Life is Not Short – Life is Long So Make Good Money Decisions

October 03, 2011

You’ve heard the saying, “Life is short so don’t waste time worrying” or “Life is short so enjoy every minute of it.”  When I was listening to Frank Abignale, Jr., the convicted felon turned distinguished FBI agent (I wrote about him last week) and the subject of the movie, Catch Me if You Can, give the keynote address at the Financial Planning Association conference, I heard him say the opposite.  He said, “Life is long.”  Then he went on to say, “Life is long so make good decisions.”  Continue reading “Life is Not Short – Life is Long So Make Good Money Decisions”

My Car is a Lousy Hotel Room

September 30, 2011

I can say a lot of things about my car.  It’s old (1998).  It’s high mileage (~200,000 miles).  It’s got enough dings and dents and stuff to give it “character.”  But, it’s been a great car for me.  Very reliable.  Very much like my 2nd home considering how much I drive.  First, a little back-story on my life:  I live ~300 miles from a company (one of our client companies) where I routinely spend 2-3 days/week, and it takes roughly 5 hours to drive there.  I can get from my front door to my hotel room door in about 5 hours, 15 minutes if traffic isn’t an issue.  (My best-ever time is 4 ½ hours without a stop.) Continue reading “My Car is a Lousy Hotel Room”

GUEST BLOG POST: We’re All Human: Even Financial Planners Make Mistakes

September 29, 2011

You’ve no doubt heard of shoemaker’s children without shoes.  But have you ever heard of a financial planner not heeding their own advice?

We are all human and we all make mistakes.  Even when we don’t take the advice we give others.  So, I admit it.  I have been that same “shoeless” financial planner.  Continue reading “GUEST BLOG POST: We’re All Human: Even Financial Planners Make Mistakes”

Identity Theft Prevention Tips from a Convicted Felon

September 26, 2011

I’d never really thought about living in an unethical country before, until I heard Frank Abagnale speak.  Frank is the subject of the film “Catch Me if You Can,” who went from being the FBI’s most wanted forger, stealing millions of dollars and flying all over the world posing as a Pan Am Pilot, to a well respected 35 year veteran FBI agent, and expert on forgery, embezzlement and secure documents.  He declared, “We live in an unethical country” during the keynote address at the Financial Planning Association’s annual conference in San Diego last week. Continue reading “Identity Theft Prevention Tips from a Convicted Felon”

In Defense of Financial Gurus

September 23, 2011

I’m writing this to stick up for Suze Orman.  And Dave Ramsey.  I know, they don’t need to be defended.  They have excellent reputations nationally, and have sold tons of books and CD’s, and, have become wealthy and famous by giving people financial advice.  So, why am I defending them and from whom? Continue reading “In Defense of Financial Gurus”

How Far are You Willing to Go to Find Work?

September 21, 2011

One of the byproducts of our slumping economy is an unacceptably high unemployment rate.  There are literally millions of men and women who are perfectly capable of working, but can’t find employment in their area.  In response to this lingering problem, President Obama unveiled his plans for helping reduce the number of Americans that are out of work, known as The American Jobs Act.  This is an important first step, but the reality is that regardless of what might come out of Washington to address the issue, it will take years before any real progress is made.  In the meantime, families will continue to struggle with making ends meet. Continue reading “How Far are You Willing to Go to Find Work?”

A View From the Road: When the Economy Starts Moving Again, You Won’t Want to Be Left Behind

September 19, 2011

I am not entirely surprised with the news that no new jobs were created in August, if my view from the road this past week was a microcosm of the rest of the country.  Over the past week, I moved from Northern California to just north of Salt Lake City, Utah.  My husband and I plan to retire here.  We figured, why wait, and put in to be transferred to the Mountain states.  We rented out our home in California, packed up and moved to our condo. Continue reading “A View From the Road: When the Economy Starts Moving Again, You Won’t Want to Be Left Behind”

I’m Ready to Make a Decision, I Think

September 14, 2011

It’s human nature to second guess our decisions, but somehow this must go double when it comes to financial decisions.  No matter how much we research, contemplate, and then ultimately decide on a financial decision, almost immediately we question it.  (Obviously I’m not talking about impulsive financial decisions, as the problem with those probably speak for themselves.)  There are a couple of things you have to remember when it comes to making a financial decision: Continue reading “I’m Ready to Make a Decision, I Think”

Things to Consider if You Were Offered an Early Retirement Incentive Package

September 09, 2011

Last week I talked about some of the biggest factors that people face when considering an early retirement package.  Health insurance issues and determining when to take Social Security were by far the 2 most common topics of conversation.  But, they were by no means the only topics of conversation. Continue reading “Things to Consider if You Were Offered an Early Retirement Incentive Package”

GUEST BLOG POST: She Who Hesitates, Loses

September 08, 2011

Beware the financial expert who has the answer before you have even posed the question.  It’s a telltale sign that he or she isn’t really interested in the facts or circumstances of your personal situation, and has something to “sell,” whether you need it or not.  As the saying goes, when all you have is a hammer, then everything (or everyone) looks like a nail.

