The Crystal Stair of Investing: Modeling Financial Wisdom In Hard Markets

What Boomer and GenX investors can learn from Langston Hughes

This week, I attended a parent-teacher learning event at our teenage son's school, where we discussed the current trimester’s curriculum. The topics ranged from the American Civil War to the Harlem Renaissance, and amidst it all, one particular poem struck a chord with me—Langston Hughes’ Mother to Son. As I listened to the discussion, I couldn’t help but draw parallels between the poem’s themes of perseverance and generational wisdom and the journey of baby boomer and Gen X investors navigating today’s complex markets and desire to preserve wealth through the back half of their lives and leave something to their future generations to build upon.

Hughes’ powerful lines remind us that “Life for me ain't been no crystal stair.” It’s an enduring truth not just in life but also in investing. The wisdom of past generations can serve as a guiding light for those still climbing, ensuring that financial knowledge and resilience are passed down effectively.