Spring 2026 Newsletter
Spring has sprung and I’ve been leaning into the feeling of newness. This sometimes means loosening my grip on plans I've already made.
A few weeks ago, I went on what was supposed to be an early-season backpacking trip to Baker Lake. The day we headed home, I didn't want to hike back. It was sunny and warm and I wanted to be on the water! Because the plans were loose enough, it worked out that I could trade the trail for a canoe and paddle back to shore instead. It wasn’t planned and it required some flexibility; it was totally worth it.
The idea of letting things unfold is hard as a financial planner, at times it feels antithetical to my job. But more and more I’m noticing that my willingness to sit with something without immediately needing to resolve it is a valuable skill. To consider a question without treating it as a commitment. To be present in a conversation and see what comes up. To linger in silence just a little longer than what feels comfortable.
From the Blog: Conversations Worth Having
The financial topic I keep circling back to with clients lately is prenups (which is not a light spring read but bear with me).
Most couples avoid the prenup conversation entirely. I get it. It feels like planning for failure, or like bringing a lawyer into something that should be about love. So they skip it. They decide, by omission, that it's not for them.
But here's what I've seen over and over: the couples who are willing to just sit with the question, not sign anything, not hire anyone, just have the conversation openly, almost always create more opportunities for alignment. The questions a prenup raises aren’t just legal, they’re intimate. What matters most to us to protect? What makes us feel safe? How do we want to show up for each other if life gets hard?
You don't have to decide anything to have that conversation. You just have to be willing to have it. Ideally while you're still on the same team, before a crisis forces the issue. My advice this spring, for couples at any stage: consider the conversation. I wrote more about this recently on my blog: Why Every Couple Should Consider a Prenup.
A Timely Tip: The Mid-Year Check-In
We're almost halfway through 2026. Before summer takes over the calendar, it's worth a quick look at how you've been spending so far this year, not to judge yourself, but to ask: is this still what I want? Your priorities in January might look a little different now. It also may be a good time to check on your current withholding!
What I'm Pondering
Reading: The Sun Magazine— my long-time favorite. Personal essays, fiction, and photography that always makes me feel more human. It recently lost its 501(c)(3) nonprofit status, which is its own fascinating side story if you're curious about how independent media survives (or doesn't).
Listening To: Jungle. I just bought tickets to see them live in October in Seattle!
Following: Andy Baxley's Builders FP Newsletter— thoughtful writing on how financial advisors can use AI more intentionally. Worth your time if you're in the industry or curious how it’s changing things!
Thinking About: Spring cleaning! What's been sitting there, quietly taking up space that you never use? Could it be donated? Fixed? Repurposed? This is your sign!
Quoting:"To pay attention, this is our endless and proper work." — Mary Oliver.
Cents of Joy News
I was recently quoted in NerdWallet in an article about what financial wellness actually looks like and in Financial Planning magazine on helping couples get aligned on money before marriage (spoiler: I suggest talking about a pre-nup!)
Thank you for reading. If anything here sparked something for you, even just a question you want to sit with for a while, hit reply and let me know.
Wishing you a joyful and refreshing spring,
Audrey
