06/15/2026
π One of my favorite traditions each summerβ¦
Every year, as summer begins, I invite my clients to send me the title of a book theyβd like to read so we can send it to them. There are no rules. It can be history, business, biography, fiction, travel, theology, gardening, or something Iβve never even heard of.
On the surface, it may seem unrelated to financial planning. But I donβt think it is.
The best financial planning relationships are about much more than investments, taxes, and retirement projections. Theyβre about understanding people - what theyβre curious about, what theyβre learning, what inspires them, and what matters to them.
Truth be told, this annual tradition is a little selfish.
I have the privilege of working with some incredibly smart, thoughtful, and interesting people. Asking for their summer reading selections gives me access to what is essentially a highly curated reading list from some of the people I respect most. Every year I discover books that would never have crossed my radar otherwise.
And this year certainly did not disappoint.
As the recommendations have come in, Iβve found myself adding title after title to my own bedside table. In fact, my biggest challenge may be figuring out how to get through all of them before Labor Day.
The books our clients choose donβt just tell us what theyβre reading. Often, they tell us something about who they are, what theyβre thinking about, and where their attention is focused right now. Thatβs the kind of understanding that helps transform a professional relationship into a meaningful one.
Now the hard part begins: deciding which book to open first.
So, whatβs at the top of your summer reading list? βοΈ π
