The smell of fresh cut grass in August still makes me want to run and hide. I get flashbacks of red-faced football coaches, whistles blowing, screaming encouraging slogans at me like, “C’mon, son…run! Harder! Faster!” During summer camp, these thoughtful men even had trash cans placed strategically about the field so we players could pause, […]
The Danger of Financial Fatigue Read More »
Chris thought he had a stomachache. So, like most young men, he considered his options and did the only sensible thing. He ate more. Well, that didn’t help, so he bought the jumbo bottle of Pepto-Bismol. By the time the weekend was over, he was doubled over in pain and begging his wife to drive
Get Right About What’s Wrong Read More »
In one sense, Laura and Sally didn’t sneak up on anyone. Meteorologists helped us track both hurricanes from their births deep in the warm Atlantic waters to their tempestuous tromps through coastal cities and towns. Laura devastated Lake Charles as she worked her way up the western side of south Louisiana. As I write this,
Are You Ready for the Next Storm? Read More »
I know an organization that frames the less-than-desirable duties of their employees as “get tos.” The idea is to change the mindset from negative to positive. Instead of seeing a duty as something you “have to do,” you change your viewpoint so that you see it as an opportunity for service, or something you “get
Labor Day – Work is a “Get To” Read More »
“I hate debt!” That’s an oft heard declaration that erupts early in some of my meetings with new or prospective clients. Most of the time it happens as a large sheet of paper is pulled out of a folder, or a spreadsheet is opened on a computer. Whether computerized or penned, it’s a list of
“I hate debt!” … Really? Read More »
“I think I’m just going to wait until after the election.” I am hearing this response nearly every week from someone else afraid to make a decision with a financial impact. In my career I have lived through the elections of Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama and Donald
Waiting on the Election Read More »
“One one-thousandth of a dollar.” I said. “That’s not much is it?” I handed his phone back to him. He’d handed it to me to show me how low the expense ratio of his indexed mutual fund was. He pressed his lips together, holding back a smile. “I guess it’s my engineering training coming out,”
Pay Attention to Your Costs … All of Them Read More »
“Should I refinance my house and get a 30-year mortgage? Is that crazy?” She was nearly 65 and had a six-figure mortgage attached to her house. She was single and had a good income as a nurse. But as she looked ahead, she could see trouble coming. “I make nearly $5,000 per month now, and
Retire Debt in Retirement Read More »
“When you’re going through hell, keep going.” Winston Churchill’s advice still applies. If you find yourself having “blown it” once again financially, now is definitely not the time to stop. Now is the time to get back up, dust yourself off and redouble your efforts. Chrystal and Tony are typical of people I’ve talked to
Perseverance Beats Perfection When Rehabbing Habits Read More »
“The signs are everywhere…” It was an ominous headline to an email that caught the attention of a client. “Is this something I should be concerned about?” Concern, worry and a buying decision to subscribe to an expensive newsletter was exactly what the email’s author was hoping to elicit. The email’s author had “seen several
Doomsday Always Sells Read More »
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