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The LynnLeigh JournalLife. Investing. And Everything in BetweenLast month, we explored how organizing your finances into NowMoney, Later Money, and Never Money™ helped clients stay groundedin uncertain markets. You met Jamie, who panicked without a plan—and Ann, who stayed confident because she had one.This month, we take it one step further.Because clarity doesn’t happen by accident. It happens when yourmoney has a purpose. And that starts with rethinking what budgetingmeans.BUDGETING ISN’T A FOUR-LETTERWORD: HOW BIG PICTURE PLANNINGTRANSFORMS CASH FLOW INTOCONFIDENCEBy Kelly L. Olczak, CFP® Feature ArticleHighlights:M A Y 2 0 2 5V O L U M E 5Just for Fun: AMay WorthSavoringWhy TraditionalBudgeting FailsA Framework that TurnsChaos into ClarityStart with Reflection toCreate ConsistencyThe Start of 2025 wasVolatile, But NotUnprecedentedTariffs & Trade Policy AreDriving Short-TermDisruptionDiversification is Doing It’sJobMarket Update: Message

2M A Y 2 0 2 5 V O L U M E 5No to dinners out.No to travel.NO FUN AT ALL! Yuck!But at LynnLeigh & Company, we see budgeting differently. It’s notabout restriction—it’s about intention. In fact, we rarely use theword "budget" at all. Instead, we guide our clients through BigPicture Planning™—a process that transforms cash flow into clarityby answering a simple but powerful question: What is this moneymeant to do?Most People Think Budgeting MeansSaying No...Why Traditional Budgeting FailsTraditional budgeting tools often ask for endless categories, daily tracking, and spreadsheet-level precisionthat can leave you feeling overwhelmed, not organized.Clients tell us it feels like this:In retirement, the stakes feel even higher. There’s no regular paycheck to smooth things out, and everypurchase can trigger worry. But what’s missing from most budgeting approaches isn’t math—it’s meaning.That’s where Big Picture Planning™ shifts the entire conversation."I know I spent too much, but I don’t know where.""I don’t want to track every coffee and dog grooming appointment.""I feel guilty when the numbers don’t add up."

3M A Y 2 0 2 5 V O L U M E 5We help clients organize their financial life into three clearcategories:Now MoneyFor your everyday life—groceries, utilities, monthly subscriptions,family dinners, and the joy of a weekend getaway. This bucket isabout covering what matters now, and doing it confidently.Big Picture Planning™ Starts with ThreeBucketsLater MoneyThis is your income stream for your retirement years —SocialSecurity, IRAs, retirement withdrawals, and part-time work. It's theheart of your retirement strategy, and it needs to balance growth andaccessibility.Never MoneyThese are the funds you don’t anticipate needing yourself. They might be earmarked for legacy, charitablegiving, or long-term care. They provide long-term flexibility—and peace of mind.This framework makes budgeting personal. It replaces guilt with guidance.How to Start Building Your BucketsThe best way to begin is by identifying your current financial accounts, income sources, and goals—andgrouping them by purpose, not just by type.Examples:Your checking account and monthly Social Security? That’s Now MoneyYour IRA that you’ll start drawing from at 67? Later Money.The investment property you plan to pass on to you kids? Never Money.

4M A Y 2 0 2 5 V O L U M E 5We recommend walking through this exercise bucket by bucket:This is where your stress starts to fade—and your strategy begins to form.Start with Now. What do you need to cover your essentials and lifestyle?Then map out Later. What sources will sustain you throughout your retirement years?Finally, define your Never. What’s intended for others or for down-the-road care?Reflect Before You BudgetWhat are the expenses that bring you peace of mind?What expenses trigger anxiety or guiltWhere do I need clarity more that I need a number?This kind of reflection allows you to move beyond surface-levelbudgeting. Instead of trying to track every dollar with perfectprecision, you begin to understand the emotional impact of your spending. That awareness helps create a values-based plan—something that feels customized toyour life, not imposed on it.Once you’ve reflected, then it’s time to collect data—and this part can actually be simpler than itsounds. Most people today pay for the majority of their expenses with a credit card or debit card. Ifthat’s you, like it is for me, you can download your transactions at the end of each month, categorizethem, and begin to see patterns right away. You don’t need to manually record every coffee or gasstation stop—you need clarity, not complication.

