“Honey, 5 million dollars isn’t what it used to be, I really need 10 million.” My husband and I leaned back in our chairs to eaves drop on the conversation going on at the table behind us. We could hardly believe our ears—or, as it turns out, our good fortune in being entertained by a real-life high-end soap opera episode. My husband has always been keenly interested in the conversations of fellow diners, but this time we were both craning our necks for more. We were celebrating our 30^th wedding anniversary in Lake Como, Italy and, on this early evening, were having cocktails at the famous Villa d’Este—a more stunning, upscale location I have never seen.

"Ann, I did everything laid out in my plan and I’m not as far ahead as I would like," lamented my client Ross the other day. This contrasted completely with my meeting with Sylvia earlier in the week where it was I that was aggrieved, "Sylvia, you didn't do anything that I laid out in your plan last year!" To which she retorted accurately, "Yes—that’s true, but I did great financially anyway."

Tucked away on Greece’s rugged north Aegean coast lies a place seemingly frozen in time, where men lead simple lives much the same as they have for the past thousand years. It is a rocky, narrow peninsula covered in wooded valleys and terraced farms that comes to an abrupt end at a dramatic 6000-foot peak – the eponymous Mount Athos.

“Well, that’s fitting as everything is always 50% off at Sears” dead-panned my husband when I told him that I sold my Sears bond for half of its face value.

I had been holding an unsecured note for three years, long before Sears filed for bankruptcy.  Unbeknownst to me, my bond had moved into default status and so I decided to sell it straight away rather than wait to see how much I would eventually get for it. Estimates ranged from 30-60 cents for each dollar of face-value, so I feel lucky to have received 50% without waiting.

With thanks to my son, Peter Minnium Jr, for this guest post.

I met Gus and Lina at a campground outside of Leonidio, Greece, a beautiful community nestled in the rugged hills abutting the Aegean Sea. Leonidio attracts visitors year round with its beauty, fair climate, and perhaps most powerfully, its abundant rock climbing.

“I’m retired, mom,” said my 25 year-old son, in response to my monthly inquiry into his future plans. By now, I am used to his creative explanations as to why he is not grinding away in a junior position in the corporate world, but this topped them all. After I picked up my jaw from the floor and was able to speak again, I asked him to explain his logic. As a Financial Planner specialized in retirement, I waited eagerly to learn something new.

With thanks to my son, Peter Minnium Jr, for this guest post.

I almost fell out of my hammock when I read my dad’s message, “fun dinner with my clients last night and good deal—$600 for the chef’s tasting with wine for four.”  $600 on a meal a good deal? I may never understand the man’s sense of value — and he’s my dad!

“Ann, it's great to see you!” exclaimed Sally as she burst into my office for her annual review. Like many of my clients Sally enthusiastically gives me credit for the past year's financial markets performance. I first did Sally’s plan 9 years ago and she has been this effusive whenever we have our check-in meetings. Although I’d like to take personal credit for the financial markets performance since 2009, I usually spend the first 30 minutes of our time together explaining to her why I’m no genius.

“Mom, I’m setting up my tent outside,” announced my world-traveling millennial son shortly after arriving home for a short visit.  “Peter,” I said, perplexed, “I’ve kept your room in perfect condition—your TV, wifi, and air-conditioning are waiting for you!” “No thanks,” he replied, “The house is living too large for me, Mom, I’ve moved on to living small and I don’t want to go back.”