Acorns and Oak Trees

by Jeffery A. Keill, CFP, CIM, FMA, FCSI, CEA

We comfortably sit in the shade of an oak tree today because someone planted an acorn yesterday.

Given the hot temperatures this week I am reminded of an old proverb that quietly carries deep unrelenting wisdom: “ The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.” It’s one of those simple phrases that, once you hear it, you can’t forget it. It simply echoes through every corner of your life.

In a world that constantly strives to rush forward it’s easy to feel overwhelmed as an individual caught in the current. We start to worry of things that ought to have been. We should’ve saved more, started earlier, made different choices. Every oak tree, no matter how tall or how strong, started as small as an acorn, someone had the courage and foresight, and patience to plant - often with no guarantee it would grow.

So what if we missed that first opportunity? Truth is, there’s more power in the choices we make today if we can let go of yesterday.

When is the last time you saw an oak tree grow overnight? They don’t. Quick growing trees die quickly. Strong hardy trees require nurturing and at times seasons of struggle through wind and storms to grow strong. The same applies to our dreams, our communities, our personal growth, and our investments. Whether its launching a small business, picking up a new skill, rebuilding old relationships, or growing our wealth, its never “too late” to begin. Twenty years ago is gone. What remains is the lesson that only today exists.

The impact of starting now is far greater than we can imagine - just like the little acorn buried not too deep in the ground, it will become shade for the future.

Do you have something you should have started yesterday? Is that acorn today going to be something in 20 years you wish you would have planted? What’s your tree?

The best time may have been 20 years ago. But the second best time is staring you right in the face. Don’t let it pass.

Last edit August 13, 2025