Black Barn Financial, LLC

08/20/2026

Since 1950, the S&P 500 has been at or near (within 10%) all-time highs about 64% of the time. In fact, the S&P 500 is at an all-time high right now.

Does that make you want to invest or wait? In other words: Why does investing feel hard even when markets are doing well?

These are common questions, and understandable ones. In our latest newsletter, we explore the psychology of investing, the data behind all-time highs, and strategies to reduce the need for constant decision-making.

Spoiler alert: Part of the answer is loss aversion, where investors tend to experience the pain of loss more strongly than the satisfaction of an equivalent gain. Loss aversion can make market declines and record highs feel like reasons to hesitate. Without an investing plan, loss aversion could have you sitting on the sidelines, waiting for a moment that might never come.

Read our latest newsletter here:

Let's talk about why record highs are actually pretty normal, why your brain does not like them, and how to keep growing your wealth (over time) without losing sleep.

08/18/2026

Happy first day of school, AISD!

What a summer it’s been—and just like that, Austin is back to school!

We’re excited for the year ahead and all the moments that come with it, from the first day of class to the events and traditions that bring our school communities together. At Black Barn Financial, being part of this community means showing up, getting involved, and supporting the students, families, teachers, and staff who make Austin such a great place to call home.

Want to get to know Black Barn Financial? We put together a quick guide to who we are and what we’re all about. And if you see us around your school or neighborhood this year, come say hi.

To everyone heading back to school, here’s to a great year ahead! 📚✏️

08/11/2026

Support an important conversation at SXSW 2027!

We're proud to support Black Barn Financial Managing Partner Kacie Swartz, CFP®, CIMA®, whose SXSW PanelPicker proposal is now open for community voting!

Together with Drea Haire, Board Certified Estate Planning & Probate Attorney, and Tara Yukawa, Co-Founder of SageVault, Kacie's proposed panel—"The Default Settings Are Still 1985"—tackles an issue that impacts nearly everyone.

While technology has transformed so much of our lives, the systems behind estate planning, beneficiary designations, and probate haven't kept pace. This session explores why beneficiary forms can override a will, where AI and "death tech" are making a difference, and what everyone should know to better organize their financial and estate plans.

If you'd like to see this important conversation take the SXSW stage, we'd appreciate your support!

Here's how to vote:
Visit: https://participate.sxsw.com/flow/sxsw/sxsw27/community-voting-sxsw/page/community-voting/session/1784841154332001PiJw

Create a free SXSW account and click the to vote for "The Default Settings Are Still 1985."

As a bonus, you'll get an early look at the innovative sessions being considered for SXSW 2027 and can vote for your favorites, too.

Thank you for supporting Kacie and our friends of the firm, Drea Haire and Tara Yukawa, as they work to bring this timely and practical conversation to the SXSW community!

PanelPicker® is the official SXSW user-generated session proposal platform. Enter ideas and vote to help shape Conference programming for SXSW and SXSW EDU.

07/09/2026

Join us for our next Webinar! RSVP HERE: https://lnkd.in/gb77PdRY

06/15/2026

The first half of 2026 has been anything but quiet for investors. You’ve seen changing tariff policies, ongoing inflation concerns, questions about interest rates, historic tech and AI valuations, geopolitical uncertainty, and plenty of anxiety-inducing market headlines along the way.

But instead of tracking breaking news, Glakas and the Black Barn team invite you to zoom out and place these events in a historical, long-term perspective.

On July 13, we're hosting our 2026 Mid-Year Market Update to discuss what has happened so far this year and what we're watching as we move into the second half of 2026. As always, our focus is on evidence over predictions and long-term investing over short-term noise.

Join us - your friends, family, and wider network are welcome, too!

We'll cover:
• The major market and economic developments of the year so far
• Inflation, interest rates, and the Federal Reserve
• Risks, opportunities, and planning considerations for long-term investors

Register today:

This link will take you to a page that’s not on LinkedIn

06/11/2026

06/11/2026

We're back on Facebook!

While it's been a while since our last post, we've never stopped serving our clients, growing our team, and investing in our communities. We're excited to reconnect here and share more of what we've been building at Black Barn Financial!

Growth is for Life. 🌱

We're celebrating a year of TEAM growth at Black Barn Financial, and most importantly, the people who make that growth possible.

Thanks to the trust of our clients and community, we've been able to welcome incredible talent to our team and continue investing in the experience we provide every day.

📸 Swipe through to meet the team behind our growth:

• Lindsay Thorstenson, our newest Assistant Financial Planner, who will be supporting clients throughout their planning journey.

• Tima Brown, who recently celebrated her first year with Black Barn and will be leading our Community Partnership Initiative to support local schools and youth programs.

• Jacob Ritter, who joined us full-time in January and has become a trusted resource for our clients.

• Marianne Darmstaedter, who helps keep our team connected and our client experience running smoothly.

As we grow, our mission remains unchanged: helping people navigate life's transitions and opportunities with confidence, clarity, and purpose.

Thank you for allowing us to be part of your story. We are honored to grow alongside you.

To learn more about our team, visit www.blackbarnfinancial.com.

09/13/2024

This month we celebrate Gwen Leonares being an AMAZING member of the team for the past five years. Cheers to Gwen and cheers to the next five years! We appreciate you every day, Gwen!

07/12/2024

Amy Calistri, our portfolio manager, reflects on eight years with Black Barn Financial:

"When I first started with Black Barn, I loved creating portfolios that I felt would best meet clients’ needs. But the thing that blows me away now is watching those same clients take advantage of their results — sending their kids off to college, putting a down payment on their first house, or comfortably retiring. And it’s been so rewarding to be a part of that."

We are so thrilled to celebrate you, Amy!