Friday Reflections: Career Questions, Trump Accounts, and Memorial Day Adventures

Happy Friday!

Here are a few thoughts, reflections, and musings from the week.

Intentional Living

What Does "Enough" Look Like in a Career?

Both my wife and I have been struggling a bit with work over the last few months. For each of us, the reasons are different, but they generally stem from the same place: a sense of dissatisfaction.

We joke that despite our ages, we still don't know what we want to be when we grow up.

I'm feeling massively underutilized at work, while she's frustrated by bureaucracy and a low-performing team that she doesn't have the ability to change. As a result, we've found ourselves talking more frequently about alternatives: new jobs, business ownership, consulting, or even taking some time off. A sabbatical, perhaps?

That said, we both recognize that we're in a fortunate position. We have stable careers, good incomes, and a pretty clear understanding of what tomorrow will look like.

There's comfort in that.

At the same time, comfort can sometimes become its own trap.

I don't think stability should prevent someone from making a major life change. But I also don't think those decisions should be made rashly.

For now, we'll keep talking, thinking, and evaluating. Maybe we'll make a change. Maybe we won't. Either way, we want the decision to be intentional rather than reactive.

One thing I'm learning is that "enough" isn't always a financial question. Sometimes it's a question of purpose, challenge, growth, and fulfillment.

Financial Independence

Trump Accounts: Worth Considering?

The new "Trump Accounts" continue to pop up in the news. This week I saw an article announcing that a new smartphone app will soon be available to support them.

The accounts are an interesting idea, although many of the details are still being clarified.

My current understanding is that they're essentially retirement-style investment accounts for children. Funds can grow tax-deferred, and once the child reaches adulthood there may be options to keep the money invested, roll it into another retirement account, or use it for other purposes (potentially subject to taxes or penalties depending on the rules and circumstances).

One aspect I find particularly interesting is that contributions can come not only from parents and family members, but also from employers and philanthropic organizations. For children born between 2025 and 2028, there will also be a $1,000 government-funded seed contribution.

My kids won't qualify for the government contribution, but I'm still considering opening accounts for both of them.

We already save through 529 plans and maintain some taxable investments earmarked for their future, but this could become another useful tool.

What intrigues me most is the possibility of giving them an even earlier start on retirement savings. If future rules allow conversions into Roth IRAs under favorable circumstances, the long-term compounding could be significant.

Whether or not these accounts ultimately make sense will depend on the final details. But I find it interesting to explore new ways of giving kids a financial head start in life.

Health

The Scale Doesn't Lie.

I track my weight on a semi-regular basis. Not every day, but usually at least once a week.

More importantly, I record it as part of my monthly review process, which gives me a reasonably good sense of long-term trends.

Fortunately, I've never struggled too much with weight. Some of that is probably genetics. But I also think it's because I've always paid attention to it.

Lately, though, the trend line has been moving in the wrong direction.

Nothing dramatic. Just a slow and steady drift upward.

What's interesting is that I can't point to a major change. My eating habits seem mostly the same. My exercise routine hasn't changed much either.

Maybe it's age. Maybe it's a few small habits accumulating over time. Maybe it's both.

Whatever the cause, the monthly tracking helped me notice it before it became a bigger issue.

That's one reason I like keeping score in different areas of life. The numbers aren't perfect, but they help reveal trends that might otherwise go unnoticed.

What gets measured doesn't automatically get managed—but it does get noticed.

Family

Waiting Until 8th.

About a year ago, I read Jonathan Haidt's book, The Anxious Generation.

It was one of the most thought-provoking books I read all year and, in my opinion, a must-read for anyone raising school-aged children.

The central premise is that smartphones, social media, and the shift toward increasingly digital childhoods are having significant negative effects on kids.

One of the movements that emerged from the book is called "Wait Until 8th."

The idea is simple: families pledge to delay giving their children smartphones until at least the end of eighth grade.

The power isn't necessarily in any one family making that decision. It's in groups of families making it together.

When enough parents agree to wait, it reduces the pressure on everyone else. Kids don't feel as left out, and parents don't feel as though they're the only ones saying no.

We're participating in the pledge. My wife has been leading efforts within my daughter's grade, while a friend is helping coordinate participation within my son's grade.

So far, quite a few families have joined.

We know our kids will eventually have smartphones. The goal isn't to avoid technology forever. It's simply to buy them a few more years of childhood before carrying the entire internet around in their pockets becomes unavoidable.

At least for now, that feels like a worthwhile trade.

Fun

A Rainy Memorial Day Adventure

Last weekend was Memorial Day, and we took advantage of the long weekend to sneak away for a small family adventure.

We headed to Williamsburg, Virginia, where we stayed in a campground cabin with some friends. Think somewhere between camping and glamping.

The weather wasn't particularly cooperative, but we made the best of it.

One day we explored Colonial Williamsburg. Another day we visited Busch Gardens.

The kids had a blast and, somewhat surprisingly, we managed to get all of them onto a legitimate roller coaster.

That said, the highlight may have been something much simpler.

The kids spent hours riding bikes around the campground with their friends, enjoying the kind of unstructured freedom that seems increasingly rare these days.

It wasn't a perfect-weather weekend, but it was exactly the kind of simple family getaway that I hope we'll remember years from now.

And as an added bonus, it felt like a pretty good kickoff to summer.