Stonecreek Blog

Do you remember the first time you went on Zillow? For many of us the initial draw to the real estate site wasn’t so we could buy or sell a home. We wanted to see how the value of our neighbors’ houses compared with ours. We love to compare ourselves

The start of a new year is a great time to make improvements to your personal, professional, and financial life. However, as you’ve probably experienced, making significant change isn’t easy. Research shows that only 9% of people succeed at keeping their New Year’s resolutions. In fact, nearly a quarter of

January 1st is synonymous with New Year’s Day just like July 4th will always be Independence Day (at least for Americans). But has it ever struck you that observing the start of the year in the middle of winter seems a little arbitrary? Wouldn’t it make more sense to begin

There’s a long tradition of remarkable-but-true stories associated with the holiday season. After all, it’s the darkest and coldest time of year (in the northern hemisphere) and maybe that’s why stories of unexpected generosity and hope stand out. Take for instance Peggy King’s story of a last minute “Santa” who

If you’ve ever tried to teach a child to ride a bike without training wheels, you’re probably familiar with the following scenario. The kid is on the bike, feet on the pedals, hands on the handlebars. You the adult are holding firmly onto the back of the bike seat. The

The holidays can be a difficult time for many people. For some, it’s an annual reminder of lost loved ones or strained relationships with living family. For others, this time of year is a reminder of personal shortcomings, or just a sense that despite all the festive trappings, their life

Your Investment Strategy Shouldn’t Be Based on or Change Because of Political Headlines In today’s world, political news often dominates the headlines, and for many investors, it can stir up concerns about how these events might impact their portfolios. From debates over tariffs and inflation to discussions about immigration and

For many working people, the ominous feeling begins on Sunday night. They know that when they wake up on Monday, they are going to have to make it through another tough day at their job—research says that Mondays are the most stressful days at work.1 Dr. Jordan Grumet often felt

With the election, you probably saw some pretty dramatic predictions about what would happen to the economy if one side or the other wins. While the outcome of this particular election was hard to predict (not just nationally, but for state and local offices as well), economists identified some market

Fear doesn’t just make you anxious. It limits what you can do, because you naturally steer clear what you fear. For example, let’s say you’re afraid of water. According to Harvard Medical School, the fear of water (or aquaphobia) is common. And it causes some people to avoid the kind

In his song “Letter to Me,” country singer Brad Paisley gives the advice to his teenage self that might have made his subsequent life a little easier.1 Some of his instructors are very specific: “At the stop sign at Thomlinson and 8th, always stop completely, don’t just tap your brakes.”

Have you ever been talked into participating in an “adventure” that turned out to be a lot harder than you were led to believe? Maybe a friend convinced you to run a half marathon with them, or tag along for a 60-mile bike ride. “It won’t be that hard,” they

Earlier this year, the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) closed above 40,000 points for the first time.1 This milestone was featured across news channels and websites, characterized as good news for the country. CNN financial reporter Allison Morrow commented that for most people it was a comforting whole number which

Getting your finances under control can bring benefits to many areas of your life. First of all, being on a budget, having funds set aside for unexpected expenses, and putting away money for retirement means that you can be in a much better position to face life’s financial challenges (which

As you imagine retirement and the latter part of life, it’s natural to think of experiences you’d like to have that would carry great meaning. Maybe it’s taking all the grandkids to Disney World, visiting the town where your immigrant great-grandparents were from, or even playing a round of golf

You’ve probably heard the saying, “If you keep doing the right things, you’ll eventually get the results you want.” This wise advice applies to situations where you’re putting in a lot of effort but not yet seeing much result. It could be anything from golfing to parenting to working in

You have probably heard of friends or family who have achieved success in getting into shape with the help of an online fitness coach. These acquaintances had been trying to lose weight through diet and exercise, but for various reasons had not had success. But with the help of a

One of the biggest motivators for speculative investing remains hidden to most people. If you ask someone who buys and sells stocks with the goal of realizing short-term gains why they do it, they will probably say that it’s to make money. Of course, making money is the goal of

Did you ever watch America’s Funniest Home Videos?  It was a great way to laugh together as a family. But secondly, the show illustrated a lot of practical wisdom. For example, you could see why you should never jump off your roof onto a trampoline while holding a giant bouncy