Sojourn Wealth Advisory

08/26/2026

The Potential Costs of Having Money on the Sidelines

Having cash on the sidelines can bring a feeling of extra comfort. After all, having an emergency reserve of savings is a great help with unforeseen expenses rather than having to go into debt or prematurely selling your investments.

However, having too much cash on the sidelines can produce its own risk—the risk of losing purchasing power. As we have recently experienced, the cost of goods and services has continued to climb. A dollar doesn’t go as far as it used to.

Check out the attached “Feeling Safe May Be Risky” linked below in the comments to see the problem from two perspectives.

First, the erosion of purchasing power. In the example provided, $100,000 today would only be worth $47,761 in 25 years, assuming 3% annual inflation, or even worse only $29,530 at 5% annual inflation.

The second perspective on the right shows that a basket of items that cost $100,000 could cost $209,378 in 25 years assuming a 3% annual inflation, or even $338,635 assuming 5% annual inflation.
The charts show the dangers of letting cash sit. These numbers aren’t displaying growth in value, but increased cost. When we save and invest for the future—ours, our children, or even grandchildren, we want to make sure the purchasing power isn’t eroding, but growing.

On the back of the piece, you can see how annual inflation of 3% can dramatically reduce the effective return of the investments. The comparison shows a return for the last fifteen years (2011-2025) for stocks, a hypothetical 60/40 portfolio (60% stocks, 40% bonds), bonds, and cash. See the fine print for important information on the representative indexes used and other important disclosures.

Even if the investing timeline isn’t 25 years, you can see the incremental decline over five year periods.

Investing involves risk. As it turns out, so does not investing, or even investing too conservatively. Investing conservatively may limit swings in account value, but it may not do much in the way of growth, income, or keeping up with inflation.

The fixed dollar amount we see in a savings account is actually losing purchasing power.

So, what can we do?

1) Determine if there are excess cash reserves that should be invested.

2) Evaluate your investments not only based on market risk and volatility, but also on your return objectives and the potential for growth beyond inflation.

If you would like to revisit your cash reserves and your investment allocation, reach out to schedule a conversation.

Sojourn well.

06/25/2026

Have you been watching the games? Have you seen the videos of international guests experiencing the U.S. for the first time? (Feel free to link your favorite in the comments below).

People from all over the world have traveled to America to experience what is known as “The Beautiful Game.”

I thought I’d take the opportunity to share my best analogy for disciplined investing.

When kids first learn how to play they often bunch up and chase after the ball, move out of position, and kick each other in the shins. This is what undisciplined investing can look like. Too many focus on one area of the market, flock to it, and unfortunately produce what we call a market bubble.

Professionals can make it look like a slower game because they know their roles and positions. When the ball gets to them, they know what to do with it. Some teams are built for a stronger defense. Other teams are built for a stronger offense. However the team is built, the players know their positions and aim to work as a team. That is what disciplined investing can look like. There is no guarantee the team will win, but we want to select quality players for our positions.

To further illustrate the point and provide greater perspective, see the comments for a link to research from MFS entitled “20 Years of the Best and Worst – A Case for Diversification.”

It shows the performance of different sectors over the past twenty years. Some sectors performed better than others and no sector outperformed all the other sectors every year. This is why we carefully and thoughtfully select investments and strategies. The ball (or market) moves.

As you can see from the MFS chart, we can’t know for certain where the market will go, and it would be foolish of us to think we could. Past performance does not guarantee future results, and diversification does not guarantee profit or protection from a loss. Our aim is to vet investments and design the portfolio to have a proper team in place and make adjustments when needed.

Reach out to begin the conversation and learn what we can do for you and your team.

06/10/2026

It’s always fun when you get the right people in the right room together. I had a wonderful evening last night hosting local business owners, leaders, and professionals at Sojourn Wealth Advisory’s Marketplace Meet & Greet at Das Bierhalle Bel Air. It was a great time to catch up and introduce quality people to each other.

I really enjoy hearing what people are up to personally and professionally, and finding ways to connect them with others who are interested and can help.

Thank you to all who attended and Das Bierhalle for all the great hospitality.

If you have questions about how we might be able to serve you and your business, be sure to reach out.

02/06/2026

Some resources for the season and year ahead. Hope they’re helpful.

If you would like to schedule a time to discuss what might be your next steps, here is my calendar so you can pick a time that works best for you. I look forward to having the conversation.

08/30/2025

Woke up early to meet the Hancock Bros. Hancock Brothers Industries to get things started. Exciting things to come.

08/29/2025

Needed some of the old furniture hauled away to make room for renovations. Paul Majewski had me covered with BumbleJunk. Jake and Jamal came right on time and did an excellent job. Great team.

08/19/2025

**The Before Picture**

Exciting news to share! The settlement is complete. After 9 years at the previous location, Sojourn Wealth Advisory LLC has moved the office to 321 Fulford Ave. Bel Air, Maryland. We’re thrilled about this significant milestone in our journey to help families manage their resources for the opportunities ahead.

While we currently serve clients from the West Coast to the Caribbean, we believe our new location will offer a greater experience for our local clients and our work. We’ll have a better layout for hospitality, functionality, and more space for future growth. There will also be onsite parking and an accessibility ramp.

We’re also excited about our new neighborhood. We will be within walking distance to Bel Air’s charming Main Street and Rockfield Manor. The area hosts many unique restaurants, boutique shops, festivals, and other community events throughout the year. Bel Air is a thriving town and we’re glad to be a part of it.

We’re planning to make improvements to the building (and landscaping). While the changes may take time, we’re looking forward to welcoming you and your loved ones to the new location. In the meantime, we’ll still be able to meet virtually or elsewhere if needed.

Although the purchase of a new office is a milestone, it is far from the only one we’ve been working on. These past few months we’ve been helping clients plan for growing families, college, job transitions, business launches and sales, income, retirement, inheritances, and estates. As always, I hope to be here for you as a resource in every opportunity or challenge.

I’m grateful to share this sojourn together.

Sojourn well,

Sean

03/25/2025

Wondering about the recent market swings? Here is some perspective and context.

The markets are experiencing broader swings as businesses face increased uncertainty from recent policy changes concerning international trade and tariffs. Some technology stocks are also experiencing a pullback from their recent gains as many believe they could be overvalued.

01/31/2025

We always want to be a resource any way we can. We've posted some resources for your 2025. You can take a look at the website under Insight and Resources for 2025. Hopefully they are a help to you. Feel free to share them with others as well. There's also a link in case you'd like to reach out with a question or next steps. Sojourn well.

Send a message to learn more

10/24/2023

Alicia Adamczyk from Fortune recently wrote an article on millennials facing higher mortgage rates. I was glad to offer some thoughts.

Home purchases are some of the largest transactions one faces, and their impact can be felt for many years to come. Learn the steps you can take to put yourself in a better position.

"It really makes sense to put yourself in the best financial position possible no matter the season."