My 11-year-old wholeheartedly embraced a challenge from her teacher who required each of the 28 students to create handmade Valentine’s Day cards and write at least two sentences on each one for every classmate.

No candy, no store-bought cards—just thoughtful, personal messages.

Bringing her vision to life required time, creativity, and perseverance. She gathered materials from around the house, carefully cutting out bows and hearts to decorate tiny pieces of folded pink cardstock. When frustration crept in as the deadline approached, we talked about her expectations versus what was truly required. I encouraged her to simplify where needed while staying true to the heart of the project. The result was something she was proud of.

When I picked her up from school, she carried a woven paper heart basket overflowing with messages from her classmates. As she read them aloud on the drive home, I saw the impact of the effort she and her classmates had made:

“You are very good at math.”
“You are helpful and kind.”
“You are a good friend.”
“I like working with you on challenging assignments.”
“I love your long hair.”

This assignment was challenging. My daughter couldn’t see the outcome at the start, yet the collective effort made a deep and lasting positive impact.

My takeaway wasn’t that achieving this outcome required hours of painstaking work on handmade cards. Rather, I realized I had let tradition, expectations, and convenience overshadow the balance between efficiency and genuine care.

Efficiency with Heart

At SoundView Advisors, we recognize that this balance is essential—not just in personal moments but in financial planning as well. Efficiency and care are not at odds; they must work together. Just as my daughter’s project demonstrated the value of thoughtful effort, we believe financial planning is more than just numbers—it’s about trust, relationships, and intentional decision-making.

As we integrate new technologies to improve efficiency, we do so with careful consideration, ensuring these advancements serve our clients rather than create distance. We understand that change can bring concerns—will technology make the process feel impersonal? Will something valuable be lost in the shift? These are questions we take seriously.

Our commitment remains unwavering: to provide thoughtful, personalized guidance while embracing tools that help us serve more effectively. By adopting innovation without losing sight of what matters most, we continue to uphold the deep care and stewardship our clients have come to expect.