The Five Habits of Highly Successful Investors | Jeff Weeks, CFP®

When I was in college in the 1980s, Stephen Covey published The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. It wasn’t an immediate success. It took several years to gain traction before becoming a corporate and cultural mainstay in the early 1990s.

Its longevity came from a simple idea: it focused on behavior, not quick fixes. It wasn’t about what to do when conditions were ideal, but how people operate when things get difficult.

After more than 30 years working with investors, I’ve come to believe the same framework applies to investing.

2025 Market Review: A Great Destination at End of a Bumpy Road

If you only looked at the year-end numbers, 2025 was a great year for investors.

US stocks finished higher for a third straight year. International stocks outperformed the US with emerging markets leading the way. Bonds also produced positive returns, as inflation fears have waned.

But the road to get here was not a smooth one.

The Money Decisions That Matter Most at Every Stage of Life

As we approach the end of 2025, many of us are probably thinking about what we want to start, stop, or continue doing in the upcoming year. There are certain times in all our financial lives when the choices we make have a big effect on everything else that happens. Every stage has its opportunities, risks, and things that we can't see.