Quote to Ponder
"Success is really doing what you love and doing it well."
Recommended Links
-
-
- The Best Introduction to Personal Finance I Have Ever Read - Ben Felix, YouTube Video
- Crypto is a Brilliant Scam and I Can Prove It - Casual Finance, YouTube Video
- How Warren Buffet Did It - The Atlantic
- We Let AI Run a Vending Machine. It Lost All the Money. - Wall Street Journal, YouTube Video
- What Actually Makes a Good Life, According to 85 Years of Data - Big Think, YouTube Video
- Warren Buffet Interview - StockMarket.News, X Post
- It's Later Than You Think - Sahil Bloom
-
Recent Content From Quarry Hill
If you’ve been following along on social, you may have seen some of our new videos and resources. Here are a couple of our recent favorites:
A note from Kyle Moore, CFP®
Most people imagine a financial windfall as a finish line.
Hit the number. Sell the company. Reach financial independence. Finally, you did it.
And yet, when those moments actually arrive, a surprising number of people feel… flat. Not unhappy exactly. Just oddly underwhelmed. The feeling they expected never quite shows up, or it fades far faster than anticipated.
This isn’t a character flaw or a gratitude problem. It’s biology.
We tend to believe that the end state of financial independence is what will make us happy. That once the spreadsheet balances, the account hits the target, or the work becomes optional, we’ll feel a lasting sense of fulfillment. But for most people, the satisfaction doesn’t come from having arrived. It comes from moving toward something.
We are wired to enjoy the hunt.
Our dopaminergic system — the same system that governs motivation, curiosity, and drive — is activated far more by pursuit than by possession. Dopamine spikes when you’re closing in on a goal, not when you’re standing on top of it. The chase is stimulating. The catch is quiet.
That’s why the process of building wealth often feels more engaging than having it.
There’s a reason Tom Brady famously asked himself, after winning his first Super Bowl, “Is this it?” By any external measure, he had reached the pinnacle of his profession. But the feeling he expected didn’t materialize. What made him feel most alive wasn’t the trophy; it was the pursuit of excellence, the discipline, the preparation, the competition. The process, not the outcome.
Money works the same way.
Maxing out your first 401(k). Discovering the backdoor Roth IRA. Watching your net worth finally cross seven figures. These moments feel meaningful not because of the number itself, but because they represent progress. You’re proving something to yourself. You’re moving forward.
This is why so many people subconsciously move the goalposts. For years, your retirement number was $3 million. The freedom number. Then you get there… and suddenly it’s $4 million. Or $5 million. Or “just a little more to be safe.”
It’s easy to interpret this as greed or fear. Often, it’s neither. It’s your brain searching for the dopamine it used to get from the climb. The pursuit made you feel engaged. Reaching the summit didn’t.
None of this means goal-setting is bad. In fact, it’s essential. Goals give structure to effort. They help translate vague values into concrete action. Without them, progress stalls.
But there’s a critical distinction that good financial planning has to make: goals are tools, not destinations.
If you believe a specific dollar amount will permanently change how you feel, you’re setting yourself up for disappointment. If instead you understand that satisfaction largely comes from progress, mastery, and intentional effort, you can design a financial life that continues to feel meaningful even after the big milestones are reached.
That might mean reframing financial independence not as “I’m done,” but as “I get to choose differently now.” It might mean replacing accumulation goals with goals around time, health, contribution, or creativity. It might mean continuing to set targets, but holding them more lightly, aware that the feeling you’re chasing comes from the process, not the number.
The irony is that when people truly internalize this, they often make better financial decisions. They’re less likely to overshoot their lives in pursuit of an abstract number. They’re more likely to notice that they already have enough optionality to start designing a life they enjoy today, not just someday.
Money can buy freedom. It can reduce stress. It can open doors. But it can’t override human wiring.
Fulfillment doesn’t arrive all at once when the goal is achieved. It shows up quietly, along the way, in the discipline of saving, the confidence of progress, and the sense that you’re moving toward something that matters.
From Our Team
Speaking of finding fulfillment in the journey and designing a life you enjoy today—our team spent 2025 doing exactly that. Here's what we've been up to:
Kyle:
2025 was a big year for the Moore family! I have not traveled much internationally but have always wanted to. My kids have also caught the travel bug.
In August, we went to London and Paris for 4 days each! The kids were real troopers, considering it was a trip heavy with museums and tours. In London, one night at dinner with some friends who live there, we coincidentally ran into Brian Cox, the actor from Succession. I asked for a photo with him, but he told me he “doesn’t do photos,” and I slinked off with my tail between my legs.
Paris was our absolute favorite. The food, wine, and beautiful architecture were better than we could have imagined. In 2026, we have a trip planned to Italy with my parents. We’ll spend most of our time in Tuscany and Lake Como, both bucket list places for us.
Bjorn:
They told us the years would fly by; we finally understand what they meant. With the kids growing up fast, 2025 was a whirlwind of adventures, home projects, and quality time with extended family.
The Highlights:
- Selah (14) stepped into the spotlight, starring in a wonderful production of Mary Poppins.
- Dietrich (11) headed to the Boundary Waters with me for an unforgettable father-son wilderness trip.
- Elin (8) and Sylvie (5) kept us moving, especially as the whole crew developed a brand-new passion for ice skating.
- Travel: We hit the road for an epic trip through Yellowstone and Wyoming, soaking up the big skies and mountain air.
Between work, school travel, and my mini collection of farm animals, we’ve cherished every chaotic moment.
Thomas :
2025 was a big year for me. The highlight was definitely getting engaged to my fiancée, Ingrid! We’re getting married in May, and I’m thrilled for the new chapter ahead. We also moved this spring from St. Paul to White Bear Lake. This change brought us just a bit closer to family and, while we weren’t that far before, it has been so much easier to spend time together. We got to make a lot of memories this past year with our families by going on spontaneous bike rides, meeting up for dinner in downtown WBL, and watching my niece and nephews’ sporting events.
Emmanuel:
2025 was a memorable year. I moved back home to help my mom recover from shoulder surgery, which brought me closer to my family—especially my brother and sister—and created memories I hadn’t made since college. Early in the year, I traveled to Nice, France and explored the French Riviera.
Shortly after returning, I got to watch the Timberwolves’ playoff run in person, including their final home game. Summer meant plenty of golf, highlighted by the privilege of playing at Lake Geneva Country Club.
The year wrapped up on a high note as I met my wonderful girlfriend, and we’ve been making great memories together. I’m looking forward to more time with family and friends, plenty of golf, and passing the CFP in 2026!
Nou:
One of the highlights of 2025 was finding a healthier balance between work and family life. We took several road trips to Colorado, giving us the chance to slow down, reconnect, and enjoy scenic drives, charming towns, and mountain views. Those trips created lasting memories and strengthened our family bond. We’re looking forward to even more time together in 2026.
Thank you for making 2025 such a rewarding year for our team.
We're grateful for your trust and for the opportunity to be part of your financial journey. Here's to a 2026 filled with progress, purpose, and plenty of moments worth savoring.
This material is intended for educational purposes only. You should always consult a financial, tax, or legal professional familiar with your unique circumstances before making any financial decisions. Nothing contained in the material constitutes a recommendation for purchase or sale of any security, investment advisory services or tax advice. The information and opinions expressed in the linked articles are from third parties, and while they are deemed reliable, we cannot guarantee their accuracy.
