I’m a financial planner, not a therapist. Nevertheless, I want to talk about your emotions. (Relax. I’m not trying to be Dr. Phil here. This will all make sense shortly.) We need to discuss emotions because everyday job situations and money matters stir up strong feelings inside us. And our reactions in those moments have […]
The Emotional Roots of Money Issues Read More »
Your mutual fund got clobbered in 2023. You’re wondering if your mutual fund manager is out of sync with the times. How long do you wait before you dump him/her? Therein lies the problem with looking solely at last year’s results—they are so…last year. To fix something that’s not working, you have to analyze not
Why Performance Isn’t Always the Best Measure Read More »
Bob claims he wants a second home on a lake where he can build memories with his kids. He’s asking, “How do I accomplish my goal?” To be fair, Bob’s “goal” is really more of a daydream at this point. Nothing wrong with that. Daydreams are harmless fun. They CAN lead to goals; usually, however,
The Five Qualities of a Good Goal Read More »
Last week we met Ron and Sharon, the couple who started a little side hustle, watched it boom into a profitable business, and then lamented how this “blessing” of a company had completely overtaken their lives. I described three stages many business owners go through. I argued that the essence of contented simplicity is saying
A Saner, Simpler Life for Harried Business Owners Read More »
Ron and Sharon started a little side hustle…that unexpectedly morphed into a booming business. Initially, all those happy customers—and that sizable bump in income—were thrilling. But in time, their growing enterprise became a 24/7 obsession. Says Sharon, “At first, it was fun telling people, ‘We’re business owners!’ Now it’s more like ‘Ugh! This business owns
Are You a Victim of Your Own Business Success? Read More »
There’s an old maxim that “Two can live as cheaply as one.” Is that true? Or is it what people used to call “an old wives’ tale”? Consider… In 2006, in a State of Our Unions report from the Institute on Marriage at Rutgers University, Barbara Dafoe Whitehead declared, “Marriage is a wealth generating institution.”
Is Marriage Good for Your Financial Health? Read More »
It’s the time of year that people approach me for help in shoring up their finances. One of the questions they inevitably ask is, “What kind of rewards card do you recommend?” I always tell them the best rewards card I’ve ever seen is the one with the name of a wise financial planner on
A Wiser Plan for Spending in 2024 Read More »
Something about the week between December 25 and January 1 makes us reflective. It may have to do with the fact that we’re exhausted from too many Christmas festivities. We just want to pause and regroup. Or it could be a function of the fact that many of us have the luxury of time off
Three New Year’s Resolutions You Should Make Read More »
Let me guess…you haven’t even gotten your credit card statement, but you already know it’s going to be ENORMOUS. And you’d like some ideas for finding some extra cash to pay the proverbial piper. I have some ideas. Try looking in your banking app, your desk drawer, at your pay stub, and even in your
Four Surprising Ways to Pay For All That Holiday Shopping Read More »
You found a house! It’s newer, nicer, bigger. It sits on a hill…at the end of a quiet street…in a great neighborhood. You haven’t gone so far as to measure for drapes. But you have imagined yourself relaxing on the back porch, enjoying a chilled beverage while watching a summer sunset. Given today’s interest rates,
The True Cost of That New House Read More »
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