November 2025 Newsletter

NOVEMBER 2025 NEWSLETTER

The Founding Fathers' Guide to Financial Independence

“A penny saved is a penny earned.” This nugget of financial wisdom from Benjamin Franklin, shared in the late 1700s, remains as relevant today as it was then. Despite living in a different era, our founding fathers were remarkably insightful, including when it came to finance.

“Never spend your money before you have earned it.” – Thomas Jefferson

We live in a world where everything is at our fingertips. Very often, it is hard not to want to spend money on the new toys and gadgets that make life so comfortable and entertaining. However, spending money you don’t have can be a dangerous habit.  “Remember that money is of a prolific generating nature. Money can beget money, and its offspring can beget more, and so on. Five shillings turn’d is six, turn’d again, ‘tis seven and three pence, and so on ‘til it becomes an hundred pound. The more there is of it, the more it produces every turning, so that the profits rise quicker and quicker.” – Benjamin Franklin

Don’t get into debt (but if you have it, pay it down).

“Think what you do when you run in debt: you give another power over your liberty.” – Benjamin Franklin

Take control of your budgeting.

“I find money some way or other goes very fast. But I think I can reflect it has been spent with satisfaction and to my own honor.”– John Hancock. Having a budget may help you determine how much you can afford to spend on various areas of your life, from responsibilities to entertainment. As Hancock stated, money goes fast, and without a budget, you may realize too late that you have spent too much, which can lead to the potential of going into debt to pay necessary costs.

On a personal note, it’s been exciting watching the kids settle into school. Nicky has started the season on fire. He is 3 and 0 winning his first 3 games while only allowing 2 goals with a 973 save percentage and a shutout. He received goalie of the week honors in the Atlantic Conference as well. The team is sitting in first place after the first month of the season. He gave me the game puck the coach gave him for his first college win, which brought tears to my eyes. Lexi is absolutely loving college. She had a fun Halloween weekend with all her friends at different parties. She did fantastic on all her midterm exams. Once she found out her brother had the start for the home opener, she made sure she was there for that game. I love how close the 2 of them are. It makes me and Julie so happy.

This material is for general information only and is not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual. There is no assurance that the views or strategies discussed are suitable for all investors or will yield positive outcomes. Investing involves risks including possible loss of principal. There is no guarantee that a diversified portfolio will enhance overall returns or outperform a non-diversified portfolio. Diversification does not protect against market risk.