Our Insights

Our Insights

Part of our commitment to our clients is to provide ongoing education and insights related to finances and investing. Visit us here monthly to read about our thoughts and insights related to industry concepts and hot topics. Have something you want to learn more about? Send us a note at voyagewa@nm.com and we’ll add it to our article list.


Man's hand holds a coin from the metal eagle tails against the sea, is about to throw a coin into the sea to return
HEADS OR TAILS? WOULD YOU LET A COIN FLIP COST YOU HALF A MILLION DOLLARS?

February 10, 2023

If you knew you had almost a coin flip’s chance of incurring a half a million dollar or more cost in retirement, would you plan for it? Read on to learn more about long-term care and when the right time is to start thinking about it as part of your financial planning journey.


Passenger airplane landing on extreme weather
PLANNING FOR MARKET VOLATILITY AS PART OF YOUR INVESTING JOURNEY

Although we may not be able to plan for escaped crocodiles on planes, we can certainly plan for market fluctuations.

December 9, 2022

Similar to how passengers on planes look to flight attendants and their actions for reassurance on whether they’re safe, investors watch the reactions of financial planning experts. Lately it feels like many in the finance world are running to the cockpit rather than remaining calm in the face of market volatility. Bear markets and recessions will inevitably happen multiple times over the course of our lives. Read on for three key takeaways during volatile markets.


What in the world could forest fires, a Jack Pine tree and bear markets have in common? Like the Jack Pine tree, investors can do a few key things to protect their seeds when it feels like their money is going up in flames (i.e. when we are in a bear market). Learn more here.
FOREST FIRES, AND JACK PINE TREES, AND BEAR MARKETS? OH MY!

A lesson on waiting for the fire to pass when it feels like your money is going up in flames

September 9, 2022

What in the world could forest fires, a Jack Pine tree and bear markets have in common? Like the Jack Pine tree, investors can do a few key things to protect their seeds when it feels like their money is going up in flames (i.e. when we are in a bear market). Learn more here.


Brain from wooden puzzles. Mental Health and problems with memory.
A CRASH COURSE ON AVAILABILITY BIAS AND RECOGNIZING HOW IT PLAYS OUT IN FINANCIAL PLANNING

Learn how intuition can fail you, and more importantly, how you can overcome it when making investing decisions

May 26, 2022

We all use availability bias as a mental shortcut in decision making. Whether we’re aware of it and how it might be clouding our judgement are the bigger issues to explore. Availability bias consistently tries to usurp rationality and guide our decisions, which if made incorrectly in the financial planning world, could have real and significant consequences. Read the full article to learn more.


Close up of hand man holding a paper heart with the sea background. love concept, happy valentine.
Why Values-Based Financial Planning Drives More Progress than Goal Setting Alone Ever Could

March 18, 2022

Over the last five years, the Voyage team has had hundreds of values-based financial planning conversations, and enough time has passed that we’ve been able to gather some insights on how it has impacted our work, and more importantly, the lives of our clients. Check out our five observations on why incorporating values into your financial planning and decision making can significantly change the way you talk about and view money.


Majestic black swan swimming on Lake Rotoiti
Predicting a Black Swan event in the Finance World

It’s kind of like planning a Vikings Super Bowl parade

November 8, 2021

If you’ve watched any financial news lately, you’ve likely seen things like “stocks dangerous” or “stock market crash on the horizon” in headlines. People everywhere are attempting to predict a Black Swan event in the finance world, but to us that seems a bit like planning a parade for a Vikings Super Bowl win. Curious why? Read the full article here.


Woman on boat looking at water
DON’T JUST DO SOMETHING, STAND THERE!

Why standing still and staying the course makes sense during an inflationary economic period

September 28, 2021

There’s an old saying that goes, “Don’t just do something, stand there!” Of course, that isn’t the phrase.

We’ve all heard the real phrase, “Don’t just stand there, do something!” many times; in emergency situations, at a sporting event, or maybe it was just your parents scolding you for not helping with the chores. It’s hardwired into our brains from an early age that doing something is better than doing nothing. But is it always? Read the full article here.