Our Family Feels a Little Smaller
Mila, our family dog, passed away six months ago. It came soon after I last wrote about her. I thought I would share this news sooner, but Mila’s passing has been more difficult than I imagined. I was in the…
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Helping Workers Save for a Dignified Retirement
A friend recently asked if I ever had a job I didn’t like, because I seem to like all of those I have written about. I’ve shared stories about walking beans and detasseling corn, bagging groceries and stocking shelves at…
Playing Hooky and Saving for College
Like many kids, my older brother went through a period where he didn’t like going to school. He became pretty creative about finding ways to skip class. School was so close, he didn’t even have to cross a street. On…
Investing in Farmers
I enjoy driving through downstate Illinois this time of year when farmers are planting in the fields. It means spring has arrived and reminds me of riding on my grandfather’s tractor as a kid. It gives me a sense of…
Start Saving Today for Your Kids’ Tomorrow
In my last note, I wrote to you about running track, and some people asked if I did the “field” part of track and field. The short answer: Yes, but there was room for improvement. I think I was the…
Pushing Ourselves to Improve
When I was a kid, the sign outside my hometown read “Gifford 800.” My eighth-grade class at Gifford Grade School was about 24 kids. And we were a big class. So it’s no surprise I didn’t have a lot of…
Connectivity Creates Competitiveness
I recently read a description of an outhouse: A small building a hundred feet from your house that’s a hundred feet too far in the winter, and a hundred feet too close in the summer. This reminded me of a…
Got a Question at 3 a.m.? Abe Can Lend a Hand
Last fall, I had the honor of attending an event for the 150th anniversary of a family-owned business. Oswald’s pharmacy in Naperville has been in the same family for six generations. At an event marking the milestone, a family member…
Mailbag January 22, 2026 – New Years Resolutions
QUESTION: In your last Treasurer’s note, you gave a recap of your 2025 resolutions, but I noticed you didn’t mention any for 2026. Did you make any for this year? A: Thanks for noticing, and thank you for the question.…
Make This Season Work for You
Illinois had one of the snowiest Decembers in some time. It also was very cold, which meant Max and Theo didn’t get to spend as much time outdoors as usual. This resulted in a little bit of cabin fever for…