Financial Fortune Cookies

Today’s Prep:

What small piece of wisdom can we take away and apply to our financial plan? Eric talks through five fortune cookie statements and what they mean.

Equipping Points:

What do these fortune cookie sayings have in common with your finances? Let’s apply these pieces of wisdom to our financial lives and see.

In the markets right now, the fortune “Crisis is an opportunity riding on a dangerous wind” may apply. Whether you have a lot like Warren Buffett or you are trying to make the most out of what you have, finding these opportunities is important when building your portfolio. There’s always an opportunity, so ask what opportunity is available to you right now.

The next fortune, “A feather in the hand is better than a bird in the air” is similar to one we commonly say. Protect what you have. Sometimes you’ve accumulated enough money that you don’t need to make that large rate of return in order for your plan to work. So why take a risk if you don’t have to?

“Accept something you cannot change and you’ll feel better.” You can’t change tax rates and you can’t change what will happen to the stock market. What you can change is how much risk you take with your portfolio or how much money is subject to taxation.

Another fortune is, “A foolish man listens to his heart.” Sometimes you want to make sudden or drastic moves with your finances based on emotions. This is where a financial advisor comes in to coach you on how best to make financial decisions based on logic and your plan. Don’t try to twist the numbers to justify your decision. As the fortune goes, “Don’t let statistics do a number on you.” Numbers help support your decisions, but they have to be real numbers.

Listen to the entire episode or skip ahead to a particular question using the timestamps below.

[spp-timestamp time=”1:37″] – “Crisis is an opportunity…”

[spp-timestamp time=”3:10″] – “A feather in the hand is better than a bird in the air.”

[spp-timestamp time=”3:45″] – “Accept something you cannot change and you’ll feel better.”

[spp-timestamp time=”6:03″] – “A foolish man listens to his heart.” .

[spp-timestamp time=”7:00″] – “Don’t let statistics do a number on you.”

 

Today’s Takeaway:

Protect what you have. Sometimes you’ve accumulated enough money that you don’t need to make that large rate of return in order for your plan to work. So why take a risk if you don’t have to?

-Eric Peterson

 

Related Resources:

Mailbag: Advisor Reviews

More From Eric:

The host: Eric Peterson - Contact - Call: (515) 226-1500

Subscribe To The Podcast:

Apple Podcasts  -  Google Podcasts  -  Spotify  -  Stitcher  -  iHeartRadio  -  TuneIn

Check out some other recent episodes

Who Really Needs a Financial Advisor?

September 10, 2026

Ever wondered who truly needs a financial advisor, and who might be fine doing it alone? Eric looks at the different ways people approach retirement planning and how professional guidance can fit alongside a hands-on investing style.

4 Financial Commandments for Retirement

September 3, 2026

In this episode, Eric shares a few simple rules that could change how you think about retirement and investing.

Retirement Truth Bombs: Your Biggest Financial Blind Spots

August 27, 2026

Some long-held retirement assumptions deserve a closer look. Eric drops a few “truth bombs” and explains why one of an advisor’s most important jobs has less to do with picking investments and more to do with helping people avoid emotional decisions.

Mailbag: Hiring an Advisor, Market Crashes & Tax-Smart Giving

August 20, 2026

In this mailbag episode, Eric addresses whether do-it-yourself investors need professional guidance, how to respond to predictions of a market crash, and when a donor-advised fund may make sense.

Retirement Lessons from Betty White

August 13, 2026

Betty White may never have officially retired, but her humor and outlook offer several valuable lessons for anyone planning the next stage of life.

Laid Off Near Retirement? What to Do Next

August 6, 2026

A layoff close to retirement can feel like a financial emergency, but it may not be as damaging as it first appears. Eric explains why layoffs are happening and walks through the key financial decisions that follow. He also shares a practical checklist for evaluating whether returning to work is necessary, or whether retirement may already be possible.

Mailbag: HELOCs, Trusts, and Family Money

July 30, 2026

In this mailbag episode, Eric answers listener questions about borrowing after retirement, avoiding unnecessary taxes on large IRA withdrawals, simplifying an estate, and setting healthy financial boundaries with loved ones.

Easy Ways to Ruin Retirement

July 23, 2026

Retirement can be exciting, but it can also come with new challenges. In this episode, Eric discusses some of the most common ways people can accidentally ruin retirement.

The National Park Guide to Retirement Planning

July 16, 2026

Whether you’re visiting one of the 63 national parks this summer or just hitting a local trail, a lot of the best practices for a great hike apply just as well to your retirement plan. Today, Eric “walks” through a few.

Mailbag: Military Pension Mistakes & Retirement Decision Paralysis

July 9, 2026

What happens if you make a retirement decision you can’t undo? And how do you know when you’ve done enough research before making an important financial move? In this mailbag episode, Eric answers two listener questions—one from a military retiree looking to protect his spouse after declining a survivor pension benefit, and another from a listener who struggles with overthinking every financial decision.

Leave a Comment