Good morning, happy Monday, and happy 4th of July!
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”
– Thomas Jefferson, from the Declaration of Independence
As we gear up to celebrate the Fourth of July on Friday, we at Intentional Wealth want to take a moment to wish you and your loved ones a spectacular holiday filled with fireworks, freedom, and maybe a few extra hot dogs.
The Declaration of Independence was officially adopted on July 4, 1776, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. A few years ago, I had the opportunity to visit Independence Hall and stand in the room where it was signed. Earlier this year I was able to lay my eyes on the original document in Washington DC. As a somewhat history buff and someone who loves America, these were special experiences for me.
Fun fact … most delegates didn’t sign the Decleration of Independence until August 2? Talk about a paperwork delay! I guess that tradition continues today in Washington, 249 years later! 😉
On another note … three U.S. presidents – John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and James Monroe – passed away on July 4, with Adams and Jefferson famously departing within hours of each other in 1826, exactly 50 years after the Declaration. History sure has a flair for the dramatic! And today’s leaders have kept that tradition alive. 😉
One more useless fact 😉 … did you know that Americans will consume about 150 million hot dogs on this holiday … that’s enough to stretch from D.C. to L.A. five times over! That’s a lot of … well, I’m not really sure what exactly is in a hot dog … I’m gonna’ move one.😉
I very much believe that we are living at the pinnacle of human history! What other time in the world would you have rather lived? Before the internet? Before air conditioning? Before antibiotics?
And what other nation would you rather live in? In the last 3 years I’ve been to 5 continents and over 25 countries (I really love to travel 😊), but there is nowhere else I would rather call home than the United States of America. Sure, we as a nation have our issues and we are far from perfect (past, present, or future), but the freedom we have here is unparalleled in human history. I unapologetically love the U.S.A.
As a financial planner, I can’t help but see some parallels here: just like our Founding Fathers carefully crafted a plan for a free and prosperous nation, together we are building your own roadmap to financial independence. And while we’re not dodging Redcoats or debating in Independence Hall, we’re here to help you navigate market volatility, tax changes, and life’s unexpected curveballs with the same determination and foresight.
The Fourth of July is all about freedom, and I believe financial freedom is a key part of that. Each American dream is as unique as each American dreamer. Your hopes, dreams, and aspirations are different than your parents, children, neighbors, co-workers, or anyone else.
It can be so easy to lose sight of our dreams and buy into the negatively that is so pervasive in our society, so may I please encourage all of us to use this 4th of July as an opportunity to live thankful for the incredible blessings we have as Americans.
You are unique, you are custom created by God (see Psalms 139:13), and you are living in the freest nation in the world. May I respectfully challenge all of us to remember these facts and let them not just affect our hearts and minds, but also our attitudes.
It is one of the greatest honors in my life to support my amazing clients in pursuing financial freedom. If there is anything we can do to support you further, please never hesitate to reach out.
One last corny 4th of July joke before we end: Why did the dollar bill go to the Fourth of July parade? Because it wanted to be a little more “circulated”! Ok, ok, I should stick to financial planning 😉
Have a great week ahead and a wonderful Fourth of July!