Week of November 2, 2026
“Stuff is stuff and that’s all it will ever be.”
Related: “In reality . . . no stuff is worth much of anything.”
Anonymous client · Collected over 30 years of practice
Weekly Features
Client Wisdom
Observations about work, money, family, community, and life, gathered from clients over more than thirty years of practice.
Over more than thirty years of a practice focused on estate and tax planning and corporate law, I had the privilege of working with thousands of farmers, ranchers, and owners of small and mid-sized businesses—primarily in rural communities of Kansas and Idaho. Almost all had built substantial enterprises or businesses and significant wealth over a lifetime of hard work, risk-taking, setbacks, persistence, and hard-won judgment. In the course of our conversations, I specifically asked that they share with me a nugget or pearl of “wisdom” about life so that one day I could publish the results anonymously. They would often offer observations about money, work, family, ownership, community, and life. And I preserved their words. The remarks collected here are occasionally edited for clarity. They are included not because wealth or success in business necessarily makes anyone wise, but because a long life and lots of experience often does.
Week of October 26, 2026
“You can’t take it (money/stuff) with you and, besides, it’s more fun to see it put to use during your life.”
Anonymous client · Collected over 30 years of practice
Week of October 19, 2026
“Save and Invest at least a little amount each year having set an ambitious target in the first year of the program and refuse to adjust it downward in any year unless you absolutely must do so after eliminating every other possibility.”
Anonymous client · Collected over 30 years of practice
Week of October 12, 2026
“Surround yourself with humble people smarter than you. And then tolerate the occasional (even frequent) occurrences of their impatience with you. Success in business will often follow.”
Anonymous client · Collected over 30 years of practice
Week of October 5, 2026
“A tie vote goes to the wife if you want a happy life.”
Anonymous client · Collected over 30 years of practice
Week of September 28, 2026
“Watch the pennies and the dollars will flow.”
Advice intended for those starting a new business venture.
Anonymous client · Collected over 30 years of practice
Week of September 21, 2026
“Be careful that the stuff you own doesn’t end up owning you.”
Anonymous client · Collected over 30 years of practice
Week of September 14, 2026
“Grow where you are planted and while there drink plenty of water.”
Anonymous client · Collected over 30 years of practice
Week of September 7, 2026
“Burning (personal) bridges in a large city is recoverable. Burning (personal) bridges in a small town can be fatal.”
Anonymous client · Collected over 30 years of practice
Week of September 1, 2026
“Invest in things local where you can see, touch, feel and monitor them.”
Anonymous client · Collected over 30 years of practice