I heard my father’s message of resilience throughout my childhood. It, and other better-known variations of the sentiment — ”The only way out is through” (a Robert Frost paraphrase), “If you’re going through hell, keep going” (Winston Churchill) — turned grit into my north star.
Read MoreIn the early sixties, my parents decided that their Brooklyn children should have a life that included the country. My frugal dad, who never believed in mortgages, saved enough to buy a small house in Columbia County for summer weekends replete with frog catching, hiking and mandatory Tanglewood concerts.
Read MoreNo one experiences higher highs or lower lows than entrepreneurs. Google “entrepreneurial mindset” and you’ll find that the five key characteristics of successful entrepreneurs are: a positive attitude, creativity, persuasive communication, intrinsic motivation, and tenacity.
Read MoreAs a wealth advisor, I often have conversations with parents concerned about spoiling their children. “I just don’t want my kid to turn into Paris Hilton,” they tell me, using “Hilton” as a byword for all that can go wrong with a privileged upbringing. Their children are often either adolescents or young adults, displaying some Hilton-esque warning signs.
Read MoreWhen it comes to charitable giving, good intentions alone do little good, and money alone does even less. Effective philanthropy starts with the heart, but has to be shepherded by the head — that is, reliance on tried-and-true metrics, which demonstrate whether a charity is actually doing what it claims to do. Here’s how — and why — it’s so important to look before you leap, and make sure your money is actually the impact you intend.
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