5M A Y 2 0 2 5 V O L U M E 5There are free or low-cost budgeting tools that can automatically categorize your expenses, but evenreviewing one or two months of statements can be enough to spot where your money’s going andwhich purchases are most aligned with your Now Money needs.At LynnLeigh & Company, we offer our clients access to a secure financial planning platform calledeMoney. It’s a powerful tool that lets you link your financial accounts, monitor spending, and build areal-time budget that adjusts as life does. If you’re already a client, this tool is included in yourplanning experience—and we encourage you to explore its budgeting features to support your BigPicture Planning™ journey.Budgeting only becomes helpfulwhen it’s built on your real life—not on abstract categories. That’swhy reflection comes beforestructure. And it’s why we buildfinancial plans that are bothpersonally meaningful andanalytically sound—designed toreflect not just your numbers,but your values and lifestyle.If you’re ready to explore this process in a deeper, more hands-on way, we’ve created a resource to help youtake that next step. That’s why reflection comes before structure. And it’s why we build financial plans thatare emotional as well as analytical. You can find this resource here.The Big Picture Planning™ Workbook: Turning Your CashFlow Into Confidence — One Bucket at a TimeThis workbook isn’t just a handout—it’s the result of 18 months of focused effort to create resources that areboth actionable and aligned with what we teach. It serves as the bridge between inspiration andimplementation.

6 M A Y 2 0 2 5 V O L U M E 5We believe financial planning should be clear, approachable, and most of all—usable. This workbookhelps you apply the Big Picture framework to your real life.Whether you’re just entering retirement or adjusting to new income patterns, the workbook meets youwhere you are—and helps you move forward with clarity.It’s not a spreadsheet—it’s a clarity tool. Inside, you’ll walk through a step-by-step process to:Clarify what your money is meant to doOrganize accounts and spending into your Now Money,Later Money and Never Money™ bucketsVisualize your income flow in retirementIdentify gaps and priorities for future planningReflect on what brings you peace of mind – and whatdoesn’tIt’s designed to guide you through the same mindset and methods we use with clients every day.For example, if you’re unsure how to categorize your Roth IRA or HSA, or if you’ve never thought ofyour travel fund as part of your Now Money, the workbook gives you prompts and visuals to makethose connections.Jamie and Ann: Same Story, Deeper MeaningIn April, we shared the story of Jamie and Ann. Jamie had no clear plan, so when the market dropped,he reacted emotionally—pulling his investments and missing the recovery.

7 M A Y 2 0 2 5 V O L U M E 5When you organize your money by purpose—not just by account type or balance—it changes howyou think, how you spend, and how you plan.You stop wondering, “Can I afford this?” and start asking, “Is this what that money is for?”Ann, on the other hand, had her buckets clearly defined. She was nervous, sure—but she didn’t panic.Her “Now Money” gave her confidence to spend. Her Later Money was managed for income. Her“Never Money” was in place for her legacy.Because when your money has a job, the market doesn’t shake you.That’s the power of Big Picture Planning™.Why This Matters to YouLess emotional decision-makingMore confidence around retirement incomeGreater alignment between your values and your financial lifeThat’s a small shift with a big payoff. It leads to:And most importantly, it replaces confusion with clarity.Join Us For This Month’s Webinar:If you’re ready to move beyond budgets and toward clarity, we invite you to our next webinar:Why traditional budgeting failsHow to define your Now Money, Later Money and Never Money™How to align your income and expenses without micromanagingHow structure creates confidence - no matter what the headlines sayMay 29, 2025 - Noon to 1 PMWhat we will cover: Click here to register!

