I grew up in China in the 1970s, a time when material goods were scarce. I vividly remember the days of food ration stamps and how a can of spam was the most luxurious and delicious treat I could imagine as a child. Everyone I knew was a saver, driven by the need to...
Silver Oak Insights
Year-End Charitable Gifting
As the fall season is upon us and the holiday season approaches, now is a perfect time to reflect on the year, think about people in need and organizations you want to support and honor, and make a meaningful impact. For this purpose, we have prepared four...
Achieving Financial Independence: A Path to Freedom
School is out and summer is in full swing! We hope you enjoyed a fun and relaxing Independence Day with friends and family. As we celebrate the spirit of freedom and independence this summer, we can reflect on the importance of achieving financial independence in our...
Retirement Reimagined
If asked: “What is the most important consideration for retirement?” What comes to your mind? Most people would answer: “having enough money.” While financial security is necessary, in my last 18 years of experience working with clients, I have found it is...
Enhance Financial Well-Being in the New Year
Happy Lunar New Year from all of us at Silver Oak! January 22nd marked the beginning of the Lunar New Year. Each year in the Lunar calendar represents one of the twelve zodiac animals. 2023 is the Year of the Rabbit, representing longevity, peace, and prosperity. The...
The Priceless Gift: How to Pass On Your Values, Wisdom and Blessings in a Legacy Letter
In January, Susan Turnbull of Personal Legacy Advisors and Linda Cao of Silver Oak Wealth Advisors led a thought-provoking and inspiring program that broadened our imagination on what legacy means. Through interesting examples,...
Great Pause
It’s been over two months since the Shelter-at-Home order has been in place in California and in most parts of the country. Our lives have changed so dramatically it feels surreal. At this point, many of us are experiencing some form of “quarantine fatigue” and are...
Confidence Drives Performance… Not Fear
This winter I took my family on a long-anticipated ski trip. Everyone was excited because it had been four years since we skied as a family. My boys were only 8 and 5 at that time, and they remembered how much fun it was to ski with their mom and dad. On the first...
The Support We Need to Get “Unstuck”
As I changed my clock for daylight savings a few weeks ago, it got me thinking about time moving forward and how we move forward in our lives. I remembered one of the hardest times I’ve ever had in my life. A time when I felt like I was absolutely, positively stuck...
Grey Divorce – Am I Going To Be Okay?
Grey divorce is a difficult life transition and in order for this transition to be successful, it requires time, self-care, good planning and willingness to adapt. In the last 25 years, grey divorce - people ending a long-lasting marriage after age 50, has been on the...