Clayton K. Shum CFP RFC MSFP

09/17/2025

✨ Exciting news! I’m honored to be featured in the article “Original Shark Kevin Harrington Spotlights 10 Entrepreneurs To Look Out For.”

I’m so grateful for this recognition and for the amazing support from my friends, colleagues, and community. 🚀 As I continue to grow, I’d love your encouragement—whether through connections, introductions, or simply sharing ideas. Together, we can make a real impact.

09/06/2025

GRANDPARENTS
We have holidays for Mom and Dad, which makes perfect sense. We also have holidays celebrating political figures (Presidents’ Day), a 500-year-old naval explorer (Columbus Day), and a weather-predicting rodent (Groundhog Day). All get more press than a holiday we should be observing every September.

I’m referring, of course, to National Grandparents’ Day.

Grandparents’ Day falls on the first Sunday after Labor Day. It’s a great holiday because it wasn’t created to sell cards or flowers. It was initiated at the grassroots level by a woman named Marian McQuade. Born in 1917, McQuade saw the nation overcome the Great Depression, win World War II, end segregation, and land on the moon. Later in life, she would work for the generations of Americans who helped our country do all those things by caring for them in hospitals and nursing homes. In fact, she made caring for seniors her life’s calling, advocating for them at both the state and federal levels.

What McQuade wanted most, though, was a chance to educate youth about the contributions of seniors throughout history. She also urged young people to cherish their grandparents. Thanks to her efforts, President Carter signed a proclamation recognizing National Grandparents Day in 1978. The day’s purpose is:

“To honor grandparents, to give grandparents an opportunity to show love for their children’s children, and to help children become aware of the strength, information, and guidance older people can offer.”[1]

As Carter himself said in the proclamation:
Grandparents are our continuing tie to the near-past, to the events and beliefs and experiences that so strongly affect our lives and the world around us. Whether they are our own or surrogate grandparents who fill some of the gaps in our mobile society, our senior generation also provides our society with a link to our national heritage and traditions.

We all know grandparents whose values transcend passing fads and pressures, and who possess the wisdom of distilled pain and joy. Because they are usually free to love and guide and befriend the young without having to take daily responsibility for them, they can often reach out past pride and fear of failure and close the space between generations.[1]

I think it’s a shame Grandparents’ Day doesn’t get more attention. After all, what’s better than a good grandparent? When we’re sad, they give us a shoulder to cry on. When we’re scared, they give us two arms and a soothing whisper to comfort us. When we’re uncertain, they give us a lifetime’s experience to guide us. They’re the source of the best holiday meals, the best Christmas presents, and the best birthday parties.

Their love is selfless, pure, and never-ending.

To my knowledge, there are no standard Grandparents’ Day traditions. No parades or festivals, no cards or costumes. But maybe there doesn’t need to be. Maybe the fact it continues to fly under the radar is an opportunity to celebrate grandparents the way Marian McQuade always wanted. A chance to simply spend time as a family. To enjoy small, private gatherings. To put our arms around our grandparents and say, “I love you.” To reminisce about them after they’re gone. To ensure their stories, their accomplishments, their lives are never forgotten.

This September, we celebrate our grandparents. It’s true, you won’t find Grandparents’ Day on many calendars. But maybe that’s okay. Because after all, whether our grandparents are still alive or have passed away, we can always find them in a much more important place.

We can find them in our hearts.

08/30/2025

Please check out my published article with International Business Times

"The Right Financial Guidance Matters: Clayton Shum Helps Retirees Navigate Crossroads"

Clayton Shum, a seasoned financial planner with over 20 years of experience in retirement planning and wealth management, brings thoughtful insight, expertise, and a steady hand during this critical life stage.

08/29/2025

Labor Day’s just around the corner. For most of us, this three-day weekend is a great opportunity to enjoy some of the last great weather for outdoor fun before the chill of winter sets in. But, is that what Labor Day should be about? To answer that question, let’s take a look at the history of this holiday.

Labor Day is a Federal holiday here in the U.S. that’s observed on the first Monday in September. Holidays are often a celebration of achievement, and this holiday is no exception. It’s a day for Americans to celebrate the economic and social success of workers, the people who give back to the community they’re in. It’s a national show of appreciation for the contributions they’ve made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country.

The U.S. Department of Labor says we should observe and celebrate Labor Day as it was outlined in the first proposal of the holiday. That proposal suggests celebrating with a street parade to exhibit “the strength and esprit de corps of the trade and labor organizations” of the community, followed by a festival for the recreation and amusement of the workers and their families.[1]

What I like most about the initial proposal for Labor Day is recognizing “strength and esprit de corps” (a common spirit of comradeship, enthusiasm, and devotion to a cause among the members of a group).

