Life, Portfolios, and Not Putting All Your Eggs in One Basket

I know there is a common theme this time of year. The beginning of a new year often represents a fresh start. Something new. A clean slate.

It’s difficult to take time to reflect without immediately jumping to what’s next.

Do you notice how we do that? At least twice a year… sometimes more.

Kind of like rebalancing a portfolio.

Maybe it’s really a rebalance of our life.

The two times that always stand out to me are New Year’s and my birthday.

Those moments when I pause and ask myself:

What have I accomplished?

Where do I want to be next year?

In three years?

In five?

Anyone else?

And sometimes those questions don’t just lead to small tweaks - sometimes they lead to bigger, scarier thoughts.

Like… is this job still serving the life I want?

Is this path still aligned with where I’m trying to go?

Because change isn’t easy.

Even when it’s good change.

Even when it’s necessary change.

There is comfort in what’s familiar, even when it’s not quite right anymore. But just like in investing, staying put simply because it’s comfortable isn’t always the same as staying put because it’s smart.

There is so much in this world we can’t control. The market. The economy. Other people’s decisions. Even some of the twists and turns in our own lives.

So when I start to feel overwhelmed, I come back to this:

Control what you can control.

My diet.

My fitness.

My education.

My ethics.

How I show up for my clients.

How I treat people when no one is watching.

As Jim Rohn said,

“Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishment.”

That applies just as much to our money as it does to our lives - and yes, sometimes that discipline looks like staying the course… and sometimes it looks like having the courage to pivot.

One thing I genuinely try to live by is giving more than I get. I believe in good customer service. In being polite. In doing the right thing even when it’s inconvenient.

And sure, I’ve fallen short on occasion - I’m human - but the intention is always there.

And I also don’t like to put all my eggs in one basket.

That goes for investing…and life.

In a portfolio, diversification isn’t just a buzzword - it’s protection. It’s acknowledging that no one asset, no one stock, no one sector should carry the entire weight of your future.

In life, it’s the same.

If your entire sense of fulfillment rests on one role, one job, one relationship, one season… you’re exposed.

Sometimes diversification in life looks like developing skills outside your current role.

Sometimes it looks like exploring a new opportunity before you’re “forced” to.

And sometimes it means walking away from something good to pursue something better aligned with your future goals.

Maybe that looks like:

• Finding purpose outside of your work

• Investing in your health as much as your career

• Nurturing friendships, not just your résumé

• Learning new skills even when things feel “fine”

  
  

Because just like the market, life has cycles. Good seasons. Hard seasons. Flat seasons. Unexpected seasons.

Warren Buffett famously said,

“Do not put all your eggs in one basket.”

But I’d add this:

Don’t put your happiness, your identity, or your future in one basket either.

And here’s where I see people struggle - both financially and personally.

We get fickle.

We chase what’s hot.

We abandon what’s boring.

We want quick results

Fast fixes.

Overnight success.

But the most meaningful things - wealth, health, relationships, character, even fulfilling careers - they’re built slowly. Consistently. With patience.

Sometimes that means sticking it out.

And sometimes that means making a hard change now so your one-, three-, and five-year goals are actually achievable later.

Just like compounding.

Tiny decisions, made repeatedly, over time… that’s where real change happens.

That’s what I mean when I talk about Compounding Change.

Not massive overhauls.

Not perfection.

Just better choices stacking on top of each other.

So as you look ahead - whether it’s a new year, a birthday, or just a random Tuesday that made you pause - I’ll leave you with this:

What needs rebalancing in your life right now?

Is it your time?

Your priorities?

Your finances?

Your energy?

Or even your career path?

And what’s one small shift you could make that your future self would thank you for?

Call to Action

If you’re thinking about how your life and your money intersect - and where they might need a little rebalancing - I’d love to be part of that conversation.

Whether it’s a portfolio review, a retirement question, or just figuring out what your next chapter could look like, let’s take a look together. No pressure. Just clarity.

Because none of us can control the market…But we can absolutely control how prepared we are for whatever comes next.