When you reflect on your life to date, what distinct experiences leap to mind as the most inspiring? Was there a spectacular event that left you aglow to this day? Maybe an encounter with someone who made an enormous difference to you or your family. Or perhaps it was simply a quiet moment of insight generated by an extraordinary idea.

I recently experienced an occasion that represented all of the above and more for me. Before you worry that I’m being overly sentimental let me assure you, my epiphany involved jet engines so loud they literally rattled my bones. I’m referring to my recent participation in the Navy’s “Leaders to Sea” program (that’s a group shot of us at lower right). During my 24+ hours aboard the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman, I was privileged to witness operations as the ship and crew performed requalification exercises off the coast of Norfolk, Virginia.

Too often in life, we are inspired to action, only to let the moment pass. This time, I didn’t want that to happen. Instead, I am thrilled to announce my personal Web site recently launched – http://gonavy.poseycapital.com -- dedicated to sharing my onboard experience. I hope you’ll take a moment to tour my new site. (My personal favorite page is the Flight Deck Tour, so if you only have time for a brief visit, feel free to begin there.)

During the coming months, I want to network with people who are interested in learning more about the Navy. It’s one way I hope to pay back the Navy for the amazing experience they shared with me. Please help me spread the word by sharing this site with others. Feel free to:

• Link to this site from your own site(s)
• Tweet about it
• Add it to your Facebook resources
• E-mail the link to those who would find it of interest

Or contact me if you or your group would be interested in learning more.

One of the more fun parts of being a wealth advisor is when I get to remind a client that, really, much of the point of wealth management is to someday spend that wealth (or share it with others to spend). As hard as our riches sometimes come to us, it can be hard to shake loose of them, even when it’s okay to do so. Recently, I experienced some spending angst first-hand when I replaced my 13-year-old Mazda Miata (I love that car!) with a shiny, new Acura MDX.

I rather enjoyed the shopping experience, at least the part that didn’t involve plunking down my money. It was fun to pore over the catalogs and the actual cars on the lots. I liked exploring the options, test-driving the finalists, and narrowing it down to THE car.

The part that wasn’t fun was ensuring that we paid a fair price, without haggling and without spending too much time on it. My wife Šárka and I, being the methodical, financial planner/lawyer types that we are, devised a straightforward system that enabled us to pretty much eliminate the face-to-face negotiation with the dealer. Key components included completing some modest research up front, submitting my “request for proposal” to multiple dealers via fax, and narrowing my selection based on response. This helped me minimize actual dealer interface, since the price and specifications had already been settled before I met the dealer.

Click here to read my step-by-step process for buying my new car. Do you have a car-purchasing tip of your own? Share it here with me and others!