By Mark Zembo, Wealth Management Advisor
When I was in sixth grade, something extraordinary happened — something you don’t often hear about these days.
Our entire class went on an overnight camping trip — not to a local museum or landmark, but to a real camp. We had cabins, canoes, archery lessons, trails to explore and the wide-open woods. For many of us, it was our first time away from home. We were surrounded by classmates and teachers and fueled by equal parts excitement and nerves.
That idea of a base camp has stayed with me over the years. I think about it on long winter drives when I finally pull into my driveway after hours of snow and traffic. The relief of being home — safe, warm, familiar. The haven of base camp comes to me after a stretch of business travel when I sit down at my own dinner table, sleep in my own bed and let the pace of the outside world slow down for a while. There’s comfort in knowing where you can return. It reminds me of a few lines from the Pink Floyd song “Time”:
Home, home again
I like to be there when I can
When I come home cold and tired
It’s good to warm my bones beside the fire
We all need a base camp. Not just in childhood or after a hard day, but throughout life. Especially in our financial lives.
At Elevage Partners, we think of a financial plan as a person’s true base camp. It’s the place you begin your journey — from your immediate needs to your long-term goals. And it’s the place you return to when conditions change or the trail gets rough.
Your plan reflects the whole of your life:
- What matters to you and why
- What you hope to accomplish
- What you need to protect
- How much risk you’re willing — and able — to take
- When you need access to certain resources
When markets are calm, that plan might seem like background noise. But when volatility picks up — as it has recently — the plan becomes essential. It reminds you why you made certain decisions, and it guides what you should (or shouldn’t) do next.
Do you have one — a place that grounds your goals, shelters your strategy, and gives you the confidence to keep going, even when the trail takes a turn?
If it’s been a while since you revisited your financial plan — or if you’re not sure you have a true base camp — now is a good time to pause and take stock. Does the plan still reflect what’s most important to you and your family? Does it need an update? A solid plan offers clarity and direction, helping you stay focused even when conditions shift. It’s not about predicting every turn. It’s about being prepared.
At Elevage Partners, we help clients build custom base camps (i.e., financial plans) so that every decision is aligned with their goals, values and the life they want to live – their WHY.
If you’re ready to return to your financial base camp, clean it up a bit, expand it or even start one from scratch, we’d be honored to help.
The information contained herein represents the views of Elevage Partners at a specific point in time and is based on information believed to be reliable. No representation or warranty is made concerning the accuracy of any data compiled herein In addition, there can be no guarantee that any projection, forecast, or opinion in these materials will be realized. Any statement non-factual in nature constitutes only current opinion which is subject to change. These materials are provided for informational purposes only and do not constitute investment advice. Any reference to a security listed herein does not constitute a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold such security. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. The historical returns of any securities and/or sectors mentioned in this commentary are not necessarily indicative of their future performance.