💪 lock in for 2026

The internet is obsessed with "locking in" for the final months of 2025, but what if the same discipline that gets people to meal prep and skip happy hour could actually fix your finances?

From productivity trends that accidentally build wealth to the sobering reality of retirement costs, this week we're connecting the dots between personal discipline and financial success (with some uncomfortable truths along the way).

Here’s what’s inside:

• Getting into "Lock in" season

• Retirement income math (that'll make you cry)

• Lazy investing: what exactly is it?

• Why your twenties determine your lifetime earning potential

P.S. If you want to talk through your own finances, you can book a free 1-hour coaching call here ☎️

The Great Lock In: TikTok’s latest productivity trend

Forget New Year's resolutions. The internet's latest obsession is "The Great Lock In" (basically becoming a productive hermit for the rest of the year). People are waking up at 5 am, meal prepping like survivalists, and turning down plans to focus on their glow-up goals.

The premise is simple: instead of waiting until January 1st to get your life together, you "lock in" right now. It's intentional hibernation season. Saying no to distractions, yes to discipline, and treating the final months of the year like your personal training montage.

If getting your finances together is part of what you want to "lock in" on, you're in luck. The same principles that work for fitness and productivity goals work surprisingly well for money management. You just need to know where to apply them.

Your financial "lock in" checklist:

✅ Track every expense for one week (yes, including that $6 coffee)

✅ Set up automatic transfers to savings on paydays

✅ Choose one financial goal and work on it daily for 30 days

✅ Replace one expensive habit with a cheaper alternative

✅ Schedule weekly money check-ins instead of avoiding your bank balance

Ready to get serious about your money before 2026? Lock in and book a free coaching call with us here.

What retirement actually costs in 2025

For someone earning $120,000 annually before retirement, financial experts suggest needing between $90,000 and $102,000 per year in retirement, or about $7,500 to $8,500 in monthly retirement income. That's unfortunately not what most Americans actually have saved.

The average retirement reality is much more sobering. Middle-class retirees spend an average of $5,845 per month at age 67, and even that might not provide the relaxing retirement lifestyle of your dreams.

Here's what's eating up retirement budgets faster than expected:

💸 Healthcare costs: Medical expenses can consume 15-20% of retirement income

💸 Housing: Even with a paid-off mortgage, property taxes and maintenance never stop

💸 Inflation: Your fixed income gets less powerful every year

💸 Long-term care: The average nursing home costs $108,000 annually

Most financial planners agree that you'll need 70% to 80%of your pre-retirement income to maintain your standard of living. But geography matters enormously. Retiring in San Francisco requires a completely different strategy than retiring in Tampa.

Your retirement income reality check:

🏦 Calculate 75% of your current income as your retirement target

🏦 Don't count on Social Security as your primary income source

🏦 Factor in healthcare costs that could double every decade

🏦 Consider geographic arbitrage. Your dollars stretch differently in different states

🏦 Build multiple income streams that don't depend on your physical ability to work

Get your retirement savings on the right track by booking a call with us here.

What happens when investing gets lazy

In a world obsessed with stock picks and crypto gains, the most boring investment strategy might be the most brilliant. "Lazy portfolios" are simple, diversified investment approaches that require minimal maintenance and consistently outperform most active strategies.

The concept is simple: instead of trying to time the market or pick winning stocks, you invest in a few broad index funds and essentially ignore them for decades. It's the investing equivalent of "set it and forget it."

Here's why lazy investing works when stock picking fails:

🛋️ Lower fees: Index funds typically charge 0.03-0.20% vs. 1-2% for actively managed funds

🛋️ Time savings: No research, no stock analysis, no constant monitoring required

🛋️ Emotional protection: Less opportunity for panic selling or FOMO buying

🛋️ Consistent returns: Over time, diversified portfolios smooth out market volatility

🛋️ Tax efficiency: Less buying and selling means fewer taxable events

Ready to build the financial foundation that makes investing possible? We'll help you organize your money so you can actually invest consistently. Book a free call here.

Career tips for your 20s

Your twenties aren't just about figuring out what you want to be when you grow up. They're about building the professional skills that directly impact your earning potential for decades to come.

The career moves you make now set the stage for every future salary negotiation, promotion, and financial milestone.

The reality is that your career in your twenties is essentially a long-term investment in your earning power. Every skill you build, every relationship you nurture, and every challenge you handle professionally compounds over time, just like money in the market.

Ready to turn your career strategy into a wealth-building strategy? The financial decisions you make alongside your career moves matter just as much as the professional ones. Book a call with us here.

 Worth the Click This Week

💰 Record-breaking retirement accounts: 401(k) and IRA millionaires hit all-time highs, but the wealth gap in retirement savings is widening. What it means for your strategy. See the numbers →

🏠 Refinancing to pay off debt: When using your home equity to eliminate high-interest debt makes sense (and when it's a dangerous gamble). Calculate your options →

📊 Social Security tax elimination bill: A new proposal would eliminate taxes on Social Security benefits. The potential impact on your retirement planning. Read the details →

💡 Social Security as wealth building: Why viewing Social Security as an investment rather than just retirement income changes your claiming strategy. Rethink your approach →