The Only Constant is Change

We're living in truly turbulent times. In times like these, we need to draw strength from something deeper: our family stories. Research shows these narratives of resilience and resourcefulness shape our ability to cope with challenges. Just as families have navigated tough times before, we can draw on this wisdom and take proactive steps now.

Remember stories of your family overcoming hardships? Perhaps, like my own family's experience fleeing Germany in 1938, your ancestors faced immense challenges. Or maybe, like my mother-in-law's recent recordings of her husband's letters to his parents during WWII, your family history holds echoes of resilience and love in the face of adversity.

These narratives teach perseverance and adaptability, giving us a sense of belonging and purpose. Just as families have navigated tough times before, we can draw on this wisdom now by sharing family stories of resilience; listening to loved ones' concerns and offering perspective, and creating new stories of how your family is navigating the current situation.

Beyond finding strength in our history, if you're like me, you'd like to regain a sense of control by taking concrete steps to adapt to the current environment. Some proactive strategies I recommend:

• Tax Loss Harvesting: Offset gains by selling investments that have lost value while purchasing a similar but not identical investment. 
• Roth Conversions: Consider converting traditional IRA funds to a Roth IRA, especially during market dips. Converting traditional IRA assets to a Roth IRA during a market downturn could allow you to pay taxes on a lower balance today, setting yourself up for tax free growth down the road.
• Diversification: Ensure your portfolio is adequately diversified to weather market fluctuations, by investing in a range of assets, including bonds, international, emerging market and smaller company stocks.

True abundance lies in our relationships, our history, and the stories that connect us. Embrace these narratives and take action to navigate any storm with resilience and hope.

Please reach out if you’d like to discuss any of these strategies I mentioned or if you just want to share your concerns and see if you're still on track. Remember, you’re not navigating this alone. 

Best Regards,

Laura