September 11, 2001, is a day that remains etched in my memory forever.
Like many Americans, I can instantly recall where I was when I first learned that our nation was under attack. Today, it's almost hard to imagine that millions of Americans weren't yet born when those events unfolded. Yet previous generations probably felt the same way when they recalled where they were when President Kennedy was assassinated in 1963. I wasn't born then, either.
Twenty-five years have passed since terrorists attacked the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and United Airlines Flight 93, whose courageous passengers prevented an even greater tragedy from unfolding in Washington, D.C.
We all have our stories.
Mine began aboard Flight 10 at Boston's Logan Airport.
Laura and I were headed to San Diego for the Financial Planning Association's National Conference. At the time, I was serving as the Association's Chair and was preparing to welcome more than 4,000 financial planners and industry professionals from around the world.
That flight never took off.
As we sat on the tarmac, passengers began whispering. Cell phones, mostly flip phones back then, started ringing. Smartphones didn't exist, and the flood of calls quickly overwhelmed local cell towers. Information was scarce. Rumors were plentiful.
Eventually, we were told that there was a "brief ground stop" and that we would return to the gate.
Soon after, airport personnel disconnected the televisions that had become gathering points for anxious travelers seeking news. We were left to wait, wonder, and hope.
A short time later, law enforcement officers entered the gate area and instructed everyone to evacuate immediately. As we exited through security, news cameras lined the corridor, capturing the confusion and uncertainty on every face.
Looking back, I remember thinking about inconveniences that now seem almost trivial. Would we be able to reschedule the trip? What would happen to the conference?
Twenty-Five Years Later
As I reflect on that day and everything that has happened since, I am reminded that resilience is one of the defining characteristics of both our nation and the people who make it amazing.
Since 9/11, we've endured:
- The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan
- The 2008 financial crisis
- A global pandemic
- The inflation surge of 2022
- Political division and uncertainty
- Countless headlines predicting catastrophe
And yet, we are still here.
- Our economy is larger.
- Innovation continues.
- Businesses continue to grow.
- Families continue to build better futures.
And despite every setback, the S&P 500 Index stands roughly seven times higher than it was before the attacks of September 11, 2001, even before accounting for dividends.
The lesson is not that challenges don't matter.
The lesson is that challenges are inevitable.
Human progress is what matters.
A Reasonable Optimist
I've often described myself as a "reasonable optimist," borrowing a phrase from author Morgan Housel.
Being optimistic doesn't mean ignoring problems or pretending challenges don't exist.
It means recognizing that throughout history, people have consistently found ways to overcome those challenges.
- We rebuild.
- We adapt.
- We innovate.
- We learn.
- We grow.
- And eventually, we move forward.
That is true for nations.
It is true for businesses.
And it is true for investors.
As financial advisors, one of the most important things we help clients do is maintain perspective during difficult times. Every generation faces moments that seem overwhelming while they're happening. Yet history repeatedly reminds us that temporary setbacks rarely define the long-term future.
The Best of Us
The twenty-fifth anniversary of 9/11 is both a somber and inspiring milestone.
It forces us to remember one of the darkest days in American history. But it also reminds us of something equally important: how quickly people responded by showing the very best of humanity.
- The kindness.
- The courage.
- The compassion.
- The unity.
- The determination.
- Those qualities didn't disappear.
- They still exist within our families, our communities, and our country.
As we remember those who lost their lives on September 11, let us also remember the spirit that emerged in the days that followed.
Because that spirit, more than anything else, is what gives me confidence about the future.
And that's a future worth being optimistic about.
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