Well Balanced Vol. 37
📈 Stock Quote
“Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise, so I am changing myself.”
— Rumi
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🧩 Riddle Me This
Q: I grow young as I grow old,
Draped in colors, bright and bold.
I sleep in frost, but when it’s done,
I reach for rain, I chase the sun.
What am I? (Answer below!)
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🔥 Recent Posts (ICYMI)
🎙 Protect Your Spouse’s Financial Future
Quite often, one spouse handles the finances in a household. In this episode, we discuss how a collaborative financial plan can provide clarity, confidence, and security for both partners—before life’s unexpected moments happen. (Podcast)
📄 How Income Taxes Work
Filing taxes can be time-consuming (and sometimes confusing), but understanding the basics—income, deductions, and credits—can help make it more manageable. (Article)
🎙 Market Update: Increased Stock Volatility and the Economy
Market pullbacks can feel unsettling. Jason Ranallo discusses the latest market movements, puts them in historical context, and explains why staying diversified and disciplined is key to long-term success. (Podcast)
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🏡 Oregon in 1850 – Staking Claims
The single most important reason for coming to Oregon in the 1800s? Free land.
The Oregon Donation Land Act of 1850 granted settlers 320 acres (640 for married couples) if they lived on and cultivated the land for four years. After 1855, land was no longer free, but available for $1.25 per acre. By 1862, the Homestead Act reduced claim sizes to 160 acres.
Reflections:
✅ Policies shape wealth—whether through 1800s land grants or today’s capital gains taxes, estate laws, and retirement rules.
✅ Wealth management isn’t just about what worked in the past, but adapting to today’s evolving economic landscape.
✅ Oregon Wine Country now boasts 19,000+ acres and 500+ wineries—try a Willamette Valley Pinot Noir paired with roasted salmon and mushroom risotto.
(Source: historicoregoncity.org)
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🏠 Below Asking Price: A Slower Housing Market
Homes are currently selling at nearly 2% below the asking price, according to a Redfin February 2025 report. Even more notable? Homes are taking 56 days to go under contract—the longest in almost five years.
As expected, higher mortgage rates are a key factor in this slowdown. If you’re wondering how your home fits into your personal finances, let’s chat.
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⏳ The 3-3-3 Method for a Well-Balanced Day
Looking for a simple productivity structure? Try the 3-3-3 Method:
🔹 3 Hours of Deep Work – Focus intensely on your most important project, distraction-free.
🔹 3 Short Tasks – Knock out three smaller tasks that are urgent or have been postponed.
🔹 3 Maintenance Activities – Handle routine activities like responding to emails, tidying up, or exercising.
This method, introduced by journalist Oliver Burkeman in Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals, helps balance focused work with practical life tasks—enhancing productivity and well-being.
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📅 Reminder: Tax Day is Just Around the Corner
🗓 Tuesday, April 15, 2025 – Don’t forget to file your taxes or finalize your plans before the deadline!
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🧩 Riddle Answer
A: Spring Flowers 🌸
Spring’s resilience, renewal, and transformation mirror not just nature, but life itself. Growth often follows periods of dormancy or hardship.