As a CFP® professional, my usual answer to most questions is “It depends…”  It depends on your tax bracket, your marital situation, your age, your objectives, etc.  And then we get down to work.  But I have to admit, there is one situation where I am tempted to make a recommendation no matter the question, or the personal details. Continue reading “GUEST BLOG POST: She Who Hesitates, Loses”

How to Optimize and Simplify Your Daily Finances

September 08, 2011

In my last few blog posts, I wrote about how  we can manage our spending to save enough to reach our financial goals.  Ideally, you’d pay yourself first by having your savings set aside before you can even spend the money.  If you have retirement plan contributions deducted from your paycheck, you’re already doing this.  But you can do the same thing with your other savings too.  At Financial Finesse, we have the option to have a percentage of our paycheck diverted into a separate bank account.  See if your company offers something similar, or have the savings transferred automatically from your checking account. Continue reading “How to Optimize and Simplify Your Daily Finances”

Life After Bankruptcy

September 07, 2011

The worst of the recent economic recession may be behind us, but the ripple effect of its devastation lingers.  Whether it’s repossessions, foreclosures, or bankruptcy, good, hard working Americans are still struggling to dig out of the mess, and recent and future unexpected events (such as Hurricane Irene) will only pour salt on the financial wound. Continue reading “Life After Bankruptcy”

Financial Lessons from a 23 Year Old

August 22, 2011

I just got off a call to our financial helpline with an amazing young woman.  It is funny how sometimes you get a caller who should be teaching financial planning instead of calling the helpline; this was one of those calls.  I was struck by her insight and maturity for such a young woman.  She had a good idea of what she needed to do but was trying to do everything at once.  I helped her take a step back and look at things a bit differently.  She had all the right pieces but wasn’t sure how to put them together.  The pieces themselves aren’t the important part of this story, but the wisdom behind how she was making her decisions. Continue reading “Financial Lessons from a 23 Year Old”

An Unconventional Q&A Session with a Financial Planner

August 19, 2011

If you have read more than two of my blogs, you probably already know that while I take your financial lives pretty seriously, I don’t take myself seriously.  At all.  So, in the spirit of having a little bit of fun with this (it’s summer after all), and answering some REAL questions that I’ve been asked over the last few years, here’s a little “unconventional financial education” Q&A session: Continue reading “An Unconventional Q&A Session with a Financial Planner”

Are the Rich Really Getting Richer, and the Poor Really Getting Poorer?

August 12, 2011

Occasionally I will hear a phrase, that for some reason bugs me, and I’ll go out and try to figure out if it’s really true or not.  Yes, that would make me a certified geek.  And, it suggests I should probably back away from the laptop and go out for a bike ride or a run.  But, I enjoy the research and no animals are harmed in the kind of research I do, so I figure it’s kind of harmless.  Anyway, back to my point.  I keep hearing the following phrase:  “The rich keep getting richer and the poor keep getting poorer,” and it bugs me because it just doesn’t square up with the experiences of my life. Continue reading “Are the Rich Really Getting Richer, and the Poor Really Getting Poorer?”

Financial Planning: Automation…a Friend with Boundaries

August 05, 2011

I have a grocery store that I love.  It costs a little more, but the service is excellent.  One of the things I really like about this store is that when the weather is bad, and you’re dreading the hike to the car with open bags of groceries, there are staff who will come up to you at checkout and say, “Let me take care of that for you.”  They will take it upon themselves to make life a little easier for you.  This is a great idea and, for me sometimes, it is worth the small price differences in food.  It also works because even though I have the option of using the service, I am not obligated to do so.  And, if I want to use coupons to offset the higher prices, I can do that, too.  In other words, I am not locked in. Continue reading “Financial Planning: Automation…a Friend with Boundaries”

Ways to Save a Little Here and There

August 03, 2011

If I were to ask you how much energy you consumed today, chances are you haven’t thought a whole lot about it.  The truth is, most of us have no idea how much energy we use each day, but whether you use gas, electric, or both, finding ways to use less, translates into more money in your pocket. Continue reading “Ways to Save a Little Here and There”