It’s important to distinguish between things we can control and things we can’t.
So, what are the things we can’t control?
The stock market going up...
The stock market going down...
Interest rates going up...
Interest rates going down...
The earnings reports of companies...
While these factors can and do affect your finances, they’re not in your control.
So in my practice, while we will probably talk about them from time to time, we won’t spend time dwelling on these topics.
I started Second Comma because I’m really passionate about helping one-income households pursue their goals.
As a family man myself, I know all about the struggle of needing to make sure everyone is clothed and fed while also planning for our future.
(Not to mention, the occasional—okay, annual—vacation to the beach. Gotta get some Vitamin D, right?!)
After years of learning and honing the best financial strategies for single-income households, I’ve got a plan.
And I want to help you do the same for yourself and your family.
I began working with a financial advisor at
"The Big Firm.”
We’ll call big-firm-advisor Bill.
Bill was “my dad’s guy" and is pretty much what you picture as the standard advisor prototype: Off-white button down, mustard yellow tie, leather briefcase — you get the picture.
Well, Bill pulled some strings to “let me in” under the account minimums.
After a few months of working with Bill, I realized I had no idea how I was paying him. So I called him to ask.
And you know what? Bill couldn’t give me an answer. He was quite literally unable to answer my question.
His words, verbatim: “It’s not clear cut like that.”
But we still had questions.
So we proceeded to another human (not Bill, who was no longer “my dad’s guy” either).
This advisor was someone I met in a Bible study group at my church (let’s call him Mike).
Halfway through our interview, Mike stopped and told me that I was in the wrong career.
He told me I needed to be a financial planner because, as a hobby, I had developed a knowledge base that rivaled most financial planners he knew.
So you know what I did?
I went out, got licensed, and earned some experience as a financial planner.
I know this isn’t a job interview... but I think you should know my five greatest strengths anyway.
These are the strengths I bring to the table in our relationship.
They guide my philosophies regarding money and financial planning for single-income families.
And they are the foundation for every recommendation I make to my clients to help them pursue their goals.
I’m Knowledgeable
I’ve been learning about personal finance for a while now. But don’t worry, I’ve also got the licensing and experience to back it up.
I’m Honest
I take honesty incredibly seriously. As a fiduciary financial advisor, honesty is an extremely important component of every client relationship.
I’m Deliberate
You’re serious about your financial goals. So am I. Everything I recommend is intentionally in pursuit of the goals that are most important to you.
I’m Confident
I’m a confident guy. And I use my confidence to help you make fearless decisions with your money as you strive to create the life you want for your family.
I’m Grateful
Gratitude is a core component of my practice. I believe actively practicing gratitude helps us deal with adversity and live more fulfilling lives.