Harv's Corner 11/25/2025

Think of your financial choices as a path to discovery
Money decisions can put you on a route that is forever changing.
By ROSS LEVIN For the Minnesota Star Tribu​ne

IF YOU WANT YOUR FINANCIAL LIFE TO BE REWARDING, CONSIDER YOUR PATH TO BE A CHANGING ROUTE SHAPED BY MOVEMENT RATHER THAN AS A STATIC MAP.

I recently came across an article that offers a valuable perspective amidst the current market uncertainty. As we navigate this period of political transition, it's easy to get caught up in the noise and predictions of doom and gloom. However, this article encourages a more prudent approach: staying the course.
The author wisely suggests that, rather than making rash decisions based on fear or speculation, we should take a deep breath and assess our financial situation calmly. A bit of precautionary padding may be wise, but ultimately, maintaining a long-term perspective is key.
Market fluctuations are a natural part of the economic cycle. We have weathered such storms before, and we will again. By staying focused on our investment goals and resisting the urge to react impulsively, we can position ourselves for continued success.
I hope you find this article as insightful as I did.
​Harv

I use a navigation app when I am trying to get somewhere because it often takes me on routes that I would not have uncovered myself: It might guide me to less traveled streets, but they are nonetheless roads.

When you chart your financial course, you might want to be on a road, but you are really on a path. And as the poet Antonio Machado wrote, "The path is made by walking."

Every financial choice you make sets you on a path of discovery. There is not a GPS to effortlessly guide you. Instead, you bushwhack your way through what you thought life would be like to get to the way it really is.

Homeownership, for example, will take you on various paths. Some of these lead you to unexpected pleasures: a community you enjoy, maybe more space or something to call your own. But you invariably will also make discoveries you weren't completely prepared for: surprise repairs, intensified levels of upkeep and more responsibility.

Prepare yourself for this incredible trek by focusing on a couple of keys.

Build in elasticity. Nothing goes exactly according to plan. Keep at least a couple of months' expenses relatively liquid. Having access to credit lines helps you navigate surprises. Set up a home equity line of credit that you will hopefully never use but is there if you need it. Have a credit card that you don't use but can serve you in an emergency. After doing this, freeze your credit by contacting the three major credit reporting agencies. Your credit is easily unfrozen if you need it later. It is often easiest to receive credit when you need it the least, so plan in advance.

Don't fall in love with your balance sheet. It's a bunch of numbers that change all the time. Your path is made by taking the steps necessary to move forward, but you can count on some blisters along the way. Markets go up and down. Determine how much you want to save and where it needs to go rather than hyperfixating on your investments.

Raise your standard of living slightly more slowly than raises in your income. Enjoy spending by managing it. We appreciate assets more when we have to make choices around them.

If you want your financial life to be rewarding, consider your path to be an ever-changing route shaped by movement rather than as a static map.

Spend your life wisely.

Ross Levin is the founder of Accredited Investors Wealth Management in Edina. He can be reached at [email protected].