It’s almost Halloween, and there are spooky things everywhere you look. From decor to horror movies, we are face-to-face with frights and fears 24/7.

Saving enough for a comfortable retirement and leaving a legacy for the future are the goals many of us have. How close or how far away you are from this aspiration can determine how financially fit you feel.

The pandemic’s continuing effect on, well, just about everything- along with stock market volatility, changing tax laws, the debt ceiling debate, and expected holiday shipping delays and shortages – it all adds up and can affect our stress levels.

Talking is one of the first things babies learn how to do – most within the first year of life. So it stands to reason that the older we get, the better we would be at communicating, right?

It goes without saying that daily life has been irrevocably upended since the pandemic began. For me, it’s a perfect illustration of how to anticipate and prepare for risk in our financial lives.

Remember what it was like walking into school for the first time? There’s so much excitement and possibility in the air, and of course some nervousness-maybe even anxiety.