This year, instead of asking the team for a gratitude list, we asked everyone to share one moment (big or small) that made them stop and think, “wow… I’m lucky.”
Alex: It can be easy to focus on the big things when we reflect on being thankful or feeling lucky. Yes, our family was very fortunate to have some great trips this year and see some incredible things. But in this season of life, I feel the luckiest when either of my daughters ask me to tuck them in and lay next to them for a few minutes at bedtime. It’s usually after a book or story time while we unwind from the day. That ask will eventually come to an end – likely sooner than I’m ready for it to. Until then, I will live in the moment during bedtime knowing how truly lucky I am.
John: I sometimes wonder if my grandkids will remember who I am as I trot off to FL. Yet, each time I see them, they smile and give hugs like we are together every day. I suppose I owe it to my children who obviously keep us in their conversations year-round. I am lucky. To top it all off, I’m lucky to have the successors of Napier manage the day to day efforts required to exceed the expectations of our clients.
Rob: I am lucky beyond words. So lucky, in fact, that there is no single moment to define it. I am lucky to have a beautiful, loving wife, and four (though crazy at times) children who are all happy and healthy. We are all lucky to be surrounded by siblings and cousins – some of whom are going to be there making this Thanksgiving special. We’ve had amazing trips this past year, often visiting family who are farther away, and we are lucky to say we’ll do the same in 2026!
Prescott: One of my favorite recent memories was celebrating our kids’ joint birthday party in October. Seeing our one- and three-year-old laughing and playing together made me feel incredibly lucky and grateful. It was one of those moments that reminded me how fortunate we are to have happy, healthy children, and thankful for my amazing wife and the family we’re building together.
Tom F: It’s impossible to pick just one reason to feel lucky this year. For starters, we recently learned that my son was able to attain an engineering position at a top Fortune 500 firm, once he graduates from college next year. He’s worked hard at school and it’s nice to see that all that effort has paid off. Another is that we were able to take some nice vacations this year. With my son getting close to graduation, I feel fortunate that we were able to spend some high-quality time together as a family. And lastly, I not only work for a great company, but the people in my office are truly fun to work with, and for that matter, always have been. I’m not sure how we always seem to get the chemistry right, but I am truly thankful for that!
Tom S: This year, I am especially grateful for the idea of support. With the arrival of our daughter, Kate, the outpouring of support is overwhelming in the best way. Support from my team at Napier to take tasks off my plate without asking so that I can assist with the 6am bottle or a lunchtime walk. Support from friends (nearest and dearest as well as some I had lost touch with), proactively reaching out, offering help if needed with some of the mental challenges and anxieties new dads face and rarely speak about. And support from family being present and available to help in the countless ways from cooking meals to babysitting so Khrista and I can have an evening off. This holiday season, family members will be traveling a combined 47,000 miles just to provide support, hold a baby, and maybe, just maybe, soak up a bit of California sunshine. It means everything.
Annie: One moment that really made me stop and think, “wow… I’m lucky” came a few months into my transition to Napier while on a flight to Italy, right after I passed the CFP exam, and finally had time to reflect on the amount of love, support, and encouragement surrounding me. I have a loving family and amazing friends who cheer me on even when things feel close to impossible, a fiancé who supports every goal I chase (and makes sure I’m always well fed), coworkers who care deeply about each other and our clients, and dozens of new client families who welcomed me into the Napier community with open arms. I wouldn’t trade this past year for the world, and I can confidently say I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be.
Dante: A moment from this year that really made me think, “wow, I’m lucky,” was my 30th birthday. My wonderful wife, Deidre, teamed up with my parents to plan a surprise party at their house. I have to admit… I figured out the surprise ahead of time (I’m apparently too clever for my own good), but I played along anyway. It ended up being an incredible night with friends and family – the kind that reminds you how many good people you have in your corner.
Carrie: There truly are so many reasons to feel lucky. At the top of my mind today is one very niche reason… each time that I drive on the expressway surrounded by drivers who think it’s safe to be looking at their phones, I consider myself lucky to make it to my destination alive!! Please do not text and drive. But on a more serious note, I am so grateful every single day that I wake up with good health, great family, and a fabulous job and co-workers! So many people are not lucky enough to have any of these blessings in their life.
Yoyo: A moment that made me pause and think, “wow… I’m lucky,” happened during my birthday dinner with my grandparents and my boyfriend, gathered around a table of homemade food. When my grandpa asked how I was really doing – with work, with life after moving out – it hit me how supported I am, during big milestones but also in the small everyday moments too. Sitting between two of my biggest sources of happiness, I realized how fortunate I am to feel genuinely content day to day, surrounded by a loving family, a supportive partner, and coworkers who feel like family. Being happy, cared for, and eating food I love… that’s something I’m truly grateful for. 🙂
Nick: I’ve never really believed in luck. I’ve always loved the phrase “luck is when preparation meets opportunity.” I took that to heart with all aspects of my life, that when things didn’t fall my way, it was always either something I did or didn’t do, or something that was out of my control. And then I met my fiancé. I felt lucky to meet her, lucky to get to know her, lucky that she is in my life, and lucky that she said ‘yes’ this past summer. Even though the preparation was grand, that moment on the Newport coast was one of the most nerve-wracking times of my life– every married man can attest to that! So yeah, I’m starting to feel a bit lucky.
Laura: One of the best parts of having young kids is the renewed sense of awe and wonder that comes with seeing the world through their eyes – it highlights the little things we often overlook as ‘grownups’. Last week my kids spotted a dragonfly perched by the swing set. To most of you that may sound dull, but to my kids it was magical. And being able to share that magic on a regular old Tuesday? Lucky beyond belief. Lucky for my kids, of course, but also for a job that accommodates motherhood and part-time hours so willingly!
Turns out, luck shows up in all shapes and sizes – in family, in friendships, in timing, and occasionally in football schedules lining up just right. Thanks for letting us share a glimpse of our year with you.
