Welcome back to the Sunstone Way, and welcome to the shortest month of the year – February.
This is a big month, particularly for the Asian and Asian American communities. It’s time for Lunar New Year, falling on Feb. 17 this year.
We’re particularly excited here, because this marks the beginning of the Year of the Fire Horse! There was nothing wrong with the Year of the Snake, and we were able to take advantage by shedding our skin to create something new.
But the Fire Horse! I can’t wait.
What’s a Horse?
In the Chinese zodiac, the horse is one of 12 animals in the calendar cycle. The Horse symbolizes action, speed, freedom, ambition and perseverance. That sounds like a pretty amazing business model, doesn’t it?
The Horse is the seventh of the 12 animals in the race to determine their place in the zodiac. A river blocked the path to the Jade Emperor and the finish line.
This noble steed stepped into the river and began his slow, steady swim, only to be passed by smaller animals, like the rabbit hopping from stone to log. Then, just as the Horse began to climb the riverbank, the Snake slithered onto the path, causing the horse to falter.
That’s why the Snake is the year before the Year of the Horse.
What About the Fire?
In Chinese tradition, one of the five elements is associated with each year, or more specifically, the animal representing the year. So the Year of the Fire Horse only comes around once every 60 years.
Fun fact: State Treasurer Fiona Ma, CPA, was born in the last Year of the Fire Horse. She proudly laid claim to the Fire Horse’s attributes at our first P3 Strategy Session of the year right here, on the Sunstone Stage.
The Fire element adds passion, intensity and charisma, amplifying the Horse’s natural dynamism and making this combination especially forceful and transformative.
That’s Treasurer Ma!
Sunstone Connection
I’ve talked here before about how we used the Year of the Snake to transform Sunstone – changing the organizational structure, focusing on our core values of Investment, Entrepreneurship and Community and refining the ways we make that happen.
I can say with confidence that mission has been accomplished. Now we are ready to ride our own Fire Horse to an amazing year of progress and achievement.
You have heard the attributes of our Fire Horse. Now listen to the advice and predictions for the coming year.
Common advice is to lean into networking, travel, career moves, and creative self-expression, while managing risk by thinking decisions through and maintaining emotional balance.
The year 2026 is characterized as a year of transformation, growth, and abundance, rewarding initiative, visibility, and decisive action rather than hesitation or over-planning.
That sounds exactly like the Sunstone action plan for the year – the only thing it is missing is a public-private partnership component!
Let’s Celebrate
The Lunar New Year is great cause for a celebration throughout the Asian community and beyond. Sunstone is thrilled to join with American Lending Center as the Cultural Partner Sponsors of the first-ever Lunar New Year Parade & Festival at Irvine’s Great Park this Saturday, Feb. 7.
This vibrant celebration of culture, music and tradition is presented by the Asian American Museum in the Great Park and supported by the city of Irvine. It includes a large parade at 11 a.m. traveling along the Great Park Historical Timeline to Great Park Live. Participants include schools, marching bands, community groups and multicultural performance groups.
The festival awaits at Great Park Live. Live music and dance from all three performance groups at the South Coast Chinese Cultural Center along with other Asian organization from throughout the area. There will be plenty of Asian cuisine to try, games, Mahjong Bingo and arts and crafts for all ages.
The party continues until 4:30 p.m. Parking and parade viewing is free, while entry to the festival is a mere $2 (children 3 and younger get in free). You can buy tickets at the gate or in advance at www.tixr.com/groups/greatparklive. For more information, email LNY@aamuseumoc.org.
Sunstone and ALC staff – up to and including John Shen and myself – will be at the festival. Please come by and say hi. After all, that’s the Sunstone Way.
And remember, always be a Sunstone!
John Keisler
CEO & Managing Partner
Sunstone
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Sunstone Investment Group, headquartered in Southern California, is the holding company for the Sunstone family of entities, including: Sunstone Investment Management Services, responsible for administrative services; Sunstone Advisors, an SEC-registered investment adviser, which oversees Sunstone Venture Partners LLC, a private capital fund manager; Sunstone Cities, a government economic development consulting firm; and Sunstone Community Fund, a charitable organization that supports entrepreneurship. Sunstone is dedicated to enriching lives through investment, entrepreneurship, and community. Email us at contact@sunstoneinvestment.com.
©Sunstone, 2026