When I first learned the origin of this holiday, that part of the proposal stood out to me because it creates a greater feeling of patriotism. A common spirit of comradeship, enthusiasm, and devotion to a cause among the members of a group is exactly what our founding fathers created. Growing up, I didn’t know that Labor Day had anything to do with patriotism. I thought it was the last day to play at the pool before they closed for winter.

Celebrating the American worker’s contribution to our economy and way of life with parades and festivals was the original way to spend time on this holiday. As labor in the U.S. has changed over the last century, many have focused on the “recreation and amusement” activities more than creating esprit de corps. This Labor Day, I’d like to encourage you to share some of our history and the patriotism that coincides with this holiday with those you love. Sharing your knowledge is one way to create more comradeship and inspire others to have devotion to an important cause.

Going back to my initial question, should enjoying the warm weather be what Labor Day is all about?
Answer: YES!

Ok … well, not completely. But one way to appreciate the great American worker and celebrate your own contribution to our wonderful nation is to spend the day off enjoying all the pleasures of life. After all, isn’t that one of the reasons we work: to enjoy more time doing the things we love?

This Labor Day, I hope you’re able to hike, camp, barbecue, play at the pool, or spend time with your loved ones doing what makes you the happiest.

08/22/2025

Sometimes, all it takes to change your community is a glass of water and some hot dogs.
When it comes to changing your community, most people think you need a lot of money, fame, or power. However, after a colleague shared this story1 with me, I learned how mistaken that type of thinking was.
*
*
*
It was a hot afternoon in Macon, Georgia when someone knocked on David Duncan’s door. When he went to see who it was, he found 8-year-old, Jaden, who lived in the neighborhood asking for a drink. He knew the boy lived nearby, but until that moment, they had never met. Naturally, David gave him a glass of water and figured that was the end of it.
Until the boy returned the following day.
And the day after that,
and the day after that.
Soon, David learned to expect Jaden almost every afternoon, often with several equally thirsty friends in tow. He began offering sodas in all sorts of flavors to them, which they gleefully guzzled down. But he realized quickly that –
The children were hungry.
As much as he wanted to help more, he himself felt helpless. A survivor of 18 surgeries, David has two prosthetic legs, multiple transplanted organs, and is blind in one eye.
“What can I do?” he would pray. “I have zero budget, and I’m losing my eyesight.”
He had to do something. None of his personal challenges ever stopped him from finding ways to help others, and he wasn’t about to let them start now. It was up to him to feed them, so he went and bought hot dogs.
“Hot dogs were easy,” David said. “Every kid likes a hot dog.”

He had an idea, but he needed help. Going onto social media he asked if anyone had a hot dog stand he could use – preferably the old-fashioned kind with the classic red umbrella. Inspired, a friend joined in helping by raising money on David’s behalf and surprised him with the hot dog stand in his driveway!

“The Hot Dog Club” was born.
Every week, he served the local children, free hot dogs and drinks and would sometimes show movies. Gradually, his club grew and grew. When businesses got wind of David’s club, they pitched in and donated food – so much that The Hot Dog Club, no longer serves hot dogs! Others began donating as well - money, clothes, school supplies, their time, you name it!
The club expanded where its focus is filling children’s minds as well as their stomachs. David has transformed his community, with a glass of water and a few dogs.
David’s story inspired me to ponder how we can transform our communities. I’m willing to bet opportunities are a lot closer than we think. Just around the corner, perhaps – or even right on our doorsteps.

08/21/2025

🚨 Mental Money Mistake #3: Following the Crowd 🚨

We’ve all seen it… A stock gets hyped, everyone piles in, and you start thinking, “I don’t want to miss out!” So you buy. Then the hype fades, prices crash, and suddenly you’ve lost money.

That’s herd mentality at work. Even smart people get caught in it.

👉 How to beat it?

If it feels “too good to be true,” it usually is.

Give yourself time before jumping in.

Follow YOUR rules, not the crowd’s.

Get a second opinion before big decisions.

It’s easy to follow the herd. It’s smarter to think for yourself.

Next week → Pride Goeth Before the Fall. Stay tuned!

08/14/2025

🚨 Mental Money Mistake #2: Irrational Accounting 🚨
When you get unexpected money—bonus, refund, gift—do you:
A) Spend it right away 🛍️
B) Save or invest it 📈

Your answer says a lot about your money mindset. Treating “found money” like extra spending cash can keep you from getting ahead financially. Treating it like part of your plan can change your future.

So… what’s the smartest thing you’ve ever done with unexpected money? 💬