The first week in August, my family and I had the opportunity to spend in week in New York City. For most people the first thought of NYC brings 9/11 to the forefront of your mind. The night before we visited the memorial, we decided to watch the 9/11 Turning Point Docuseries on NetFlix to hear the story again before we walked through the memorial and museum. There was one interview in the series that really struck home to me and I thought it would translate a bit to you also.
In the days following the September 11, 2001 attacks, emotions ran high across the United States. Congress moved swiftly to authorize military action in Afghanistan, with only one dissenting voice: Representative Barbara Lee of California. On September 14, 2001, Lee cast the lone vote against the ‘Authorization for Use of Military Force’. While her decision was widely criticized, Lee understood the importance of not allowing fear and anger to dictate policy. Having a well thought out plan in place before writing a blank check was imperative to success for both the military operation and Congress's duty as a steward to the taxpayers.
She urged her colleagues to consider the long-term implications rather than act on immediate emotions. Lee's stance was rooted in a belief that decisions of such magnitude required careful deliberation. Despite facing intense backlash, including threats to her safety, Lee stood firm in her conviction that sound policy should be guided by reason and foresight. In hindsight, her vote is seen as a powerful reminder of the dangers of making decisions based on emotion rather than thoughtful analysis.
As financial planners one of the main things Jared and I do is help people make decisions. I thought this was a good example of how allowing emotions to dictate decisions may feel good in the short run but can lead to bigger issues in the long term. Protecting our clients from making serious decisions when they are anxious, grieving, mourning, etc… is maybe the most important part of our job. It's the leadership in decision making we try to give in those difficult times. Even if that leadership isn’t necessarily popular at the time, helping our clients take a step back to look at the forest and not just the tree in front of them is an important part of what we do.