What I’d Tell My 23-Year-Old Self About Money — and Climbing Mountains Greetings from Zermatt. The last time I stood here, I was in college. Same mountains. Same views. Completely different lens. Back then, I thought success was about earning altitude fast. Wall Street. Long hours. Steep climbs. No looking down. What I didn’t understand yet: Work isn’t just about earning — it’s about training for the next ascent. Here’s what the mountain (and money) taught me over 30 years: ⸻

(Photo: Henry noticed where my attention was and took one of my 6 CFP books I was reading to pass my Certified Financial Planning exam. ;-)  Greenwich → Houston → Atlanta. Each move for Rich's career meant starting over.  New city, new schools, zero network. But the real kicker came when Morgan Stanley held Rich's stock plan. As a "courtesy," they assigned us a financial advisor. When Rich kept dodging the guy's calls, he finally said, "Just talk to my wife." I was between ca

Caroline at 6 years old On Sat., Feb. 8th, 2014, I gave up my weekend morning to attend a parent education seminar at my daughter’s school — which, honestly, was the last thing I wanted to do with my time.  But I went because I was desperately searching for what was missing in my life. The topic was “organizational health” — not for companies, but for families. Married with three kids, living in Houston, my husband’s career was taking off, but I felt stuck. I didn’t believe i

boat to Martha's Vineyard (2019) Six years ago — summer of 2019 — we were having dinner with close friends from Houston on Martha’s...

photo is me trying to look tough with my mouse like Trinity from The Matrix Working at my desk, building a financial model, I slipped...

Fearless Girl When I worked at a hedge fund, pitching investment ideas to my boss was an adrenaline rush. I’d research a company, prepare...

Lately, it feels like chaos is everywhere. Trade cases. Court appeals. Volatile markets. Wacky job reports. High inflation. High interest...

Standing next to the Bull on Wall Street, I couldn’t help but think:  Every bubble looks different in the moment—but the story is always...

Block Island Five years ago, I started my own firm—and recently reached a big milestone: becoming SEC-registered.  That moment made me...

Forgot to take a photo at MJ, so took one after my daily run  Should every day be just a game? Over the last few years, I became an early...

(Like parallel park between two Porsches—one worth $700,000) I used to think my childhood struggles were unique.  But as I’ve gotten...

The original bulldog, ( Handsome Dan XIX) Not having gone to Yale you might have assumed I wouldn’t have had a great time at my husband’s...

When I was young and single at Harvard, I had a simple rule: if I didn’t sense he was into me, I’d move on. He’s just not that into you....

Everyone talks about the rat race. (or the Buckhead Bubble) Escaping it or buying into it?  If the system or game we are playing is to...

On a recent trip to visit Nashville, it was the first time my daughter and I took a trip just the two of us. Caroline loved Vanderbilt...

I love March.  Spring is coming, and the weather is getting a little warmer. I grow to miss the cold winter days of my runs because I...

During our recent family trip to Paris, I found myself reflecting deeply on the creative process of Picasso.  To understand his...

After two days of indulging in stinky cheese, savoring incredible yet affordable wine, and running through the stunning streets of...

During a quiet three-day weekend, I discovered the ultimate way to think about taking a chance and if something in life is worth it.  I...

Photo is of me as a teen in Africa where planes land on grass with no pavement Many of us suffer from anxiety, and it’s hard to figure...