Life Happens Fast

A few short weeks ago, my wife and I welcomed our fourth child, and I decided it was best to take a short break from writing my daily market note. I figured a couple weeks away from the keyboard was best while I was short on sleep.

The time off also helped me gain some perspective.

Two years ago, I made the decision to start building a research service. My blog was already a couple years old at that point, and I believed I had a lot more to offer. So I went out and built the product before you today. 

In some ways, Grindstone has been the most rewarding thing I’ve ever done. I created something from nothing and met some amazing people along the way. That was clear from all the well wishes I received a few weeks ago after my newest family addition. But truth be told, growth has been underwhelming. 

I always talk about risk management, and risk management is about more than just trading. It applies to life choices, too. I’ve held onto this ‘trade’ for awhile now, hoping the trends would improve - all while telling my readers every day that trends are more likely to continue than reverse course. When a trade isn’t working, the best thing to do is cut it loose, no matter the cost to your pride. It’s high time I applied that same approach to life.

No decision has been harder than this one, but I’ve decided to take a step back from my commentary here on Substack. If you’re currently a paid subscriber, I’m working to issue a refund for the remainder of your subscription term.

The changes in my personal life don’t stop there. I’ve also made the decision to leave the wealth management firm where I’ve spent the first 9 years of my professional career and pursue a new challenge on the other side of the state. Fortunately, this opportunity happens to be a lot closer to my parents and siblings, who I haven't spent nearly enough time with over the past decade. 

I haven’t yet decided whether this will be THE end for Grindstone or just an end. Before I figure that out, I need to wrap my arms around what life looks like in a new place, with a new house, a new job, and a new baby.

I truly appreciate each and every one of you that have taken the time to read my work, especially those of you that have shown your support with a paid subscription. Hopefully you've gotten some value out of Grindstone along the way. In my absence, don't forget to follow trends, own relative strength, and manage risk.

That's all for now.

Austin