They were an easy-going couple who rarely squabbled—UNTIL he suggested they create (and live by) a budget. Each time he gently brought up the subject, she got defensive. He walked away muttering to himself. They remind me of a story I heard John Maxwell tell. A friend showed him a list of New Year’s resolutions: […]
Why It’s Hard to Change Financial Habits Read More »
How much does confident optimism matter in the marketplace—for job hunters, salespeople, entrepreneurs, and investors? That’s the subject we began exploring last week. We said that every person has a built-in emotional thermometer that measures how they’re feeling from one situation to the next. Some “run” a higher emotional temperature. That is, they’re usually “up”
Keeping Your Emotions from Hurting You Financially 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 »
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 »
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 »
If you’re the owner of a business that’s SO successful… • You sometimes feel like the business owns you! • You find it hard to get away • You feel like if you do take time off, it’ll hurt your business… I have something I want to say to you. You’re hurting your business by
How Business Owners Can Avoid Burnout Read More »
As a financial advisor, I’m often asked: “Are student loans a wise investment in my future…or a bad idea?” Let me offer some facts, an example, an update, and some advice. Some facts: What does all that borrowing cost? Current interest rates on federal loans range from 4.99%-7.54%. Private loan rates range from just under
Student Loans: Smart Investment … or Big Mistake? Read More »
As a financial advisor, I hear these complaints all the time: All of these comments reflect a faulty mindset. They are looking at the “savings problem” from the wrong end of things. You see, it’s all but impossible to cut back when you see everything you buy as “essential.” You can waste a lot of
Don’t Confuse Symbolism with Substance When Trying to Save Money Read More »
I get this sort of question often: “A friend introduced me to a very nice Christian man who is recommending I put my money into some kind of annuity or bonds or something like that. I’m not a stock market person. I don’t understand finances, but I really like this young man. He seems so
The Person Behind the Plan Read More »
This is for the person who feels financially “gloomy.” Keep reading only if: (a) you’re convinced the economy will be bad for a while; and (b) because of that belief, you’ve put a halt to investing and all other financial moves. I understand why you feel cautious. I get wanting to be safe and watch
What to Do in (Financially) Gloomy Times Read More »
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