Good People. Great Life.

Doug Walters, CFA

Community may not appear in a financial plan, but it can influence many of the things that shape long-term success. In this month’s Insights, we reflect on how belonging, support, and the influence of good people can affect both the quality of our lives and financial success.

Contributed by Doug Walters, David Lemire, Max Berkovich, Matthew Johnson

I admit, my writing is often narrowly focused on investments and markets. Such is the occupational hazard of a Chief Investment Officer. Yet our financial fortunes are shaped as much, if not more, by something that is easy to overlook. I’m talking about community: that trusted circle of people that gives us a sense of belonging, encourages us, and challenges us to grow.

I was reminded of that recently while attending my 25-year reunion at the MIT Sloan School of Management. I’ll be the first to admit that I’d neglected my MIT community a bit in recent years. My colleagues will likely find this a bit ironic as I never stop talking about community at Strategic. But when I stepped back on campus I was reminded of the magic of this group. I reconnected with old friends and listened to professors lecture on markets, artificial intelligence, and happiness. Everyone was interested not only in what their classmates were doing, but also in how, together, they could help lift each other up personally and professionally. That is the true power of community.

A Strategic Community

At Strategic, we live and breathe this community ethos. Perhaps that is what drew me here in the first place. Our role, of course, includes helping clients set goals and make thoughtful financial and investment decisions. But that is just the beginning. Our mission is broader. It is to help people live a great life. We see that going well beyond a series of one-to-one interactions with an advisor. We want our clients to feel part of a community, the way I did at Sloan. We want Strategic to be a place where people feel connected, supported, and surrounded by other good people who are thoughtful, engaged, and trying to live well.

Researching Happiness

Community may not appear on a balance sheet, but research from the Harvard Study of Adult Development (HSAD) suggests it can influence many of the things that shape a great life and a successful one, from happiness and health to productivity, economic mobility, and financial behavior. And while the study highlights that (after a point) greater financial success does not lead to increased happiness, there is no doubt that having access to the right community, can help lift us up professionally.

Simply Good People

How do we define community at Strategic? Simply, “good people.” We want to help these good people live their version of a great life by bringing them into a community that adds value beyond a portfolio or a plan.

So no, this may not read like my usual note on markets, valuations, or portfolio construction. But this past week reminded me that some of the most important drivers of a great life do not fit neatly into an investment memo. Community, belonging, and the influence of good people can shape how we grow both personally and, yes, financially.

We live by each other and for each other. Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.
Helen Keller

One thing to watch

Last week, the PCE Deflator (the Fed’s preferred inflation measure) came out at 3.8%. A significant rise over last month, but lower than the 3.9% expected. Inflation pressures continue.

This week we’ll continue to monitor the developments in the AI space through Broadcom’s (AVGO) earnings report on Wednesday evening.

About Strategic

Founded in 1979, Strategic is a leading investment and wealth management firm managing and advising on total client assets of over $3 billion, as of 6/3/26.

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