What Fatherhood Teaches About Purposeful Planning

We understand that life’s most significant moments shape how we live, work, and connect with others. This spring, two members of our team, Adam Suwyn and Nate Lowe, welcomed new additions to their families. As financial professionals and fathers, their reflections offer insight into how being a parent can deepen empathy, sharpen perspective, and reinforce the importance of intentional planning.

Adam Suwyn and family

Adam and Nate are both experienced dads. For Adam, Baker Duke, born in mid-April, is his third child. He joins older sisters Rylie (8) and Maddie (5). For Nate, Leland, born just before Valentine’s Day, is his second daughter and joins big sister Layla (3).

Even with prior experience, both described the first few days with a newborn as a mix of exhaustion, awe, and adjustment.

“The first few days are always a bit chaotic and sleepy, but when we arrived home, adapting to the new normal of having three kids set in,” Adam said. “My daughters were enamored with their new baby brother but also had to learn that he upset their usual routine a bit.”

Nate echoed that sense of joyful adaptation, saying, “There’s just so much happiness in the house. And the sheer number of Disney princesses we now have to keep track of is astonishing.”

Becoming a parent or adding to a family can change your lens on everything. For Nate, fatherhood has refined how he manages time.

“I’ve always been a fairly structured and efficient person but becoming a dad of two has pushed me to be much more intentional with my time,” he said. “My schedule has shifted so I can pick the girls up from daycare, spend quality time in the evening, then log back in to work after their bedtime. It’s a rhythm that works because of JVL’s balance of hard work and flexibility.”

Adam, too, appreciates JVL’s team-based culture. “I knew that my being out of the office during Baker’s birth wouldn’t disrupt client service. Our team supports each other through life’s transitions, just as we support our clients through theirs.”

That focus on transitions is part of what makes both professionals so attuned to the needs of clients.

“Having kids revealed a depth of emotion I didn’t know I had,” Adam said. “You become more aware of how even the smallest moments can have a lasting impact. That awareness translates into how we show up for clients, recognizing that everyone is going through something you might not see on the surface.”

Nate Lowe and family

For Nate, expanding his family has reinforced the importance of being present, expanding patience, and sharpening priorities.

Looking ahead, both are excited for what’s to come. Adam is eager to watch his daughters take on their new roles as older sisters and see Baker’s personality emerge. Nate is excited to see the bond between his daughters deepen and, hopefully, catch up on sleep.

As financial strategists and parents, Adam and Nate shared thoughtful advice shaped by experience and life’s seasons.

“While there’s a lot of advice going around to new parents, I think we can often get caught in the swirl of trying to copy someone else’s goals rather than setting and pursuing our own,” Adam said. “What’s right for my family might not be right for yours. But if you’re not intentional, life can quickly take you in a direction you didn’t plan for.”

“It’s important to keep dating your spouse after having children,” Nate said. “I also appreciate every moment I have with my kids because they grow up fast. And I always have wipes on hand.”

Someday, when their children look back on this time, they’ll see the love, intention, and presence their fathers provided during a meaningful season of change.

“I want my girls to remember their early years as a time when they were free to just be kids,” Nate said, “And I want them to know that I was there with them as much as possible.”

“I’d want them to know there’s no way to be perfect, but the best you can do is your best,” Adam said. “I hope they see that it takes sacrifice to truly pour into the things you care about but that those sacrifices can be the most rewarding in the long run.”

Milestones like these emphasize that meaningful planning is about understanding individuals, respecting their priorities, and being present for what matters most. Adam and Nate’s reflections serve as a reminder to clients and colleagues alike that success isn’t just about planning well; it’s about living well.