Rebalance Your Investments, Refocus Your Life
Small, scheduled moves to keep your plan (and days) on purpose
Most of us don’t wake up one day and decide to speed.
We ease into it.
A mile or two over the limit becomes five… then ten.
We easily fall into habits — until a flashing blue light in the rear-view mirror snaps us back to the rules of the road, like a 15-year-old with a brand new learner’s permit.
Money can drift the same way.
Life too.
What drift looks like
Portfolio drift: A 60/40 mix quietly becomes 68/32 after stocks go up. You’re taking more risk even though you haven’t changed a thing.
Life drift: You meant to spend more time with family, travel, and support a cause you love. The budget is there, the time is there… yet months slide by.
The fix isn’t guilt, shame, or a sudden overhaul of your life.
It’s small, scheduled course corrections.
A quick story
Jan had a $3,000,000 portfolio and a healthy plan.
But she’d lost touch with her travel budget and was underspending what she could afford.
She wasn’t unhappy — just sort of drifting.
She’d fallen into a routine.
Then a close friend had a serious health scare.
That moment snapped Jan back.
She booked a trip she’d been putting off and refocused on the people, organizations, and experiences that matter most to her.
Jan didn’t need a new plan.
She needed a nudge back to purpose.
What’s at stake if you keep drifting
Regret: missing the trip, the time with a parent or child, or the “something” you’ve been dreaming about.
Anxiety: wondering if you can spend when your plan says you can.
A simple rhythm that works
You don’t need to check money every hour.
But more than once a year helps.
Investments: Check every 3–6 months. If a major sleeve (stocks, bonds, or cash) moves 3–5 percentage points from your target, rebalance back. Prefer simple? Rebalance once a year — every year.
Life: Do a twice-yearly values and priorities review. Get clear on what matters now. Choose your top three priorities for the next 12 months. Aim your budget at them.
My promise: My team monitors your portfolio daily and your financial plan at least monthly. We’ll let you know if an adjustment is called for.
How to rebalance your portfolio (without headaches)
Start in tax-deferred accounts. Trades there don’t trigger capital gains.
In taxable accounts, use new cash and dividends first. If you must sell, look for loss-harvesting options and be mindful of gains.
Keep it simple. Bring your asset classes back to target.
Use the trigger you set above. Act when it hits; ignore noise when it doesn’t.
How to refocus your life (so your money serves it)
Revisit your values. Which words fit right now — family, freedom, generosity, health, adventure, learning?
Choose just three priorities for the next 12 months. Just 3.
Name the budget buckets that support those priorities (travel, family time, giving, home projects) and fund them on purpose.
Make a “Regret Preventer” list. Write down three experiences you’d deeply regret skipping. Price them. Put tentative dates on the calendar. Commit to one.
The speeding-ticket snap-back — without the ticket
That post-ticket discipline — the full stop at every sign, the blinker every lane change — isn’t the goal forever.
But it’s useful for a reset.
If you find yourself drifting, do a short, focused reset month:
Bring your investment mix back to target.
Take one small action toward a top priority.
Tell a trusted person what you chose and why.
A month from now, you’ll be back in rhythm — no guilt, just direction.
What you can do this week
Review your latest statements. Compare target vs. current mix. If it’s off enough based on the rule above, plan a rebalance.
Schedule your two life reviews (one in the next 30 days, one six months later).
Pick one Regret Preventer and take the first step — buy the tickets, block the dates, or make the call.
If you want help, ask for it.
You don’t have to manage this alone.
A calm way forward
You worked hard to build your savings.
The goal now is to use it — wisely and without worry — to live a life you’re happy with.
Small, scheduled adjustments keep your portfolio on target and your days aligned with what matters most.
That’s how drift becomes direction.
I appreciate your continued readership.
Please let me know if you have any feedback or suggestions for future essays.
Until next Wednesday,
Russ