October 2021: Growing up and melting down

“Get in your damn car seat, Charlie. We’re going to be late for the pumpkin patch.” Yes, these words actually came out of my mouth. And yes, this is precisely what two toddlers and too many Pumpkin Spice Lattes can do to a dad by mid-Autumn. This October, I often found myself beaming with prideContinue reading “October 2021: Growing up and melting down”

August 2021: The Lord Duffington Classic

I smoked my tee shot 185 yards up the right side of the fairway. I was pumped. My trusty 4-hybrid put my Pinnacle 3 in a great location to clear the pond with an iron and reach the green in 2. I had already donated too many golf balls to the South Carolina waterways throughoutContinue reading “August 2021: The Lord Duffington Classic”

July 2021: Rocky Mountain High

Since our trip to Colorado, Jordan and I have been on a “Rocky Mountain High.” A few things might have contributed to this feeling. Maybe the high came from the rare opportunity for a kid free vacation with Jordan, my parents, my sisters, and my brothers-in-law. This was only made possible because the Bonders steppedContinue reading “July 2021: Rocky Mountain High”

June 2021: Be where your feet are

Charlie’s hand was clutched around my pinkie finger as she splashed about in an Ocean City tide pool. My little girl with blonde pigtails and a unicorn swimsuit was jumping through the puddles, chasing away the seagulls, and giggling as she ran from the incoming waves.  It was one of those precious father/daughter moments, soContinue reading “June 2021: Be where your feet are”

April 2021: Life changes

“Ain’t it funny how life changes?” Thomas Rhett sang the words, but I’m certainly living them. Jordan and I are sharing 30-packs of diapers with the same friends we used to share 30-packs of Natty Light. Instead of hanging at the pool bar in Punta Cana with Penn State Greek Life, we’re spending Saturdays atContinue reading “April 2021: Life changes”

March 2021: The one where Casey and Mikey get engaged

There are some moments in life that you just can’t miss. As the sun was shining, the waves were crashing, and the engagement ring was sparkling on Newport Beach, my family was experiencing one of these moments. My sister’s boyfriend had just proposed and unbeknownst to her, we were getting ready to celebrate only aContinue reading “March 2021: The one where Casey and Mikey get engaged”

February 2021: Becoming a Financial Coach

On February 1, I started a new chapter of my career with Financial Coach. I made the move because I wanted to be a trusted advisor for some of life’s most important conversations and decisions.   I hoped to be a guide for people in my own community that would become like family. And I wanted toContinue reading “February 2021: Becoming a Financial Coach”

January 2021: Thank you, Vanguard

Dear Vanguard, Today is my final day as a crew member. As I embark on my next journey as an Associate Wealth Advisor at Financial Coach, I wanted to thank you for making the start of my career so special. 8 years ago, you took a chance on an unpolished summer intern who performed aContinue reading “January 2021: Thank you, Vanguard”