Susan's Scoop

Time Moves on Anyway

Welcome to 2026! This time of year always leaves me a little conflicted. Culturally, we’re encouraged to set bold New Year’s goals and hit the ground running, yet the cold, dark days naturally invite us inward into a slower, quieter rhythm.

By late January, those big January 1st goals can start to feel overwhelming, especially the ones that can’t be accomplished in a single year: paying off student loans, building a seven-figure nest egg, learning a new language, or truly mastering a new skill.

I was complaining to a friend recently about how I’ve wanted to learn Spanish for years, but I always get discouraged about the 5+ years of diligent work it would take. And you know what she said? “Those 5 years are going to pass anyway.”

She was right. Time isn’t standing still just because I haven’t started. In five years, I can either be far more comfortable speaking Spanish, or still telling everyone I’d love to learn, but it just takes too long.

The same idea applies to our finances. We talk to so many women who dream of having a million dollars saved, but the 20+ year timeline feels too daunting to even begin. Yet those 20 years are going to pass regardless. At the end of them, you can either have built meaningful wealth or still be stuck at the starting line, telling yourself the timeline was too long.

So here’s to using this season to reflect, dream big, and stop letting long timelines discourage us from getting started. Let’s celebrate slow, deliberate progress: the kind that requires patience with being bad at things for a while, and the confidence to keep going anyway, one small step at a time.

What I'm Reading

📕 The One Thing My Worst Investments Had in Common – Nick Maggiulli (Blog Post)

Like Caitlin shared a couple of weeks ago, I also got pulled into the allure of private investments a few years back - many of which have since turned into disappointing lessons. One of the biggest pain points has been their illiquidity: my money stuck in an untouchable purgatory, much of which I may never see again. Still, there was a strange comfort in realizing I wasn’t alone, as even prominent finance writer Nick Maggiulli found himself dealing with the same reality.

Caitlin and I created our FREE 2026 Annual Spending Planner as part of the Free Kick Off 2026 Bundle, which includes a wide range of thoughtful resources from other creators - things around planning, habits, reflection, and taking better care of yourself as the year starts. The 2026 Spending Planner is a simple, big-picture tool to help you think through where your money goes over the year - not to restrict yourself, but to make sure your spending matches what matters most to you.

When You're Ready, Here's How We Can Help

Tax Strategy Package

We’re now offering a Tax Strategy Package where you work directly with us. You’ll walk away with a customized roadmap designed to lower your tax burden, increase your take-home pay, and align your financial decisions with your long-term goals.

Wealth By Design

If you want to learn more about saving and investing strategies, be held accountable, have your questions answered, and get clear on your unique wealth plan, Wealth By Design might be just what you need.

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If you have questions, but you're not sure where to start, let's have a free call. Our free strategy session gives you the chance to share where you're stuck or curious, so we can guide you through some of your best options.