2nd Story Wealth

2nd Story Wealth Financial Planning firm specializing in Small Business Owners, Executives, & Professional women

09/24/2026

Myth or Truth?

“If I’m saving for retirement, I shouldn’t be spending money on enjoying life right now.”

Truth? Not necessarily.

Financial planning isn’t about saving every possible dollar for some future version of your life.
A good financial plan should make room for both your future goals and the life you’re living today.

That might look like:
✈️ Saving consistently for retirement AND taking the trip
🍽️ Investing for the future AND enjoying dinner out
❤️ Building wealth AND creating experiences with the people you love
💰 Planning for tomorrow without putting your entire life on hold

The goal isn’t to choose between enjoying your money now or preparing for the future.
It’s to create a plan that helps you do both, intentionally.

Because building wealth should support the life you want to live, not keep you from living it.

What do you think: Myth or Truth?

Ready to create a financial plan that makes room for today and tomorrow? Book a consultation at 2ndstorywealth.com.

The house is a little quieter now.For some parents, September means the kids are back in school. For others, it means th...
09/22/2026

The house is a little quieter now.

For some parents, September means the kids are back in school. For others, it means the college drop-off has happened, the dorm room is set up, and you’re officially entering the empty nest years. But here’s something we don’t talk about enough:

Your child leaving home can be a financial transition for you, too.

For years, so much of the plan may have centered around them: childcare, activities, braces, college savings, tuition, and everything in between.

Now, some of that financial energy can begin shifting back toward you.

This may be a good time to revisit:

• Are you saving enough for retirement now that college is underway?
• Could you increase your 401(k), IRA, or investment contributions?
• Are there debts you’d like to pay down before retirement?
• What about the travel or experiences you’ve been putting off?
• And maybe the biggest question: What do you want this next chapter to look like?

You spent years planning for them.

Now it may be time to put a little more focus back on you.

The empty nest isn’t just a change at home. It can be an opportunity for a financial reset, too.

One thing about family life: the unexpected always seems to show up at the most inconvenient time.The car needs a repair...
09/17/2026

One thing about family life: the unexpected always seems to show up at the most inconvenient time.

The car needs a repair.
A medical bill lands in the mailbox.
A school expense pops up that you completely forgot about.
Or the appliance that was working perfectly fine yesterday suddenly decides it’s done.

This is exactly why emergency savings matter.

Not because you can prepare for every single thing that could happen, but because having money set aside gives you options and a little breathing room when life does what life does.

September is National Preparedness Month, which makes it a good time to check in on your financial preparedness too.

Ask yourself: If an unexpected $1,000, $2,000, or even $5,000 expense came up tomorrow, where would that money come from?

If the answer makes you a little uncomfortable, that doesn’t mean you need to build a six-month emergency fund overnight.

Start with a realistic goal for your household, build from there, and give yourself a little more financial cushion along the way.

Because being financially prepared isn’t about expecting the worst. It’s about being better equipped when the unexpected happens

Quick money check-in 👀If an unexpected $1,000 expense showed up this week, would it be:A. No problem, I’ve got it covere...
09/14/2026

Quick money check-in 👀

If an unexpected $1,000 expense showed up this week, would it be:
A. No problem, I’ve got it covered
B. I could handle it, but I’d feel it
C. It would throw everything off

No judgment here. The point is just to know where you stand.

September is here. The kids are back in school, routines are starting to feel like routines again, and somehow we’re alr...
09/09/2026

September is here. The kids are back in school, routines are starting to feel like routines again, and somehow we’re already heading into the last few months of the year.

Before we blink and it’s the holiday season, September feels like a good time for a financial check-in.

Not a complete overhaul. Just a check-in.

Does your life insurance still make sense for where you and your family are today?
How is your emergency savings looking after summer?
If you have kids, are college costs starting to feel a little more real?
And are your retirement and investment goals still moving in the direction you want them to?

These are some of the things I’ll be talking about this month.

Because financial planning isn’t always about finding something new to do. Sometimes it’s simply making sure the decisions you’ve already made still make sense for the life you’re living now and the life you’re working toward.

No perfection required. Just a little intention.

What’s one area of your finances you want to be more intentional about this month?

08/18/2026

The current economy has a lot of people looking at their money a little differently.

The grocery total is higher.
The electric bill is higher.
Insurance costs have increased.

And those quick little trips to the store do not feel so “quick” anymore.

One thing I remind people is that adjusting your budget does not mean you failed.

Sometimes the numbers simply change, and your financial plan has to change with them.

This may be a good time to sit down and review what you are actually spending now, not what you were spending six months or a year ago.

You may need to increase the amount set aside for groceries and utilities, review subscriptions, compare insurance rates, or temporarily adjust how much is going toward another financial goal.

