There are life lessons in sprinklers...

And for better or worse, I know a bit about them. You see, my first job out of college was working for a big irrigation wholesaler.

I needed a job. They were hiring. 'Nuff said.

Anyway... sprinklers.

When I wake up early to run, I always notice the water on the street from the irrigation systems that ran early that morning.

A few reasons come to mind.

1. Leaks, broken sprinkler heads and the like. Pretty self explanatory... Bad head? Water just pools out...

2. Old sprinklers that haven't been adjusted. If, over the course of time, the head turns a bit... you might be watering the sidewalk. No bueno.

3. The least obvious... no leaks... no adjustment issues... Standard sprinklers suck. They spray a fine mist. It typically gets the job done, mind you, but it gets it done inefficiently.

So many financial lessons here...

Fix the leaks and breaks. Obviously. This is like spending more than you make.

Make little adjustments. Sure. Save more, spend less. All good, all necessary.

These are both as true at 50k as they are at 700k.

The last one is a tricky beast. There are some really nifty alternatives that spray streams rather than mist. But they are like 5 bucks per head versus 10 cents. Like two orders of magnitude more expensive. But they deliver astronomical cost savings over time.

But sure... keep misting the sidewalk.

Or maybe... just maybe... there is a better way.

And maybe.. just maybe it’s called the Deferred Comp and Retirement Review. I’ll read through the statements and plan docs and hand you back a written report in two weeks. What vests when. Where the money actually sits. What happens if you leave early. A retirement sketch too.

It is $1,250, paid up front. If you read it and do not think it was worth it, tell me and I will refund it. Just hit reply and I will send you the details.

All the best,

John Montgomery