September 2026 Newsletter

September 2, 2026

“So When You Grow Up…”

Dear Valued Client:

It is hard to believe that summer is winding down, and a new school year is already upon us! Our household is experiencing a bittersweet milestone this fall as our oldest child, Kyla, officially enters her senior year of high school, while Keagan steps into the 5th grade. Watching them grow up so quickly is a wonderful reminder to cherish every season, both at home with family and in the work we have the privilege of doing with you.

We know that this last year of high school will fly by for Kyla, and in one short year, we will be sending her off to college. While this will be a huge step for her, it is also a shift in focus for us as her parents. Watching children transition out of the home is not only a major emotional milestone, but also a significant financial pivot point that leads to thoughts of financial planning. As daily expenses for food and activities drop, cash flow often frees up quickly. However, without a clear plan, lifestyle inflation can quietly absorb those extra dollars.

Navigating this transition effectively requires moving from a family-centered plan to an intentional "next chapter" strategy. Key areas to evaluate for those who are looking at an empty (or emptier) nest include:

Redirecting Cash Flow: Purposefully allocating freed-up funds toward increasing retirement contributions, investing, or eliminating high-interest debt rather than letting unassigned cash lead to discretionary spending drift.
Right-Sizing Housing: Evaluating total housing costs, including maintenance, property taxes, and unused space, to ensure your living situation aligns with your current lifestyle and financial efficiency rather than past routines.
Supporting Children Responsibly: Establishing structured boundaries and dedicated support allocations so that helping your children does not compromise your own long-term financial independence.

Whether your children are leaving for college or stepping into adulthood, this season offers an invaluable opportunity to realign your financial priorities with the future you are building now.

As we move through another month and into the final stretch of what has been an eventful year, I have found myself reflecting on just how much can change in a relatively short period of time. This year has certainly brought its share of uncertainty. Markets, the economy, interest rates, politics, and the broader news cycle have all given us plenty to think about. At times, it can feel as though there is always another development demanding our attention. And yet, one thing continues to stand out: the importance of keeping perspective.

While the headlines change from month to month, the fundamentals of good financial planning do not. Having a clear plan, understanding what you own and why you own it, maintaining an appropriate level of risk, and making thoughtful decisions rather than emotional ones remain as important as ever. That is particularly true during periods of elevated uncertainty. We cannot control the markets or predict exactly what the next few months will bring. What we can control is how we prepare, how we respond, and whether our financial decisions continue to align with what matters most to us.

The economic landscape throughout 2026 has provided another reminder that market cycles rarely move in a straight line. Headlines surrounding interest rates and global events can create plenty of short-term noise, but your long-term goals require a longer lens. Ultimately, underlying economic fundamentals and a disciplined investment approach are what matters most.

One of the more encouraging developments this late summer has been the broadening participation across the market. While recent years were largely defined by narrow leadership in mega-cap technology, the past several months have demonstrated signs of some greater participation from cyclical sectors, infrastructure, real estate, and fixed-income strategies. This type of movement reinforces a core principle of our investment discipline: true diversification is designed to help capture opportunity regardless of which specific sector happens to be in the spotlight.

Portfolios that balance the risks of core equities with income-generating allocations, such as disciplined bond and CD ladders, can provide greater stability as market leadership evolves than portfolios concentrated more heavily in equities. Rather than relying on any single area of the market to drive returns, this approach is designed to maintain exposure to growth opportunities while providing a more durable foundation through changing market environments.

Here is an update on some performance numbers year to date.

If you have called the office or been in email communication recently, you may have heard a new voice or seen a new name. I am pleased to announce that Andrew Haubenstricker has joined our team here at IIM. Andrew comes to us from Telluride, and he is excited to make Durango home alongside his fiancée and their two pets. He brings a foundation of technical knowledge to our office, having already passed the Series 65 (Uniform Investment Adviser Law Examination) and is a CFA Level II candidate (Chartered Financial Analyst), a rigorous examination focused on investment analysis and financial knowledge. Andrew’s initial role with the firm will focus on office operations alongside Carly before taking on a more active role as an associate financial advisor for the firm. We are excited to have Andrew on the team. You can read his full biography at https://www.intelligentim.com/our-team

As we look toward the remainder of the year, our focus remains the same: helping you stay grounded in your long-term objectives while paying attention to the opportunities and challenges in front of us today. Thank you for the trust you place in our team. We do not take that responsibility lightly, and we are genuinely grateful for the opportunity to work with you. As always, if there is anything on your mind, whether it is a question about the markets, your financial plan, or simply something you have been wondering about, please reach out. Sometimes, a conversation is all it takes to put things back into perspective.

Wishing you and your family a wonderful month ahead.

Sincerely,

Intelligent Investment Management, LLP