8 M A Y 2 0 2 5 V O L U M E 5 MARKET UPDATEA Bumpy Ride – and a Better LensLet’s be honest—2025 hasn’t exactly rolled out the welcome mat for investors. After a strong two-year run, the markets hit a rough patch this spring. The S&P 500 stumbled out of the gate with itsfifth-worst start to a year in history, sliding over 10% in the first 73 trading days. By mid-April, itwas down nearly 19% from its February peak, rattled by renewed tariff threats and globaluncertainty.But here’s where things start to pivot: as of last Friday (May2, 2025), the index has clawed backmuch of those losses and now sits down just 3.3% year-to-date. Volatility? Yes. Doom and gloom?Not so fast.We’re sharing this update not to stir concern—but to offer clarity, context, and a reminder thatshort-term bumps don’t derail long-term plans. In fact, they’re part of the process.What’s Fueling the Swings?Trade Policy TurbulenceNew tariffs announced by President Trump in April sent markets into a tailspin, raising concernsaround trade wars, rising costs, and economic drag. These policies aren’t just headlines—theyripple through supply chains and sentiment alike.Global Rotation Is BackWhile U.S. equities have wobbled, international stocks and bonds are showing relative strength.This rotation reinforces why diversification isn’t just a buzzword—it’s a strategy that works.Still Strong at the CoreAccording to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis and Bureau of Labor Statistics, GDP growthremains positive, unemployment is low, and inflation is stabilizing. Yes, consumer confidencehas dipped—but that’s not a recession. That’s uncertainty.

9 M A Y 2 0 2 5 V O L U M E 5Five Smart Moves for Long-Term InvestorsStay Anchored to Your PlanMarkets correct. Always have. Always will. Since 1954, the S&P 500 has typicallyexperienced a 10% correction every 18 months and a 20% drop about every six years.Historically, every downturn has paved the way for a recovery. Your plan is built for this.(See chart below)Stop Chasing the Exit RampTiming the market perfectly is the unicorn of investing. Miss just a few key days, and yourlong-term return takes a hit. Staying invested—even when it feels uncomfortable—is aproven path to better outcomes.

10 M A Y 2 0 2 5 V O L U M E 5Lean Into Diversification2025 has been a case study in diversification. While U.S. stocks struggled, international equities,bonds, and sectors like healthcare held their ground. Spreading your bets keeps your portfolioresilient.Let Dollar Cost Averaging Do the Heavy LiftingInvesting a fixed amount regularly—regardless of what the market’s doing—can smooth outyour entry points and lower your average cost over time. It also keeps emotion out of theequation.Review for ResilienceNow might be a good time to revisit your allocation. Defensive holdings—like bonds or lower-volatility sectors—can help cushion the ride. Bonds, in particular, have been a stabilizer so farthis year.Putting Tariffs in PerspectiveTariffs are essentially taxes on imports, and they come with trade-offs. While they may offertemporary protection for certain domestic industries, they also raise prices, disrupt supplychains, and trigger investor anxiety. Historically, we’ve seen periods of rising tariffs—like in2018–2019—result in short-term volatility but eventual market recovery. However, today’slandscape is more complex. According to J.P. Morgan, while globalization drove tariff ratessteadily lower since the 1930s, recent geopolitical tension and COVID-19 disruptions havereversed that trend. The current administration has placed tariffs back at the center of U.S. tradepolicy, and although many are likely being used as negotiation tools, uncertainty remains high.As their slide shows, the average effective tariff rate has increased—and it may persist in the nearterm.For investors, the key takeaway is this: while tariffs add noise and short-term friction to themarket, they don't rewrite the long-term story. Staying focused on fundamentals andmaintaining a well-diversified portfolio is still the most effective strategy for weathering policyshifts like these.

