As you know, this is a time of year when many people make New Year’s resolutions. Lose weight, stop smoking, save more, learn a new skill, get more sleep, visit a new place, get finances in order, etc. You name it, chances are, someone has resolved to do it.

As financial advisors, people often come to us for help with any financial resolutions they have – or resolutions that require some change in their financial situation to achieve. But often, people come only after they have tried and failed to keep those same resolutions on their own.

This got us thinking: Why are New Year’s resolutions so hard to keep? In most cases, our resolutions are good for us. We want to do them. So why aren’t they easier?

There are many reasons for this, but one of the most important can be best explained by Aesop’s classic fable about…

The Dog and His Reflection

It happened that a Dog, after much hunger and long labor, had finally procured for himself a chunk of meat, and was carrying it home in his mouth to eat in peace. On his way home, the Dog had to cross a fallen tree trunk lying across a running brook. As he crossed, he looked down and saw his own reflection in the water beneath. Thinking it was another dog with an equally large piece of meat, he made up his mind to have that also. So, he snapped at the reflection in the water. But as he opened his mouth, his own meat slipped out, fell into the brook, and was never seen by the Dog again.

While some have interpreted this fable to be a warning against greed, we look at it a little differently. Despite being halfway to his goal – enjoying a nice meal – the Dog became distracted by a different goal, and in pursuing that, lost sight of his own.

In our experience, this happens to most of us every year. We set a goal we want to achieve, something we truly care about. But it takes time to accomplish our resolutions, and it’s very easy to get distracted by the newest, shiniest things. For example, imagine someone resolves to save $200 per week, so that they can finally take that trip to the Caribbean they’ve always dreamed of.

But after doing this for three months, they see another person enjoying the latest iPhone that came out, so they decide to go for that instead. After all, the Caribbean will always be there. So, they spend all the money they’ve saved – and suddenly, they’ve sabotaged their own resolution.

This happens on a larger scale, too. we’ve seen people who dream of a retirement spent in the sun…only to go chasing shadows instead. We’ve seen people with grand plans to start their own business one day…only to spend their time watching television.

Of course, there’s nothing wrong with buying a new iPhone or relaxing in front of the TV. But to truly change our lives for the better, we must learn discipline. We must hold ourselves accountable.
We must keep our eye on what’s truly important, and not be distracted by reflections.

There are several ways we can do that. Here are a few we’ve found to be especially helpful:

1. Be specific with your resolutions. People who set specific goals are more likely to achieve them. For example, instead of resolving to save money, resolve to save $200 per week.
2. Put it in writing. Write down your resolutions and post them in a place where you will see them every day. This will help remind you of what you’re working towards, so you won’t end up like the Dog in the fable.
3. Set realistic goals. Set goals that are within your reach, and don’t try to take on too much at once. Be mindful of your finances and schedule. Account for the fact that sometimes, you need to kick back and relax or spend money on a whim. In addition, take your time. There’s no prize for finishing first, and anyway, to quote another one of Aesop’s fables, slow and steady wins the race.
4. Develop a plan. This is so important. Create a timeline with steps toward your goal. Set deadlines for each and cross them off as you go. This will help you generate both the momentum and the motivation you need to continue.
5. Ask for help. Whether it’s with a financial professional or a life coach, if you find yourself struggling to reach your goals, don’t think you need to do it alone! Find someone who can help keep you focused and accountable.
6. Reward yourself. Acknowledge even the smallest of achievements. Keeping resolutions is hard work, and you should be proud of everything you accomplish!

Regardless of what you do, always remember The Dog and His Reflection. It can make all the difference.

Good luck, and have a wonderful year!

Happy New Year!

We hope 2020 is a great year for you, and the start of an even greater decade!

Fifty years ago, Vince Lombardi coached his last football game. Lombardi is universally recognized as one of the greatest coaches in football history, as well as a pioneering figure who helped break the sport’s color barrier. These days, however, Lombardi is equally remembered for his famous aphorisms about winning, teamwork, and perseverance.

