How’s 2025 been treating you?
We’re now two weeks into the final quarter of the year. That strange stretch when we’re looking ahead to the holidays and a new calendar, while still juggling the unfinished business of the current one.
If you set financial or personal goals back in January, now’s a great time to pause, check in, and ask: Where am I, really?
Maybe you vowed to build a freedom fund, get out of credit card debt or finally stick to a budget. Maybe you simply wanted more peace, better boundaries, or a job that didn’t drain you.
Whatever your resolutions were — and whether you crushed them or stopped caring about them by March — here’s the good news: there’s still time to finish strong.
One of the things at the top of my list is estate planning. It’s one of those uncomfortable topics no one wants to think about — wills, health directives, all of it — and one I’ve put off for too long.
But the truth is, I’m working too hard to build something lasting only to leave my affairs up to chance. Clarity is a gift I owe to myself and the people I care about.
You don’t need to overhaul your life in the next 75 days. Just choose one thing worth finishing well.
Start with a check-in:
💸 Have I saved more or spent more this year?
💸 What surprised me financially — in good ways or bad?
💸 Am I in a better position now than I was in January?
If you’re behind, don’t beat yourself up. The last quarter of the year can be powerful. Small shifts — like automating savings, bumping your 401(k) contributions, or finally tackling one lingering bill — can move the needle more than you think.
This is also the time to get ahead of holiday spending and avoid the debt hangover that too often follows New Year’s.
So dig a little deeper and ask yourself:
💸 Did I spend in alignment with my values this year?
💸 What did I invest in financially, emotionally and/or physically?
💸 What do I want to feel more of in 2026 — and what’s one step I can take toward that now?
Think of this window as a reset, not a deadline. The year isn’t over, and your goals aren’t either.
Whether you make one bold move or 10 tiny ones, progress still counts.
There’s still time.
Write down your plans. Say them out loud. Then go make them happen.
The fourth quarter
Every basketball practice and shooting session I’ve seen and been a part of ended with free throws.
Transform your time
Fifteen minutes into the quiet hour on Monday, I sank into deep thought about the invaluable essence of time.
