Tuning Out the Noise

As many of you heard me share at the start of the program, Wealth Architects was founded on a belief that real wealth is inseparable from well-being. The root of the word “wealth” is the Old English weal, meaning the welfare of people. Over time, the word has been narrowed to focus almost entirely on money, yet we believe the original meaning remains the more durable truth. It is why we strive to build wealthier lives and enhance your well-being beyond financial security. Our health, our relationships with family and friends, our work toward something meaningful, and our sense of belonging to something larger than ourselves are what give life depth and direction.

This is why I always return to the Greek concept of agape when we gather. Feeling part of something bigger than oneself is a form of love, and it is also a form of wealth. WAU is special because it brings together our community of clients and professional advisors who embody this idea and live it in practice.

I was joined by our venerable Chief Investment Officer, Mark Gordon, and the amazing communicator Apollo Lupesco, of Dimensional Fund Advisors. As a panel, we explored the challenge of staying disciplined and grounded in a world that is increasingly saturated with distraction. To help frame that discussion, I shared a simple model that has guided my own thinking: the three types of noise that shape our days and influence our decisions.

The first noise is environmental noise.
This is the earliest soundtrack of human existence: wind, rain, the crack of thunder, the chirping of birds, and the cues that signaled danger on the savanna. For millions of years, this was the only noise our ancestors knew, and our brains evolved to pay extremely close attention to it. It is what makes us vulnerable to all types of noise in our lives. Modern research now confirms what intuition has always suggested: nature’s sounds regulate stress, strengthen mental health, and restore perspective. They tune us into the world rather than pull us away from it. We need more time in nature listening to her sounds for our own well-being.

The second noise is occupational noise.
This is the noise created by humanity’s own progress: planes, trains, automobiles, power lines, machinery and now the constant hum of digital systems. Only a handful of places on Earth remain untouched by these sounds. We are living longer than any generation before us, but we are also living with this noise far longer, and the evidence is clear that it affects both health and clarity of thought. Occupational noise is the byproduct of advancement, yet it can overwhelm and distract us if it is not intentionally managed. It becomes increasingly difficult to find ways to tune it out. 

The third noise is recreational noise.
This is the noise we choose to let in: news alerts, social media, podcasts, commentary, comparison and speculation. In many ways, it is the most dangerous because it masquerades as attention-getting information. Yet this type of noise often fuels short-term thinking and anxiety. It pulls attention away from long-term thinking and well-being and toward impulses that rarely serve anyone’s goals. Recreational noise is available at all hours and in infinite quantity, and without boundaries, it can drown out the quiet reflection that leads to true knowledge, wisdom and sound decisions.

Our discussion at WAU centered on separating the noises we experience each day from what actually matters – and then, consciously deciding how we will shape our days with intention and purpose. The evidence, both scientific and historical, is overwhelming. Long-term perspective, preparation and disciplined planning are far more powerful than prediction. Wisdom grows from experience plus reflection, not from the raw volume of information consumed. And the intersection of two circles – what truly matters and what is within one’s control – remains the place where we ought to focus our attention in both life and investing.

I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to our thoughtful panelists, our incredible team and to the wonderful clients and advisors who were able to join us to make this a special evening. Many of you have been with us for a long time and have walked alongside us, as we learn, evolve and continue to humbly seek to tune out the noise in a world that grows louder every year. Creating a space where thoughtful, independent and purposeful people can gather in community to grow together is one of the great privileges of my life. 

Thank you for making this year’s WAU a meaningful reminder of what matters, and for continuing to help us build a community rooted in well-being, clarity and care. We are incredibly grateful for your trust in Wealth Architects over the last 20 years and honored to walk alongside you in this journey to build wealthier lives together.

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