For most of us, a New Year means new goals and resolutions. That’s why we thought it would be interesting to look at some of Lombardi’s most famous maxims.¹ As financial advisors, we find them both inspiring and educational, because many can be applied not just to football success, but financial success. As you work towards the resolutions you set this year, keep these quotes in mind. Applying them may just make the difference between a resolution kept and a resolution abandoned.

So, without further ado, here are:

Nine Vince Lombardi Quotes

for goals, finances, life, and everything in between

1. “The only place success comes before work is in the dictionary.”

When we think of all the people we’ve known who set ambitious goals and reached them, we are amazed by their work ethic. In many cases, the people who are most likely to reach their goals are the ones for whom the journey is the greatest reward.

2. “Inches make champions.”

This is so true. When we commit ourselves to do just a little bit extra, when we never settle for eleven inches when twelve is what we want, those inches compound on themselves, and we can accomplish so much more. 

3. “Once you learn to quit, it becomes a habit.”
4. “Winning is a habit. Watch your thoughts, they become your beliefs. Watch your beliefs, they become your words. Watch your words, they become your actions. Watch your actions, they become your habits. Watch your habits, they become your character.”

The historian Will Durant once wrote, “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence is not an act, but a habit.” As we pursue our goals in 2020 and beyond, it’s often best to focus on progressing just a little each day rather than trying to do too much, too quickly. The former is sustainable. The latter isn’t. 

5. “The measure of who we are is what we do with what we have.”
6. “The quality of a person’s life is in direct proportion to their commitment to excellence, regardless of their chosen field of endeavor.”

Just as none of us have the same goals in life, none of us have the same path to those goals. Some people begin the journey with more or less than others. Some people have more or less support than others. Some people set ambitious goals; others set more modest ones. But what truly matters, in the end, is not how much money we’ve earned or how many accolades we’ve gained. What matters is how well we spent the time given to us.

Life is an investment. If you put in all you have, you’ll take out even more. 

7. “People who work together will win, whether it be against complex football defenses, or the problems of modern society.”

Another truth. Just as no one is an island, no one, not even the most self-reliant, achieves their goals entirely on their own. We all need a team to support and be supported by. Sometimes that team is our own family. Sometimes it’s the professionals we choose to partner with. Whoever it is, when we surround ourselves with honest, caring, and hard-working people, it becomes so much easier to be all those things, too. 

8. “It’s not whether you get knocked down. It’s whether you get back up.”

Probably Lombardi’s most famous quotation, and for good reason. Whether it’s a New Year’s Resolution or a life-long goal, every single one of us will face setbacks. Every single one of us will fail – often more than once. But life is like football in a sense. We always have the opportunity to take the field again. Those who do will triumph in the end.

9. “If you’ll not settle for anything less than your best, you will be amazed at what you can accomplish in your life.”

Our favorite quote of all. As you set new goals and resolutions, always lift your eyes to your highest dream. Believe me, it’s within your reach.

It’s always been within your reach.

We hope you have a Happy New Year – and an even happier new decade!

Please let us know if there is ever anything more we can do to help you work towards your goals and resolutions.  

1 “Famous Quotes by Vince Lombardi,” http://www.vincelombardi.com/quotes.html

We recently came across a story that, to us, is a perfect example of what this holiday season is really all about. We thought you might like to read it, too.

As you know, this is the time of year when children feverishly craft their wish lists, and dream of the presents they might find waiting for them.  When every girl and boy has visions of Sony PlayStations and the newest, most popular toys.

This is to be expected. Most of us did it when we were kids. Our parents did it, too. As did our grandparents, and their parents before them. The toys change with each generation, but the desire is as old as time.

But as we get older, every generation learns what the previous one already knows: This time of year isn’t just for getting. It’s for giving. Enter the Burrito Boyz.

***

iPads. iPhones. MacBooks. As Michael Johnson looked over his son’s Christmas list, he felt increasingly unnerved by the boy’s tendency to focus more on gadgets and gizmos than on giving.¹  That’s when he decided something needed to change. It was time for his son to learn what the world was like off-screen.