But be careful not to cut the things protecting your future first.

Before reducing retirement contributions, insurance coverage, or emergency savings, take a closer look at the smaller expenses quietly leaving your account each month.

A budget is not supposed to punish you. It is supposed to help you make informed decisions when your money is being pulled in several directions.

The economy may be outside of your control, but regularly reviewing your financial plan can help you stay prepared and make adjustments with intention.

What expense has increased the most in your household lately?

Back-to-school season hits a little differently when you are a parent.As a mom, I know how quickly the list can grow. Yo...
08/13/2026

Back-to-school season hits a little differently when you are a parent.

As a mom, I know how quickly the list can grow. You start with notebooks, pencils, and a backpack. Then come the clothes, shoes, activity fees, technology, and all the “one more thing” expenses.

And while we are handling what our children need right now, we also have to think about what they may need later.

College may feel far away, but the cost does not have to become a last-minute surprise.

That is why I believe in starting with what is realistic for your family. Maybe that means contributing a small amount to a 529 plan each month. Maybe it means setting aside part of a tax refund, birthday money, or bonus. It could also mean creating a separate school budget so back-to-school shopping does not throw off the rest of your monthly expenses.

You do not have to have the entire college plan figured out today.

Start where you are. Use what you have. Stay consistent when you can.

As parents, we cannot prepare for every expense, but we can create a plan that gives our children, and ourselves more options.

Parents, what has been the biggest back-to-school expense in your household this year?

08/11/2026

We’re officially past the halfway point of the year, so let’s check in for a minute.

How are those financial goals you set at the beginning of the year looking?

Maybe you planned to save more, pay down debt, increase your retirement contributions, or finally get serious about investing.

And maybe life had other plans.

That does not mean the goal is off the table. It may simply mean the plan needs to be adjusted.

Take a look at your progress from the first half of the year:
What worked well?
Where did you fall behind?
Did your income or expenses change?
Are your original goals still realistic?

What is one move you can make before the end of this month?

A financial check-in is not about judging yourself. It is about getting honest about where you are so you can make better decisions moving forward.

You still have time to finish the year stronger than you started.

What is one financial goal you are recommitting to for the rest of the year?

Four Common Back-to-School Money Mistakes Parents MakeBack-to-school shopping doesn’t have to derail your budget. Here a...
08/05/2026

Four Common Back-to-School Money Mistakes Parents Make

Back-to-school shopping doesn’t have to derail your budget. Here are four mistakes I see every year and how to avoid them.

1. Shopping Without a Budget-
It’s easy to overspend when you’re buying a little bit here and a little bit there.

✔️ Set a spending limit before you head to the store, and divide it into categories like clothes, supplies, technology, and extracurricular activities.

2. Buying Everything Brand New
Not everything needs to be replaced each year.

✔️ Before shopping, take inventory of backpacks, lunch boxes, calculators, and other supplies you already have.

3. Forgetting About the “Hidden” Costs
School supplies are just the beginning.

Don’t forget to plan for:
• Sports and activity fees
• Field trips
• School pictures
• Fundraisers
• Club dues
• Teacher gifts
• Lunches and snacks

These expenses can add up quickly if they aren’t part of your budget.

4. Missing the Opportunity to Teach Your Kids About Money
Back-to-school shopping is one of the best times to build financial confidence.

✔️ Give your child a budget and let them make spending decisions within it. They’ll learn to compare prices, prioritize needs over wants, and understand that every dollar has a job.

✨ The goal isn’t to spend less. It’s to spend intentionally.

A little planning today can help your family avoid financial stress throughout the school year.

What’s one back-to-school expense that always seems to surprise you?

✏️ Back to School. Back to a Plan.As parents, it’s easy to get caught up in buying school supplies, new clothes, sports ...
08/03/2026

✏️ Back to School. Back to a Plan.

As parents, it’s easy to get caught up in buying school supplies, new clothes, sports equipment, and everything else that comes with a new school year.

But this season is also the perfect time to reset your family’s finances.

Before you swipe your card one more time, take a few minutes to ask yourself:
📚 What’s our budget for back-to-school expenses?
🎒 Which purchases are needs versus wants?
🍎 Have we planned for lunches, activities, and those “surprise” school fees?
💰 Can we involve our kids in age-appropriate conversations about money?

Back-to-school isn’t just about preparing your children for the classroom. It’s an opportunity to teach lifelong financial habits they’ll carry well beyond graduation.

A little planning today can mean a lot less financial stress tomorrow.

What is one financial lesson you hope your children learn before they leave home?

Address

600 W Germantown Avenue
Plymouth Meeting, PA
19462

Telephone

+12157147144

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when 2nd Story Wealth posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to 2nd Story Wealth:

Shortcuts

Share

Category