September is here, and with it comes a shift. The slower pace of summer gives way to sharpened focus for many. For the financial industry, that means a barrage of predictions about the Fed, inflation data, and seasonal volatility.
As your Personal CFO, my job is to help you filter through those predictions. Because while the headlines change daily, the things that truly matter—your long-term goals, your family, and your vision for the future—do not.
Filtering the Autumn Noise
It’s easy to feel a sense of urgency when every news alert seems critical. But reacting emotionally to market swings is often a mistake. A good financial plan is designed to weather these storms, not try to dodge every raindrop. In the words of the legendary boxer Mike Tyson, “Everyone has a plan until they get hit.”
This is exactly what happens when market volatility hits and values drop. We just experienced a powerful example of this when the market reached all-time highs in February 2025 and then saw a 20% drop by April 2025. I remember how easy it was for clients to put their plans in place when the markets were calm and rising. The real test came when their plans were put into practice.
I had one couple who, understandably, reached out very concerned during this time. We walked through their plan step by step, and when we reran the numbers, they were still very much on track to accomplish their goals. Here’s what their plan revealed:
By staying disciplined and following the strategy, they avoided emotional reactions to the market noise and kept their plan intact, putting them in an even stronger position than before.
Proactive Planning: Your Autumn Playbook
Autumn is a time for preparation, and the following playbook outlines the productive conversations I’m having with clients right now. These “plays” are designed to help you prepare for the year ahead and ensure your financial plan is solid, no matter what the market does.
Play 1: Conduct a Year-End Tax Review
Tax time may not be until mid-April, but there’s a ton of tax planning we can do before the end of the year. This season, I’m working with clients to address key tax considerations:
Play 2: Create a Financial Plan for Next Year
Whether you had a plan for this year or not, now is the time to create your financial plan for 2026. As you prepare your financial plan for 2026, here are some questions to consider:
Play 3: Assess Your Investments
While I’m a firm believer in investing for the long term, you should still adjust your portfolio periodically. This is the perfect time to review and make necessary changes. Here are some of the actions I work with clients to address:
Your Partner for the Path Ahead
Navigating the markets doesn’t have to be stressful. When you shift your focus from reacting to the moment to executing a plan rooted in your personal goals, you can move forward with confidence.
As your Personal CFO, my role is to help you maintain that long-term perspective. If you’d like to review your plan to ensure you're positioned for both near-term confidence and long-term growth, let's connect.