while it is being made, not just taste great at the end.

 

Psychologists call it negativity bias. A 30% drop feels 10x worse than a 30% gain feels good. Humans absolutely hate feeling bad. I’ve sat across desks from clients who literally lost sleep over a single red day. They would ask, “Is NVIDIA done?” Are the geniuses at the top suddenly idiots? Never mind the fact that the same stock, bought 10 years ago for $10,000, is now worth $2.4 million. Like a rocket ship, it wobbles and it stalls sometimes, but it’s still pointed up. Yet the moment it dipped 30% one year or 50% another year, people bailed because the ride felt too wild.

 

Meanwhile, what were they running toward? Bonds. Cash. Commodities. Real estate. Stuff that sounds responsible. To be blunt, bond portfolios are total snoozers. The same $10,000, after 10 years, lands at $12,000. Yawn. Not evil, just sleepy. The stock market is not only risky, it is the only place your money wakes up.

 

Here’s where things get ugly. Advisors, myself included on weaker days, start listening. Those freaked out voices get loud. “Smooth it out,” they demand. Diversify. So what happens? We sell the rocket ship to buy the glider. That’s been referred to as “di-worsification.” Not diversification. You’re not spreading risk, you’re diluting upside because you can’t stand watching the dial twitch. The truth is that the market doesn’t owe you consistency. It rises about 75%¹ of the time. The other 25% is the price of admission. If you are not willing to ride that out, you’re in the wrong vehicle. Park the money in a CD or in an annuity. I know some planners cringe at the “A” word. Think of it like driving slower. It costs you time in reaching your destination, but if the bumps make you queasy, maybe the trade off is worth it.

 

If you are the kind of person who can look at Portfolio B and think, “I get it, one 0 and one 1000%, I would still take that ride,” then congratulations. You understand investing. You understand that growth comes from chaos, not comfort. David Gardner just released a book titled Rule Breaker Investing. I am placing it in my top 3 without hesitation. He tears apart all the fake rules. Sell when it doubles. Spread it everywhere. Bonds for safety. No. Absolutely not.

 

Real diversification means you pick a handful of powerhouse companies, equal bets, all chasing stock like returns. Then you diversify the rest of your portfolio into low cost stock index funds. You do not stuff half your money into sleepy assets just because the noise makes you nervous. You are not protecting yourself from loss. You are protecting yourself from boredom.

 

Here is the thing. 60% of Americans now have money in the markets², an all time high. That means a lot of people are about to experience exponential growth in a real way. It also means a small, very loud group is about to panic. When that happens, they will blame you, blame me, blame the market, blame gravity, blame anything except the fact that they forgot markets move up and down.

 

Here’s what I’ve learned. Pain is contagious. When you have pain you have 3 choices.

1. You can deal with it by taking a hard look in the mirror and owning your actions.
2. You can recycle it by whining to everyone about how unlucky you are.
3. You can transmit it by convincing others that real investing is doomed to fail.

That last one spreads like a virus. “My advisor put me in NVIDIA, see, it is crashing.” Never mind they bought it after a 90% run up. Never mind they never learned that volatility is baked into the recipe. That is the trap.

 

Here is my holiday gift to you. Go get Rule Breaker Investing by David Gardner. Read it then read it again. Think about which portfolio you would pick if no one were watching. If it is the wild one, and you can handle the wobble, then let’s keep it that way. If it is the safe one, that’s fine too. We will find you the glider. Just make sure fear does not become di-worsification for everyone else.

We are going to spend the next year walking clients through all of this, not to scare anyone or to hold their hand, but to show them that growth is not a luxury. It is a necessity. It is math, and math doesn’t care how nervous you felt along the way. This isn’t about following rules. It is about understanding reality. So the question is simple. Are we ready to break a few rules together?

 

¹ Source: https://am.jpmorgan.com/content/dam/jpm-am-aem/global/en/insights/market-insights/guide-to-the-markets/mi-guide-to-the-markets-us.pdf

² Source: https://news.gallup.com/poll/266807/percentage-americans-owns-stock.aspx#:~:text=Editor’s%20Note:%20This%20article%20was,Economy%20and%20Personal%20Finance%20survey.

The AI Boom: Opportunity or Overheating?

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the buzzword of the decade. From ChatGPT to self-driving cars to AI-powered investing tools, the technology has captured imaginations and markets. In 2023–2025, AI-related companies saw explosive growth, and investors piled in.

But now, a new question is surfacing: Is this an AI bubble?

At Verde Capital Management, many of our clients hold portfolios with exposure to the technology sector. If you’re not a client, take a look at your own portfolio. Chances are, if you’re in any ETF, you’re exposed to technology and AI as well. So, let’s unpack what’s really happening and what you can do to stay positioned for opportunity without stepping into unnecessary risk.

 

What’s an “AI Bubble,” Exactly?

A bubble happens when excitement drives prices up faster than the fundamentals can support.

In the case of AI, that might look like:

• Sky-high stock prices for companies that aren’t yet profitable.
• Massive investments in data centers, chips, and infrastructure that may take years to pay off.
• Big promises of productivity gains that haven’t yet shown up in real-world results.

That doesn’t mean AI is a fad. Far from it. It simply means the market might be pricing in future potential that’s still years away.

 

Why AI Still Matters Long-Term

The good news is, even if valuations cool, the underlying technology is transformative.

AI isn’t a single company or product. It’s a wave of innovation touching every industry. From financial analysis to healthcare to logistics, AI is streamlining operations and unlocking new efficiencies.

The last time we saw something this revolutionary was the rise of the internet. Yes, there was a dot-com crash then, but two decades later, the companies that delivered real value (Amazon, Google, Apple) reshaped the world.

History suggests the same will be true for AI. A few long-term winners will emerge stronger than ever.

 

How a Tech-Heavy Portfolio Can Navigate the AI Boom

If your portfolio leans heavily toward technology, here’s how to stay smart:

1. Diversify within Tech

Not all tech is created equal. Balance AI-related holdings with established companies that have strong earnings, cash flow, and competitive advantages.

2. Watch Valuations

A great company can still be a bad investment if you pay too much. Our role as advisors is to identify when enthusiasm turns into excess.

3. Think in Decades, Not Headlines

AI will evolve over years, not quarters. Staying invested through volatility can often outperform jumping in and out based on media sentiment.

4. Don’t Let Fear or FOMO Drive Decisions

Both panic and over-excitement lead to poor outcomes. A disciplined, data-driven investment plan helps you benefit from innovation without betting the farm on it.

 

Are We in a Bubble? Maybe. Should You Panic? No.

The “AI bubble” debate isn’t black and white. Some valuations are stretched. Some companies are genuinely revolutionizing entire industries. Both statements can be true.

For investors, this is a moment for measured optimism. Not fear, not frenzy.

At Verde, we stay curious but cautious, forward-thinking but grounded. Our approach focuses on building resilient portfolios that can adapt to innovation and withstand volatility.

 

What’s Next for AI and Investors

Even if the AI sector cools off in the short term, the long-term impact could be enormous. A potential correction could actually create better entry points for disciplined investors who keep cash ready and strategy steady.

The bottom line is the AI era is here. But as with any major innovation, success depends on staying informed, diversified, and aligned with a clear financial plan.

 

Talk to a Financial Advisor Who Understands Innovation

If you want to review how much tech exposure is right for you or explore whether your portfolio is positioned to capture opportunity without unnecessary risk, our team at Verde Capital Management can help.

Schedule a complimentary consultation.