Dear 2024,
What a climb!
I stand on the pinnacle of the year behind, straining over the crest at the year ahead. Over this past 365-day journey, I can’t help but glance at the ups and downs, the switchbacks, the jagged rugged rocks, the thorns, the beauty, the peace, the stretch of path that lies behind. I look back at you with adoration and gratitude. You’ve been a good year. Challenging? Sure. But good, nonetheless.
You were the year when all my kids turned a significant age. My son, Everett, turned 13, and I took him through a Rite of Passage to manhood where he learned how to treat a woman, how to be a man from a Biblical perspective, how to serve others, and how to dig deep and overcome a physical challenge. I joined him on this physical challenge as we hiked the Grand Canyon Rim to Rim. It ended up being as much of a challenge for me as is was for him! But we did it, and he learned to be an overcomer. My youngest daughter, Kya, turned 16 and we celebrated her birthday in New York City as we took in two Broadway shows. My oldest daughter, Eliana, graduated high school and chose to take a trip to commemorate her accomplishment. We took a tour of Costa Rica and experienced the true beauty of God’s creation.
And, I’d be remiss if I didn’t acknowledge that my wife, Keri, and I celebrated our 25 year wedding anniversary during your year. If we weren’t so busy with all the other things in our family’s life, we may have gone on a trip of our own, but those times will come. For now, we had to put our celebration on the back burner while we honored our children’s accomplishments. Yet, I can’t help but reflect on the marriage we have, the love we share, the journey we’ve trekked together, the family we’ve grown, the memories we’ve made, and the future we hope for. Having stood by my side for 25 years, she deserves to be celebrated!
At the firm, we were blessed to have helped steward wealth for a set of clients of whom we’re honored to know. While we were happy to welcome many new clients to our HZ family, we were sad to say goodbye to a few who lost their battles with health issues or tragedies that caused us much pain and sadness. Once a client becomes a part of the HZ family, we get to know them and their families very well. While we’re privileged to walk alongside our clients from a financial perspective, we get to know them so well that they also become good friends. The HZ family is growing, and we’re so grateful for our clients’ trust and confidence each step of the way.
Other memories of your year include the Total Eclipse (way too cool!), the Paris Olympics (the US won the medal count!), an assassination attempt on a Presidential Candidate, the first rate cut since the hiking cycle began over 2 years ago, and the re-election of Trump. This all culminated with a 26% gain in the stock market and a 2% gain in the bond market. If you’re an investor, you should be grateful!
2024, despite what you threw at us, humanity survived… some even thrived. We enter 2025, we’re equipped… ready… hopeful for what lies before us.
2024, you taught us that nothing is guaranteed, that nothing is sure, that preparation is key.
Like an Olympian in the gym, we got our reps. The muscle memory is intact and in peak performance.
Never again will we ‘expect’ the good.
We earn it.
We fight for it.
We work for it.
Thank you for that reminder.
As we transition from one year to the next, I say to you, “You will not be forgotten.” The lessons learned will serve as reminders of the battle. We each have scars, some are weary, some beaten down…but we’re not broken. The silver lining of the clouds grows bright. The sun will shine again. Our wounds will heal. Gratitude vanquishes all negative emotion. Hope abounds. Joy reigns. Peace is within our grasp.
2024, thank you. It was a good year…
Yet, I stand having reflected on what’s behind, now turning my gaze forward, my eyes widen…
Your Fellow Journeyman,
TH
