Jessica K Martini - Northwestern Mutual

01/23/2025

This morning I was up at 4am and had the privilege of volunteering with the city of Long Beach for the annual Homeless Count. I was on a team with two city employees who are making an impact every day, and here are a few things I learned while out in my community:

• None of the unhoused folks we encountered identified addiction or mental illness as an issue, it was affordable housing, physical disability, and natural disasters
• Lack of beds and resources are a primary reason there are still so many unhoused
• Trauma from past institutionalization of all kinds also causes unhoused people to be distrusting of the outreach programs (rightfully so)

A year ago I had a very different perception of what was happening in my neighborhood. This is bigger than what is happening in Long Beach and begs the question: if we don’t help each other, then what happens to those who are getting left behind? It’s inhumane, and sometimes I’m startled by the lack of compassion who want to arrest people who do no have a place to sleep at night or a safe space to live.

My message to you all is: if you’re complaining about your country, your state, or your community, WHAT ARE YOU DOING ABOUT IT?

01/22/2025

Chief Investment Officer Brent Schutte discusses why speculation on the pace of rate cuts by the Fed is likely to continue to play an outsized role in market performance in the months ahead.

What should be made of the market’s reaction to better-than-expected inflation data?

01/21/2025

Have you ever met someone and just knew right away "that's my people"?

110% was the case when I met Leigh Martin. Good people travel in packs, and she introduced me to Kyle Beuchot, and the rest is history.

Last year I wrapped the year by presenting some financial education to the women of RapidScale and I'll be back tomorrow to share content with a wider audience.

Why?

Well, ERG work matters. The volunteer staff that companies have that organize, promote, and orchestrate events (usually with no budget) are absolutely irreplaceable.

For every company out there that got rid of their DEI initiatives in 2025: take a look at what Cox/RapidScale is doing and write down some notessssssss my friends.

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01/18/2025

Here’s a helpful list to help you get a jump on making the most of your money so you can achieve what goals that are important to you.

Our financial checklist can help you get a jump on making the most of your money in the year ahead.

01/17/2025

I like to ask people what words they would use to describe their relationship to money.

Regardless of income level, I hear a lot of the same words: anxious, confused, avoidant…

I’m hosting a special virtual session Friday the 24th with Sara Stanizai, LMFT, so that we can talk about the emotions of money! I hope you’ll join us. DM me for the registration link 😊

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01/16/2025

A 401(k) is a popular way to save for retirement, but it’s important you follow the rules—like contribution limits. If you have questions about your plan, let’s connect.

There are limits to how much you can contribute to your 401(k) each year.

01/15/2025

I can’t believe my littlest little is four today.

It feels like only yesterday I was going in for my schedule C-section (alone, with COVID!) to welcome Lydia Luck into the world. Her arrival changed *everything*.

She is fiercely independent, so certain of her personal style, and incredibly funny. Next year she starts transitional kindergarten at the same elementary school as her brother, and can’t wait to be among the “big kids”.

Two nights ago she told me, in earnest, “I love you more than you love me”. Her hugs are infamous (hug ATTACKS, just like Pandy from her favorite show: Gabby’s Dollhouse.

When we’re out and about people tell her how beautiful she is. I don’t need to remind her of that, and when she’s put on a new outfit or dressed up as a princess (as she did today for school) I tell her: “You look so comfortable and confident.” Or “I love the independent choices you made with this outfit.”
I have learned so much about myself in being her parent.

Happy fourth, my Lucky girl ❤️

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01/15/2025

This is a concept I can get behind. If you’re looking to talk through all the small steps to feeling better about your finances, I’m only a DM away.

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01/14/2025

Chief Investment Officer Brent Schutte discusses how a distorted economy has led to narrow strength in the markets and why investors shouldn’t underestimate the importance of diversification.

Distortions in the economy are driving unbalanced returns in the market. But can it continue?

01/10/2025

Strong performance for the S&P 500 in 2024 tells only part of the story. Here’s a timely analysis from our chief investment officer about what issues need to be resolved in the year ahead and what it means for investors.

 Strong performance for the S&P 500 in 2024 tells only part of the story. Here’s a timely analysis from our chief investment officer about what issues need to be resolved in the year ahead and what it means for investors. 

01/10/2025

These two photos were taken from my balcony in Long Beach last night. For those of you on the internet at all in the last 72 hours, you may have seen or heard that Los Angeles is experiencing an unprecedented disaster of mass proportions.

I know folks fighting the fire, or who have evacuated to other areas. Some have lost their homes and their hope.

Climate change is real. Protecting our natural resources and land is necessary. We only have each other.

Bad Religion has a song called Los Angeles is Burning that pretty much says it all.

01/10/2025

File these habits under "Thanks, but no thanks, 2025." Want to build better strategies together? Let’s do it.

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