Leading Edge Advisory Partners

06/03/2026

Financial literacy is reportedly at its lowest level in a decade. Americans are answering less than half of basic money-management questions correctly, and younger adults are struggling the most. (CBS News)

The sad part?

Most of us were never taught this stuff.

Nobody sat us down and explained credit scores, health insurance, retirement plans, taxes, emergency savings, or how to avoid financial mistakes that can follow us for years.

We were expected to learn through trial and error.

Sometimes expensive error.

That’s exactly why I wrote “So, You Want to be a Grown Up: The Unofficial Guide to Adulting.”

I wanted to create the resource I wish every young adult had before moving out, starting a career, signing a lease, choosing benefits, or taking on debt.

Why? Because financial literacy isn’t about spreadsheets and formulas.

It’s about reducing stress, making better decisions, and building a life with more confidence and fewer surprises.

If you know a high school graduate, college student, young professional, foster youth, or anyone navigating adulthood for the first time, this book was written for them.

What is one money lesson you learned the hard way?

06/02/2026

Today is National Leave Work Early Day.

Before anyone panics, this isn’t about avoiding work.

It’s about remembering that work is only one part of a well-lived life.

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned after decades in HR and leadership development is that employees pay attention to what leaders do—not just what they say.

A leader can talk about work-life balance all day long, but if they’re answering emails at midnight, never taking vacation, and staying late every night, the team notices.

Healthy workplace cultures are created when leaders model healthy behaviors.

If you have the opportunity today, leave a little early. Go for a walk. Spend time with family. Read a book. Take your dog to the park. Do something that reminds you why balance matters.

Your team may need permission to do the same.

Sometimes the most powerful leadership message isn’t delivered in a meeting—it’s demonstrated through your actions.

How do you create balance in your own life?

05/31/2026

I agree.

One of the topics I cover in So, You Want to Be a Grown Up? is that adulthood isn’t just about earning money—it’s about preparing for the unexpected.

An emergency fund may not feel urgent when everything is going well, but it becomes incredibly important when life throws a curveball.

Medical bills, car repairs, job loss, family emergencies, or unexpected travel expenses can happen to anyone. Having money set aside won’t eliminate the challenge, but it can reduce the stress that comes with it.

The goal isn’t perfection. Start small. Start somewhere. Future-you will be grateful.

If you’re helping a young adult prepare for life after high school or college, this is one of the most valuable lessons they can learn. It’s one of the many practical topics covered in So, You Want to Be a Grown Up? The Unofficial Guide to Adulting, available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

The emergency fund doesn't come up much in financial content because it isn't exciting.

There's no return to show off. Nothing to compound. No number that looks impressive in a screenshot.

But it's probably the most important financial thing most people could build right now.

The car breaks down. You deal with it and move on.

The dental procedure can't wait. You book the appointment, pay the bill, and that's the end of it.

The job ends unexpectedly. You have a few months to find the right next thing rather than taking the first thing that comes along out of necessity.

That's what the emergency fund does. It converts crises into inconveniences.

It turns bad luck into something manageable rather than something that cascades into debt and months of catching up.

Without it, every unexpected cost goes somewhere it shouldn't.

The credit card balance grows. The interest compounds. The minimum payment joins the list of fixed costs. One ordinary thing going wrong starts a chain that takes six months to unpick.

Most financial advice skips straight to investing, ISAs, pensions, compound interest.

All of that matters. But none of it works the way it should without something sitting underneath it. The emergency fund is the foundation that makes everything else possible.

Three to six months of essential expenses is the target. For most people that's somewhere between £3,000 and £8,000.

Start with £500. Then £1,000. The direction matters more than the amount at the beginning.

Getting there changes how every month feels. Not because the number is large. Because it exists.

05/31/2026

One of the biggest surprises for many young adults isn’t paying bills, finding an apartment, or building credit.

It’s starting a career.

