It’s been a while, so here’s another post about some of my favorite things I’ve watched, listened to, or read recently.
If you’re not interested in checking out my incredible content recommendations but are yearning for something strictly finance-related, here’s a link to the main blog page where you can read past articles.
NOTE: The content is linked in the green titles.
How American Dads Became The Parents Their Fathers Never Were by Derek Thompson
As a dad, I’ve had this article stuck in my brain over the past few months. Compared with their Boomer parents, Millennial dads’ childcare time has more than doubled. Compared to their Silent Generation grandparents, it’s nearly quadrupled.
“As our research shows, dads are less likely to say they’re well-rested than non-dads. They have less free time, are more overwhelmed, and are more likely to be exhausted while feeling like they didn’t finish everything they wanted to. But this burden of time pressure comes with significant joys. Dads in the same surveys are more likely to say that life is “close to ideal” and that they would “change almost nothing.”
Survey results do not always offer deep wisdom. But here at least, their findings are wise. The lost hours of sleep are easy to count. The joys are harder to quantify. But they are profound.”
The Dangerous Allure of “Dying with Zero” by Jordan Grumet
Bill Perkins has a popular personal finance book called Die with Zero. I really like the simple message: Use money as a tool to maximize your life experiences rather than hoarding it until the very end. This is something I’ve written about on this blog many times. Yet, I came across this article that challenges that premise, and I’m a sucker for a good counter-argument.
“Think of it this way: if you save up and go on one luxury vacation a year, it feels fantastic. If you do it twice a year, it still feels great, but a little less magical. If you start going on luxury vacations every other week, those trips suddenly lose their meaning. They become the baseline.
Spending money is wonderful when it funds something atypical: a special moment that breaks the routine of daily life. But when you adopt an aggressive Die with Zero mindset, you often feel pressured to constantly go overboard, spending on outsized, extravagant things just to empty the account. Because of the law of diminishing utility, this forced escalation doesn’t actually lead to more happiness. Your return on investment plummets, and the luxury simply becomes the norm.”
This is a 4-episode docuseries from HBO about the life of one of the world’s most influential climbers, Dean Potter. I’ve never been rock climbing in my life. I knew nothing about Dean Potter or the climbing community. But I loved this. It reflects on the life of a guy who was incredible at what he did, but also had some serious problems. The best documentary I’ve watched in a long time. If you liked Free Solo (I watched it after watching The Dark Wizard), this is the better climbing documentary.
The Dark Wizard | HBO | Trailer
Sitting here six months into 2026, this is my favorite movie of the year so far. The premise of the movie is a couple learns a shocking truth about each other a week before their wedding. I’d recommend avoiding any spoilers before going in. It’s a wild ride of a movie and prompts a great discussion once the credits roll.
The Drama | Official Trailer HD | A24
This is a horror-comedy series on Apple TV that follows a mayor of a struggling tourist island off the coast of New England. He’s trying to build up the town to be Martha’s Vineyard, but it turns out the island is dealing with a centuries-old curse. It has a little bit of everything: humor, suspense, horror, ancient lore, and characters you learn to love.
Widow’s Bay — Official Teaser Trailer | Apple TV
If you have any other content recommendations, feel free to leave a comment or shoot me an email. I’d love to hear them!
Thanks for reading!
Jake Elm, CFP® is a financial advisor at Dentist Advisors. Jake a graduate of Utah Valley University’s nationally ranked Personal Financial Planning program. As a financial advisor at Dentist Advisors, he provides dentists with fiduciary guidance related to investments, debt, savings, taxes, and insurance. Learn more about Jake.