Joe Chighizola - Northwestern Mutual

10/22/2026

Some things in life are worth more than money. Happy National Make a Dog's Day to our four-legged family member!

10/21/2026

Waiting for the “right time” to start is a decision. It just doesn’t feel like one.
Every year someone tells me they’ll get started once things settle down, once the market calms, once the next raise hits. And every year “later” gets a little more expensive.
I’m not saying jump in blind. I’m saying the plan you start imperfectly beats the perfect one you keep researching.

Comment START, and I’ll send you the 3-step version of “just begin.” No product pitch.

10/19/2026

Leo had a great time at

10/19/2026

The most expensive family conversation is the one you have in a hospital hallway.
Rushed. Emotional. Everyone exhausted. Nobody agreeing on what mom or dad would have wanted, because nobody ever asked.

The families that come through it well aren’t the ones with the most money. They’re the ones who had the boring conversation at the kitchen table two years earlier.

Comment HALLWAY and I’ll send you the 6 questions worth asking your parents (or your spouse) before you need the answers.

10/17/2026

This one stuck with me.

“You can’t build a life around only doing what you feel like doing. Because the life you want is often on the other side of something you don’t want to do.”

Discipline isn’t always exciting. But neither is staying where you are.

Great perspective from Ryan Leak’s podcast.

10/16/2026

Three takeaways from ELEVATE:

Growth happens when you put yourself in rooms where people think bigger than you do.
Some of the most valuable lessons come from conversations between sessions, not just the presentations themselves.
Success means very little if you're not becoming a better person along the way.

I'm grateful for the opportunity to attend, for the relationships that were built, and for the ideas that I'll be bringing back to my practice.

Most importantly, I left reminded that personal growth and professional growth go hand in hand. Becoming a better advisor starts with becoming a better leader, friend, husband, father, and member of the community.

Excited for what's ahead and grateful for everyone who helped make the experience possible.

10/15/2026

You’ve worked hard for your money—don't let fraudsters cheat you out of it.

Scammers are smarter than ever—targeting everything from bank accounts to life insurance. Here are eight ways to protect yourself.

10/14/2026

The wealthy people I know don’t have more discipline than you. They have fewer decisions.

Their saving happens before they see the money. Their investing doesn’t depend on how they feel that week. Their plan runs whether the market is up, down, or on the news.

Willpower is a terrible financial strategy. Systems aren’t.

Comment SYSTEM and I’ll send you the 3 things worth automating this month.

10/13/2026

Helping your kids with college is a priority—but so is your own retirement. I can help you build a plan that balances both. Reach out and let’s talk through your options.

How to prioritize retirement, college savings, and debt paydown without shortchanging your future.

10/12/2026

Every dollar you own has a job. Most people’s money is unemployed.

It’s sitting in checking “just in case.” It’s in an account from your last employer. It’s in something you picked years ago and never looked at again.

Money with no job doesn’t build the life you want. It just sits there.

Comment JOBS, and I’ll send you the 4-question check to see which of your dollars are working and which are just there.