Love & Loss: 4 Family Reunion Lessons for Your Money
The pyramid 10 kids used to make, recreated with the 2 remaining siblings.
Four days before our annual family reunion, we lost my Aunt Pat. We gathered anyway—sharing porch swing drinks, jazz music, and stories that stretched from childhood memories to colonoscopies. Somewhere between the hugs and the laughter, I realized these reunions have a lot in common with good financial planning. Here’s why.
In August, my family gathered at Houghton Lake, Michigan for our annual reunion. My dad is #9 of 10 siblings, and of the three still living—Pat, Susie, and Dad—we lost Aunt Pat unexpectedly just four days before the reunion.
We decided to still come together. My cousin MaryAnne went above and beyond with tents, food, music, and goodie bags. Dad and Deb mixed fancy “porch swing” drinks and handed out handmade soaps. Even cousin Stephanie flew in from Boston with her daughter, Charlie—who, at just 10 years old, has already fought and beaten cancer.
The day was filled with jazz music playing classics in the background, kids splashing in the lake, and conversations that ranged from colonoscopies to AI in emergency services (it’s not all small talk in my family). We caught up on the lives of cousins who couldn’t be there, gossiped appropriately, and shared more than a few laughs.
The Power of Being Together
Watching my dad with his sister, I saw how much this gathering mattered—especially with two of Aunt Pat’s kids there. Just showing up and sharing a hug made a difference. It didn’t matter that we only see each other once a year or that our lives run like trains on separate tracks. In the middle of big life changes, it felt good to show up for one another.
None of us knows who will make it to the next reunion. Time is moving, and while we’re all active with work and travel, the truth is, we just don’t know what the next year will bring.
That reality left me thinking about a few lessons from the weekend that apply as much to personal finance as they do to family life.
1. The Value of Showing Up
Whether it’s a family gathering or your financial goals, being present matters. You can’t build memories—or wealth—if you’re not engaged. Skipping your financial check-ins can mean missing opportunities, just like skipping a reunion means missing irreplaceable moments.
2. Celebrate the Wins, Big and Small
From Charlie’s recovery from cancer, to Marie’s move to Denver, to perfectly mixed porch swing drinks—we found plenty of reasons to cheer. In your finances, those moments might be paying off debt, hitting a savings target, or maxing out your retirement contributions. Celebrating milestones keeps you motivated for the long haul.
3. Shared Stories Create Stronger Plans
We laughed, swapped updates, and told stories only we could tell. In financial planning, sharing your story with a trusted advisor helps build a plan that actually fits you. Working with an advisor should be about more than your money—it should be about the story you’re writing with your life.
4. The Need to Plan Ahead
We don’t know what the next year will bring, but we can make the most of the time and resources we have now. Financially, that means having your essentials in place: emergency savings, updated estate documents, and a clear investment strategy. Planning ahead doesn’t remove uncertainty, but it does help you face it with confidence.
A Reminder Worth Keeping
Family reunions aren’t always easy to attend, but they provide lasting emotional returns. Good financial planning fills that same need for positive returns and security—just in a different way. Both remind you: you’re not alone, you have people (and a plan) in your corner, and your future matters enough to nurture.
If it’s been a while since you’ve had your own “financial family reunion” (aka reviewing your accounts, documents, and strategies), now is a great time to get them in shape before the year ends. You’ll never regret being prepared.