Perspective in a Season of Noise

Warm Hearts, Warm Blankets - Binghamton Blanket Drive

We Care Roberson - Home for the Holidays

Confidence in Uncertain Times - Tyler Sherven, Manager of Institutional Services, Senior Investment Planner

A Moment for Yourself This Season - Tylar Polovchak, Content Specialist

If you'd like to take part in our blanket drive, donations can be dropped off at our Binghamton office. A holiday wrapped collection box will be placed at the entrance to gather blanket donations. Every donation helps us bring comfort and care to a resident who many not receive much this season.

Home for the Holidays is a long-loved community tradition that fills the museum with more than a hundred uniquely decorated trees from businesses, nonprofits, and local families. What began decades ago in the old mansion as an “international forest” of live evergreens has grown into a celebration of the diverse cultures that make up Greater Binghamton. Alongside Christmas displays, visitors will find Hanukkah, Diwali, Chinese New Year, Kwanzaa, and holiday traditions from around the world, creating a vibrant experience for guests and an educational opportunity for the many school groups that visit each year. 

Tyler Sherven, Manager of Institutional Services, Senior Investment Planner

S.E.E.D. and Sift Investment Management have given me the privilege of being a steady voice in a world where people are constantly bombarded with sensationalized, and often grim, financial news. When the path forward feels uncertain, helping someone regain direction and take confident steps toward their goals is where the real work… and real impact… happens. Recently, we have had many clients come forward about their concerns with the potential “AI Bubble.” One client in particular shared concerns after hearing from an educated and well-qualified connection predicting an AI-driven market crash within the next 5 years. While that fear is understandable, anyone who has invested for a meaningful period, or has looked at the last 150 years of market history, knows that substantial corrections tend to occur every 5-10 years regardless of the headlines driving them. Many have already forgotten that they stayed steady through the 2022 bear market, which delivered the worst bond downturn in nearly four decades.  

The client’s concern was reasonable, and the source they heard it from was credible. But it was important to bring that conversation back to their personal plan: their long-term goals, the discipline they showed during the 2022 bear market, and the fact their portfolio is intentionally positioned with far less risk than many of the companies associated with the “AI Bubble”. Their accounts delivered steady, appropriate returns for their risk tolerance – through COVID, through the 2022 downturn, and throughout the recovery that followed. We also revisited a core truth of long-term investing: missing just a handful of the market’s best days can dramatically reduce returns compared to simply staying invested, even through the uncomfortable periods.  

 Often the most valuable thing we need is a reminder of how far we have come, what we have already overcome, and where we stand today. It is easy to lose sight of that grounding when the future feels uncertain… and the future is always uncertain. Never lose confidence in who you are or in the discipline that has carried you to this point. As Marcus Aurelius said, “Never let the future disturb you. You will meet it, if you have to, with the same weapons of reason which today arm you against the present. 

Tylar Polovchak, Content Specialist

As the holiday season picks up, our calendars seem to fill faster than we expect. Events, year-end deadlines, family commitments, and the extra mental load that comes with closing out the year can make even the most joyful moments feel overwhelming. In marketing especially, we are juggling campaigns, timelines, and creative demands while also trying to stay present in our personal lives. It is easy to push through without pausing, but this is exactly when we need those pauses the most. 

Taking a moment to check in with yourself is not selfish. It is grounding. A quick walk, five minutes of breathing, stepping away from your screen, or even a simple mental reset can bring back clarity and calm. When we give ourselves space to breathe, our ideas come more easily, our communication becomes more intentional, and we show up with the kind of energy that truly supports our work and our team. 

As we move through this busy stretch, I hope each of us feels encouraged to slow down when needed. Supporting our clients and our team begins with supporting ourselves. Let us give ourselves permission to rest, reset, and take care, so we can end the year proud of how we showed up, not only for the work but also for our own well-being.