So, Michael and his wife Mehrnaz came up with a novel idea. One December morning shortly before Christmas, they woke their son Alec and his friend Luke and put them to work making egg-and-cheese burritos. The boys made fifty-four in total, then followed Alec’s parents into downtown San Diego to hand them out to the homeless and hungry.²

At first, the two boys thought it was torture. Punishment for doing something wrong. And at first, the two parents thought it would be just a temporary diversion. A brief but vital lesson about how most people don’t have the luxury of wishing for iThis or e-That.

But the next Sunday, the family decided to do it again. And again. 

And again.

From fifty-four burritos to hundreds at a time. From just Alec and Luke to seven other boys from their soccer team. Each was given a job. One would scoop the eggs. Another was in charge of cheese. A third oversaw baking, and so on.¹  Soon, they no longer needed to be told what to do. They volunteered to do it.

Soon they realized that giving back wasn’t just fun. It was rewarding.

And thus, the Burrito Boyz were born.

That was nine years ago. Today, the Johnsons’ little project has blossomed into a full-blown non-profit organization. Every Sunday, the boys still go out, giving burritos and bottled water to people in need. They also provide clothes, books, and joy to everyone they meet.

As one person put it, “I really look forward to my Sundays. It’s amazing to see these boys. They’ve got the most beautiful hearts.”³

Now, almost a decade later, having served over 75,000 meals⁴ to their community, the Burrito Boyz know what our parents knew, and their parents, too: That little acts of kindness, of generosity, of service are far more valuable than any gadget ever could be.

***

We hope you enjoyed this inspiring story. From everyone at Research Financial Strategies, we wish you a wonderful holiday season spent with family and friends. Thank you for all the kindness and generosity you have shown us.

Happy Holidays – and a Happy New Year!

1- “How 1 dad inspired teenagers to make burritos for the homeless,” Yahoo, https://news.yahoo.com/blogs/the-upbeat/1-dadinspired-teenage-kids-33-000-burritos-151030526.html
2- “Teens Deliver 33,000 Burritos to the Homeless,” Daily Good, http://www.dailygood.org/story/517/teens-deliver-33-000-
burritos-to-the-homeless-the-huffington-post/
3- “Burrito Boys deliver food and friendship,” The San Diego Union-Tribune, https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sdutburrito-
boys-deliver-food-and-friendship-2011dec23-story.html
4- “About Us,” The Burrito Boyz, http://www.burritoboyz.org/about-us/

We recently came across a story that, to us, is a perfect example of what this holiday season is really all about. We thought you might like to read it, too.

As you know, this is the time of year when children feverishly craft their wish lists, and dream of the presents they might find waiting for them.  When every girl and boy has visions of Sony PlayStations and the newest, most popular toys.

This is to be expected. Most of us did it when we were kids. Our parents did it, too. As did our grandparents, and their parents before them. The toys change with each generation, but the desire is as old as time.

But as we get older, every generation learns what the previous one already knows: This time of year isn’t just for getting. It’s for giving. Enter the Burrito Boyz.

***

iPads. iPhones. MacBooks. As Michael Johnson looked over his son’s Christmas list, he felt increasingly unnerved by the boy’s tendency to focus more on gadgets and gizmos than on giving.¹  That’s when he decided something needed to change. It was time for his son to learn what the world was like off-screen.

So, Michael and his wife Mehrnaz came up with a novel idea. One December morning shortly before Christmas, they woke their son Alec and his friend Luke and put them to work making egg-and-cheese burritos. The boys made fifty-four in total, then followed Alec’s parents into downtown San Diego to hand them out to the homeless and hungry.²

At first, the two boys thought it was torture. Punishment for doing something wrong. And at first, the two parents thought it would be just a temporary diversion. A brief but vital lesson about how most people don’t have the luxury of wishing for iThis or e-That.

But the next Sunday, the family decided to do it again. And again. 

And again.

From fifty-four burritos to hundreds at a time. From just Alec and Luke to seven other boys from their soccer team. Each was given a job. One would scoop the eggs. Another was in charge of cheese. A third oversaw baking, and so on.¹  Soon, they no longer needed to be told what to do. They volunteered to do it.

Soon they realized that giving back wasn’t just fun. It was rewarding.

And thus, the Burrito Boyz were born.