Every year, thousands of people enter the workforce without anyone ever explaining what to expect. They know how to apply for a job, but they often don’t know:

• How to make a strong first impression
• What employers expect from them
• How workplace communication differs from school communication
• Why attendance, reliability, and professionalism matter so much
• How promotions really happen
• What employee benefits are and why they matter
• How workplace laws help protect employees

As someone who spent more than 30 years in HR and leadership roles, I’ve watched talented people struggle—not because they lacked ability, but because no one taught them the unwritten rules of the workplace.

That’s one of the reasons I wrote So, You Want to Be a Grown-Up?.

The career-focused chapters help readers understand what to expect when they enter the workforce, how to navigate workplace relationships, how to communicate professionally, and how to build a successful career from day one.

If you have a high school graduate, college student, young professional, or someone starting over in a new career, this book was written for them.

Because learning about work shouldn’t happen only after making costly mistakes.

Available now on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

If you know a parent, teacher, counselor, nonprofit organization, or community group that supports young adults, please share this post with them.

05/25/2026

Graduation season has me thinking about something.

We spend years preparing young adults for tests, grades, and graduation ceremonies.

But many leave school still unsure about:
• Credit
• Insurance
• Budgeting
• Benefits
• Real-world financial decisions

Honestly, most of us had to figure those things out the hard way too.

After years working in HR and leadership, I saw this over and over again—and it’s one of the reasons I wrote:

So, You Want to Be a Grown Up: The unofficial guide to adulting

It’s a practical, real-world guide designed to help young adults navigate the things no one really explains.

If you have:
🎓 A high school graduate
🎓 A college graduate
🎓 A young adult starting out on their own
🎓 Or someone rebuilding and figuring life out as they go

…I truly think this book could help.

It’s available now on Amazon and Barnes & Noble online.

If you know of community groups, nonprofits, foster organizations, or programs supporting young adults, feel free to share this post with them as well.

05/20/2026

Not everyone gets the same start.

Some people had guidance. Others had to figure it out on their own.

So, You Want to Be a Grown Up was written for anyone trying to build a better future—with more clarity, confidence, and direction.

Available now on Amazon and Barnes & Noble online.

05/17/2026

People have asked how my new book connects to my leadership coaching and consulting business.

To me, the connection is simple: I’ve spent years helping people navigate growth, change, confidence, communication, leadership, and the “unwritten rules” that impact success at work and in life.

Whether I’m coaching an emerging leader, supporting a professional through transition, or writing for young adults just entering adulthood, the goal is the same. I want to help people feel more confident, capable, and prepared.

“So, You Want To Be A Grown-Up?” was written because I saw too many smart, capable people struggling simply because nobody ever taught them the practical side of adulthood, workplace expectations, communication, finances, and decision-making.

My coaching business focuses on helping people grow into stronger leaders and more confident professionals.
The book starts that journey earlier.

Both are about building confidence, self-awareness, resilience, and real-world skills that help people thrive through change and transition.

05/15/2026

Today’s the day — So, You Want to Be a Grown‑Up? is officially live on Amazon!

This book was written for every young adult who’s ever thought, “Why did no one teach me this?”

Bills. Credit. Jobs. Decisions.

Most people are just guessing… but you don’t have to anymore.

If you’re 18–25 (or you love someone who is), this guide gives you the real‑world skills school skipped — money, communication, confidence, career navigation, and the mindset to build a life you actually feel good about.

Order your copy today (available on Amazon) and start building your future with clarity and confidence.

Drop a “🙌” if you grab one!

05/14/2026

There’s a moment when you realize: “No one is coming to explain this to me.”

That moment can feel overwhelming. Or it can feel empowering.

Because once you recognize it, you’re free to start learning on your own terms—without shame, without judgment, and without pretending you already know.

So You Want to Be a Grown‑Up? was written for exactly that moment.

To turn confusion into clarity.
To make “I should know this by now” into “I finally get it.”

This book is designed to make that moment feel like a starting point—not a setback.

Coming soon. I can't wait!