The Lowry Letter®

Week of 1/1/20

A more contemplative Lowry Letter® to being the new year, and some 2020 resolutions.

We learned: that in Las Vegas, for only $2,499.99, you can crush a car with a tank. We resolve to be open to new experiences this year, just maybe not this particular adventure.

We think: it is hard to predict the future, as Brad McMillan explains in his own look at the next 10 years. We resolve to follow his lead and focus more on the important long-term trends that lead to real progress.

We read: this moving obituary of a man whose path was irrevocably altered by his service in Vietnam. We resolve to remember that all of us travel unique paths through life. We should reserve harsh judgment of those we meet.

We've been: pleased to see our clients make so much meaningful progress in reaching their goals. This is almost always accomplished by establishing simple habits that lead to big results. We resolve to remember that discipline now equals freedom in the future.

We recommend: Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. Unlike the critical response, we really enjoyed it. It has its flaws, but we especially enjoyed watching it with the whole family. We resolve to enjoy the moment. More on this below.

Q: I’m torn between saving for the future and enjoying my life right now. What should I do?

A: The two aren’t mutually exclusive. We think saving for retirement and other goals is critically important. It shouldn’t be postponed in most cases. But life should also be enjoyable, and spending time with the people you love is why many of us are saving in the first place. Enjoying life doesn’t have to be expensive or grand. We love this quote from Jerry Seinfeld:

“I’m a believer in the ordinary and the mundane. These guys that talk about ‘quality time’ — I always find that a little sad when they say, ‘We have quality time.’ I don’t want quality time. I want the garbage time. That’s what I like. You just see them in their room reading a comic book and you get to kind of watch that for a minute, or [having] a bowl of Cheerios at 11 o’clock at night when they’re not even supposed to be up. The garbage, that’s what I love.”

As Ryan Holiday shares in this piece , we can enjoy our life and family in the midst of our work, even as we are saving and planning for the future. Success is about balancing priorities.

Advisory Services offered through Lowry Financial Advisors, Inc., a Registered Investment Adviser. Securities and additional advisory services offered through Commonwealth Financial Network®, Member FINRA/SIPC, a Registered Investment Adviser. Advisory services offered through Lowry Financial Advisors, Inc, are separate and unrelated to Commonwealth. Lowry Financial Advisors, Inc. is located at 12921 SW 1st Rd, Suite 215, Tioga, FL 32669. 352-333-7990

Lowry Financial Advisors is the only advisory firm that helps its clients reach their goals through The Achieving Simplicity® Experience™, providing clarity and confidence in their personal and financial lives.