That was nine years ago. Today, the Johnsons’ little project has blossomed into a full-blown non-profit organization. Every Sunday, the boys still go out, giving burritos and bottled water to people in need. They also provide clothes, books, and joy to everyone they meet.

As one person put it, “I really look forward to my Sundays. It’s amazing to see these boys. They’ve got the most beautiful hearts.”³

Now, almost a decade later, having served over 75,000 meals⁴ to their community, the Burrito Boyz know what our parents knew, and their parents, too: That little acts of kindness, of generosity, of service are far more valuable than any gadget ever could be.

***

We hope you enjoyed this inspiring story. From everyone at Research Financial Strategies, we wish you a wonderful holiday season spent with family and friends. Thank you for all the kindness and generosity you have shown us.

Happy Holidays – and a Happy New Year!

1- “How 1 dad inspired teenagers to make burritos for the homeless,” Yahoo, https://news.yahoo.com/blogs/the-upbeat/1-dadinspired-teenage-kids-33-000-burritos-151030526.html
2- “Teens Deliver 33,000 Burritos to the Homeless,” Daily Good, http://www.dailygood.org/story/517/teens-deliver-33-000-
burritos-to-the-homeless-the-huffington-post/
3- “Burrito Boys deliver food and friendship,” The San Diego Union-Tribune, https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sdutburrito-
boys-deliver-food-and-friendship-2011dec23-story.html
4- “About Us,” The Burrito Boyz, http://www.burritoboyz.org/about-us/

In 1945, there were sixteen million of them.
Today, there are less than 500,000 left.

They endured the hardships of the Depression. They watched firsthand as radio, talking pictures, and television changed how we live. They witnessed the dawn of the Space Age. And, of course, they fought to free the world from the evil grip of fascism. I’m sure you’ve already guessed who I’m referring to:

The American veterans of World War II.

According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, there were only 496,777 veterans left in 2018 – and approximately 348 die every day.  That means every day, a little bit of courage, valor, determination, and sacrifice leaves the world forever. Every day, the sights, sounds, and smells of Pearl Harbor, Midway, Iwo Jima, Sicily, Omaha Beach, Bastogne, and a hundred other tragedies and triumphs disappear from living memory.

But the world will never forget what they did there.

They slogged in trenches and stormed beachheads. They parachuted from planes and plumbed the ocean’s depths in submarines. They built bridges, broke codes, and brought food to desperate, war-wracked villages. They liberated countries and concentration camps.

Why did they do it? Why did they go, leaving their families, jobs, and futures? Not because they were paid lots of money or promised great rewards. For most, it wasn’t even because they or their loved ones were in any real danger.

They went because it was the right thing to do.
They truly are the Greatest Generation. And now, they are almost gone.

But this is why we have days like Veterans Day. While November is usually dominated by thoughts of turkey, family, and football, we really have two Thanksgivings this month. There’s the more famous one, sure, and it’s important, too.

But we also have an earlier Thanksgiving. A day to give thanks for one of the most important things in our country – our veterans. Now, Veterans Day is for all living veterans, not just those who served in World War II. But, since we don’t have much time left with the men and women who served in that epic conflict, I think it’s important to do all we can to honor and help them before they’re gone.

Fortunately, there are many ways we can serve those who served our country. We can share our money, our talents, and our time by:
• Volunteering at veterans’ hospitals, nursing homes, and clinics.
• Working with Local Veterans Assistance Programs to run errands or do housework.
• Donating funds to various charity organizations that serve veterans.

Even something as simple as delivering a homemade card, heartfelt thank you letter, or batch of cookies can make a real difference.

If you’re interested, here are two websites to get you started:
www.dav.org/help-dav/volunteer/volunteer-locally-help-veterans/
www.volunteer.va.gov/

***

It’s no exaggeration to say the world we know, the country we live in, and the freedoms we enjoy would all be drastically different were it not for those who served in the second World War. So, this Veterans Day, I hope we all can remember to give thanks for our veterans.

There were sixteen million of them once. All serving so that uncountable millions more would live free from tyranny. Now, they are almost gone – and it’s up to us to ensure that what they accomplished lives on forever.

Because it’s the right thing to do.

On behalf of everyone here at Research Financial Strategies, we wish you a happy Veterans Day!