Why we trust complicated things
One of the things I've noticed over the years is that people often mistake complexity for expertise.
It's an easy assumption to make. We naturally think that if something is more complicated, it must be better.
I've found the opposite is often true.
The people who understand something deeply are usually the ones who can make it simple.
I see this regularly when I'm working with clients. Sometimes it's an investment portfolio that's grown to include more funds, products and strategies than anyone can easily explain.
Other times it's a financial plan that has become weighed down by too many moving parts and competing priorities.
Occasionally that complexity is necessary. More often, it isn't.
Complexity has a cost. It creates more decisions to make, more things to keep track of and more opportunities to second-guess yourself. It can also make it harder to see what really matters.
One of the most rewarding parts of my job is helping clients simplify. Not because simple is always better, but because clarity gives people confidence.
When you're clear about why you're doing something, you're much more likely to stick with it, even when markets or life become uncertain.
Over time, I've come to believe that good financial planning isn't about making life more complicated.
It's about removing the unnecessary so you can focus on what matters most.