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The country music star Tim McGraw released his hit song “My Next Thirty Years” in the year 2000. This song reflects on the many mistakes that Tim made in his first thirty years of life followed by the changes he is planning on making to be a better man in the next thirty years of his life. This inspiring song is an honest portrayal of past regrets and inspiration for a better future. When looking back at the last thirty years I often wish there were things that I could change regarding the fiscal decisions that our politicians have made. Perhaps one of the more frustrating items includes the rapid growth in national debt we have accumulated.

The year 2020 has truly tested everyone’s resolve. It appears that the isolation and fear related to COVID-19 have tentacles that reach far beyond physical health. Poll after poll has shown that depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and other mental illnesses have risen sharply. Given the current situation and the fact that Thanksgiving is right around the corner, I hope that you and your family can take some time to appreciate the things in your life that you are thankful for.

In the last 30 years, I have only missed my annual Canadian fishing trip twice. The first time was when I was 19 years old, and I had recently gotten a summer job that did not allow me to take time off. The second time I missed this trip was this year due to the Covid lockdowns. The lake that our group fishes in Canada is near a city in Ontario named Red Lake. Red Lake, Ontario, is home to one of the largest gold mines in the world. This mine has produced billions of dollars of gold over the years. Several years ago, my fishing partners and I had the opportunity to get to know one of the local miners. This local miner was named Jacques, pronounced Jack. He was originally from Quebec and had a distinct French-Canadian accent, especially after he would kindly help himself to some of our Canadian Club.

This has been a year that will forever be etched in my memory for several reasons. Two notable reasons that this year will remain memorable includes the Coronavirus Pandemic, and this was also the year that we changed the brokerage firm we utilize to LPL. Changing brokerage firms is a massive undertaking. Between planning, filling out paperwork and auditing the transferred monies there are literally thousands of hours that have gone into the process. Due to the fact that this causes a serious interruption in our business coupled with the fact that this causes an interruption for you and the rest of our clients it is something we prefer to avoid unless the long-term benefits far exceed the short-term costs.

During the Coronavirus lockdown, I watched more TV than I care to admit. One of my guilty pleasures includes watching reality TV shows that follow the daily lives of people who live a primitive lifestyle. A few of my favorites include The Last Alaskans, Life Below Zero, and Mountain Men. The people in these reality TV shows have chosen to live without most of the modern conveniences of today’s society. Despite their lack of modern conveniences, the people in these TV series seem happier than just about anyone I can think of. Perhaps their happiness is a validation that material things don’t create happiness. Perhaps the old wisdom that suggests that happiness is a choice is actually true.

Anybody who knows me well understands the importance of not bothering me on Sunday afternoons. This precious part of my week serves to recharge my batteries for the upcoming week through the help of a 2 to 3-hour nap. This 2 to 3-hour nap usually starts shortly after I eat way too much for lunch. This food-induced coma has become a weekly ritual that helps start my upcoming week off feeling great due to this extra sleep that I receive. Despite the benefits, I receive from this nap I realize it comes at a cost. The cost includes loss of productivity, missed Packer games and less time to enjoy the weekend. Fortunately, I believe the benefits of this nap outweigh the costs.

Recently, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, more commonly known as the CARES Act, was signed into law. Some aspects of the coverage revolve around rebate checks, the postponement of tax filing season, as well as one significant change we wanted to bring to your attention.

Today my kids are 22, 16 and 13 years old. I am very proud and fortunate that all three kids are healthy and doing well. My wife and I periodically reflect on the types of parents we were when the kids were younger. I certainly wish I could go back in time when my kids were young and change how I was as a parent. Back when the kids where younger I was less sympathetic than I am today. When my kids did something wrong I naively thought that I could logically explain what they did wrong in a manner where they would see the value and immediately change their behavior.