These aren’t three Cs I put together just for marketing purposes. They have weight. I tell investors who think joining Stray Reflections might be right for them that this is what they’ll find: Clarity: insights that cut through the noise and bring focus to your decision-making. Connection: an actually supportive network of like-minded investors who inspire and challenge you. Calm: the tools and perspectives to navigate the uncertainty of markets with resilience and hope. I’m here to meet you where you are, to listen, and to help you move forward with purpose.

Today is the final day to activate your 30-day free access to our private investor community. No credit card. No catch. Just full access.

“But as I contemplate my own summer plans, I’m also reminded of Seneca’s advice to Lucilius in the masterful book ‘Letters from a Stoic’: ‘If you really want to escape the things that harass you, what you’re needing is not to be in a different place but to be a different person.’”

According to Nobel Prize-winning psychologist Daniel Kahneman, who wrote “Thinking, Fast and Slow,” confidence in one’s beliefs is often not a measure of the quality of underlying evidence. Instead, sometimes it’s based on the coherence of the story that the mind constructs. “We believe we understand the past, which implies that the future should also be knowable,” he wrote. “But in fact, we understand the past less than we believe we do.”

When things were pretty dark, a client gave me a book by Napoleon Hill, a man whose claims are not universally believed. I was immediately put off by the title, “Think and Grow Rich,” and I was also desperate and decided to read it. It turned out to be spiritually uplifting. That client was completely unaware of my financial hardship. And yet he showed up at the right place at the right time with the right message. I was on the verge of giving up when I came to realize that my failure was only temporary. Before success comes in anyone’s life, they are sure to meet temporary defeat. The easiest and most logical thing to do is to quit. That’s what the majority does. When the author interviewed more than five hundred of the US’s most successful men (the book was published in 1937), they told him their greatest success came just one step beyond the point when failure had overtaken them. That proved true for me as well. I summoned the courage to press on. Surviving is succeeding, I told myself. And as I imagined what was possible, it no longer seemed impossible. I can’t believe I was so close to quitting when I look back. My life was changed forever by a small act of kindness. I have to remind myself of this in order to show up for others. Kindness ripples throughout our lives.

More than seven years ago, I got an invitation for a retreat in Big Sur, California. It was organized by the venture capitalist Bo Shao, then a newfound friend whom I’ve grown to admire. Retreats had not crossed my mind, but I knew that Bo had undergone a significant personal journey and wanted to share some lessons and introduce his mentors. It was expensive—for me, at least—but I trusted Bo, and I was curious. Our week-long stay brimmed with practical insights and had a lasting impact on me. When we were sharing reflections on the final day, I admitted that the retreat had made me realize I wasn’t the husband, father, son, or friend I thought I was. Which is to say, I wasn't the person I aspired to be. And yet, here were some tools for bridging this gap. Gratitude sat heavily in my chest. We largely assume we know who we are and how we’re doing. But stepping out of our comfort zones and surrounding ourselves with wise mentors feel like necessities. Confronting the truth of our identities without these components is a longshot.

It was just another Thursday, my designated call day, when I connected with someone who has been following Stray Reflections for years but has yet to become a paid member. What started as a simple conversation quickly evolved into a deep exploration of life’s most meaningful questions. We talked about work-life balance, childhood patterns that still shape us, and the complex relationship between financial success and spiritual fulfillment. How do we excel in all areas of life? Is it wrong to hold material and spiritual goals simultaneously? When is it time to release our ambition? We explored how we often get in our own way, realizing that moving forward requires leaving behind the version of ourselves that brought us here. Faith and belief entered the conversation naturally, as did the reminder that we are not alone on this journey, and that God is guiding us. The conversation had no set agenda, yet it flowed effortlessly, bringing connection and clarity for both of us. By the end, we discussed coaching and retreats, and he left with a renewed sense of direction. When we start to speak from the heart, doors open in ways we don’t anticipate. I was in the backyard with the door open. After the call ended, I came inside and saw Mom sitting on the edge of the couch. “You speak with such grace, your words full of wisdom,” she said softly. I froze for a moment, realizing my mother had just witnessed a part of my world she’d never seen before. It was the first real glimpse she had of what I do. Her voice was filled with admiration, and I could see she was deeply moved by what she heard. I walked over, sat next to her, and gave her a hug. Her love, her prayers, her silent support—all of it was reflected back to me in that moment. Then her tears came, and in them, I saw not just a reflection of what I’ve accomplished, but the sense of being truly seen—her recognition of who I’ve become. I’m now ten years into building Stray Reflections, yet I’ve rarely paused to appreciate the journey. The past year has been so hectic that I haven’t taken time to recognize the milestones. This moment with my mother felt like a celebration I hadn’t expected, but deeply needed.

CIOs. Hedge funds. Family offices. They’re all part of Stray Reflections—our private investor community. Now, for the first time, you can join them. FREE. You’ll get: – Weekly market insights – Daily Slack discussions – Access to a global network ⏳ 3 days left. 🎁 30 days full access.

Happy birthday, Zaynab

While we can’t predict the future, we surely can challenge the popular opinion. My writing duties are a means of determining the consensus as precisely as possible and then pondering on the opposing alternatives. Because a crowd is susceptible to “contagion,” as Gustave Le Bon phrased it, formally examining the crowd’s opinions helps me and my investment community, Stray Reflections, avoid the pitfalls of mass unthinking.