11 M A Y 2 0 2 5 V O L U M E 5Zooming OutMarket dips are unnerving. But they’re also normal—and temporary. The real risk isn’t volatility.It’s making emotional decisions that derail long-term progress. That’s why we’re here: to help youstay grounded, stay diversified, and stay the course.If you’d like to revisit your portfolio or talk through how these themes affect your strategy, don’thesitate to reach out. Your plan is designed for all seasons—even the stormy ones.Sources:Bloomberg Market SummaryYahoo Finance - S&P 500J.P. Morgan Guide to the Market - Q2 2025U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA)U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)Market commentary from Charles Schwab and BlackRock Insights.

12M A Y 2 0 2 5 V O L U M E 5Garden with Purpose: May is peak planting season in zone 6b, and there's no better place to find yourinspiration than Flower City Days at the Rochester Public Market. Held every Sunday in May and onMemorial Day, these events transform the Market into a gardener’s paradise—bursting with hangingbaskets, herbs, vegetable seedlings, perennials, and expert vendors ready to help you grow somethingbeautiful. Whether you're building your first container garden or refreshing your flower beds, it's acommunity-rich way to celebrate spring in full color.May 11 - June 1:Flower City Daysat the PublicMarketVisit The Website!The Food Truck Rodeo returns to the Rochester Public Market on May 28th with dozens of local trucksdishing out everything from Korean BBQ to vegan street tacos. Bring your appetite and a few friends—it’s a great way to try something new without making a reservation. It’s the perfect low-pressureway to reconnect with neighbors, family, and friends—and you don’t even have to cook.Taste the Season: The Food TruckRodeo is Back!Visit The Website!Just for Fun... A May Worth SavoringThere’s something about May in upstate New York that feels like we’re finally released from winter’slong grip. Everything is in bloom—lilacs, ideas, and weekend plans. This month, let’s slow downand soak it all in. Whether you're tending your garden, enjoying a local festival, or sneaking in a daytrip before summer crowds hit, May has something meaningful—and joyful—for everyone.

13A P R I L 2 0 2 5 V O L U M E 4The Lilac Festival runs May 9–18 in Highland Park and showcases over 500 varieties of blooming lilacs.Beyond the blooms, it features live music daily, art vendors, a health and wellness expo, and the kind ofvibrant community spirit that makes Rochester feel like home.Celebrate Community:The Rochester LilacFestivalVisit The Website!The Finger Lakes Wine & Herb Weekend is your excuse to leave the to-do list behind. Sip wines,collect potted herbs at each winery, and let the views do the rest. Explore Something New: The Finger LakesWine & Herb WeekendMay 3-5 and May 10-12Visit The Website!

M A Y 2 0 2 5 V O L U M E 514LynnLeigh & Company - A Registered Investment AdvisorThis information is provided by LynnLeigh & Co. for general information and educational purposes based upon publicly available information from sources believed to be reliable – LynnLeigh& Co. advisors cannot assure the accuracy or completeness of these materials. The information presented here is not specific to any individual’s personal circumstances. To the extent that thismaterial concerns tax matters, it is not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, by a taxpayer for the purpose of avoiding penalties that may be imposed by law. Each taxpayershould seek independent advice from a tax professional based on his or her individual circumstances. The information in these materials may change at any time and without notice. Pastperformance is not a guarantee of future returns. Whatever you choose, give yourself permission to slow down and enjoy the moments between themilestones. This month isn’t just about what's growing in the garden—it's about what’s bloomingin your everyday life.Final ThoughtsSpring often reminds us that growth takes time, and that progress isn’t always linear—whetherwe’re talking about flowers, financial plans, or life itself. This month, we hope you feel encouragedto stay steady, curious, and connected to what really matters: your goals, your values, and yourpeace of mind.Thank you for letting us be part of your financial journey. We’re here whenever you need us—andcheering you on always.Wishing you a joyful May,