Take Advantage Of Your EAP

September 29, 2015

As I talk to people about their finances, I find that many need guidance for the everyday issues like daycare, eldercare, and legal or financial issues to get them on the right track. My guidance is always to research your company benefits to take full advantage of everything your company has to offer to help you financially. I find that one of the most underutilized benefits is the employee assistance program. Continue reading “Take Advantage Of Your EAP”

How To Talk To Twenty-Somethings About Money

September 22, 2015

I recently was having a conversation with my niece and nephew about their future again. Have you ever tried to have a meaningful conversation with a 20 and 22 year old about finances? After about 5 minutes into the conversation, I could still see their physical bodies but I knew their minds were on another planet. So after what was a 5 minute conversation to me but probably felt like a 3 hour lecture to them, I stopped. Then I asked what it is that I was saying that rendered them brain dead. Continue reading “How To Talk To Twenty-Somethings About Money”

The Future Gift – One of the Secrets of Amazing People

September 15, 2015

Recently, I was talking to one of my fellow financial planners, Teig Stanley, about how his day was going. When he told me he was going to a funeral parade, I asked for more information since that is not a normal weekend activity. His comments about his friend who passed away, Manfred, and life in general were so thoughtful that I wanted to share it in his own words: Continue reading “The Future Gift – One of the Secrets of Amazing People”

Let’s Get Ready To Rumble

September 08, 2015

I had a dad who was a huge fan of boxing. Whether it was appropriate or not, some of my earliest memories are of my trying to understand why he is so excited when people hit each other on T.V. but seems to get upset when I do the same thing to my younger brother. Eventually I got the difference (admittedly, I was a little disappointed, especially when he ripped off the head of my favorite Barbie doll) but I actually started to enjoy boxing and hearing Michael Buffer say, “Lets get ready to rumble.” Continue reading “Let’s Get Ready To Rumble”

How To “Budget-Bust Proof” Your Spending Plan

September 01, 2015

Okay, I am going to call this Confession Tuesday. I have spoken to so many people that struggle with creating a budget. I can hear the guilt and even shame in what seems to them like their inability to live within their means. Continue reading “How To “Budget-Bust Proof” Your Spending Plan”

How To Swallow An Elephant

August 25, 2015

How do you swallow an elephant? One bite at a time. The first time I heard this statement my first thought was: “Yuck! Can we come up an analogy that involves eating an over-sized sundae instead of an elephant?” Once I understood the concept, it became my mantra. Whenever something feels overwhelming, especially something that does not seem like fun, I automatically think, “one bite at a time.” Continue reading “How To Swallow An Elephant”

Just Say No

August 18, 2015

I am a child of the 80s. I grew up on Happy Days, Falcon Crest, and Family Ties. In between these shows, inevitably a commercial would come on with a child being pressured into using drugs, refusing and looking into camera and saying no. Continue reading “Just Say No”

How Not To Go Broke On Vacation

August 11, 2015

Okay, I will admit it. I am cheap. I hate spending money unnecessarily so when my family asked about a family vacation this year, I asked them if being together wasn’t enough. Apparently everyone, including my husband (traitor), wanted to go away for vacation so I immediately had to strategize on how to do this on a budget. Continue reading “How Not To Go Broke On Vacation”

My Top 5 Back-to-School Sanity Savers

August 04, 2015

Right before the school year starts, I hear this imaginary bell going off in my head with Michael Buffer saying, “Let’s Get Ready to Rumble.” My first year was utter chaos – registering my kids at school, understanding what they can or cannot wear, the infamous list of what feels like 1,000 items to bring to school, and dealing with picky eaters who liked one lunch one day and thought the same lunch tasted like garbage the next week. The following year, I swore I would develop a strategy to keep myself sane. These are my top 5 sanity savers: Continue reading “My Top 5 Back-to-School Sanity Savers”

How I Got My Teenage Niece to Save

July 28, 2015

Have you ever tried talking to a 19 year old about financially preparing for her future, especially one that considers shopping to be a way to serve her country? I was talking to my niece about getting her financial house in order. She actually tried to rationalize to me that shopping was really helping the economy out. Continue reading “How I Got My Teenage Niece to Save”

What Really Matters To Your Credit

July 21, 2015

One of the most common questions I get is how do I improve my credit score. There is so much information on the Internet that people cannot make heads or tails of it. I was talking to my buddy, Kelley, a fellow CFP(R) professional and CPA, and she offered great insight as to what really matters vs. what does not matter to your credit score. Below are her thoughts: Continue reading “What Really Matters To Your Credit”

What Alligators Taught Me About Budgeting

July 14, 2015

My family and I are history buffs so we try to choose cities with lots of history to visit. This year, we chose St. Augustine, Fl. It is considered to be the oldest city in the country and is full of historical sites and museums that kept the kids entertained. Continue reading “What Alligators Taught Me About Budgeting”

DIY Credit Repair

July 07, 2015

One of my cousins came to see me excited over a meeting she recently had. If you know my cousin, she gets excited over air so I always have to proceed with caution every time she has wide eyes and a high pitched voice and looks like she is about to do a cartwheel. She was excited because she had just met with a credit repair company that promised that they can get all of her negative credit taken off her credit report and can get her score high enough so she could buy a home. Continue reading “DIY Credit Repair”

Protecting Your Dream

June 30, 2015

Years ago, I had a wonderful friend who grew up like me as an “apartment kid” in New York City. This fueled her desire as an adult to own her own home. With a lot of work and relocating to an area where the home prices aren’t ridiculous, she was able to live out her dream of home ownership. Like many of us, she got the homeowner’s policy she was given and never questioned the policy or asked questions. Continue reading “Protecting Your Dream”

There’s No Such Thing As A “Safe” Investment

June 23, 2015

There is so much information regarding the best investment mix for your financial goals. I challenge you to watch one episode of Squawk Box and see how long it takes for your head to spin with all of the conflicting information. On top of everything, everyone has a different idea about risk. I was talking with my colleague, Kelley, and asked her to share her perspective on how people should look at risk. Below is her guidance. Continue reading “There’s No Such Thing As A “Safe” Investment”

Why Every Couple Needs A Joint Account

June 16, 2015

I was recently talking to a couple that I initially thought was talking to me about their debate over getting a joint account. But as each of them spoke, they may had been looking at me but what they were saying was clearly directed at the other person until they forgot I was in the room and they just started arguing. I then remembered some guidance my buddy Kelley, a fellow financial planner, wrote about joint accounts and shared the following guidance from her: Continue reading “Why Every Couple Needs A Joint Account”

The Value of Your EAP Program

June 09, 2015

Years ago when I was pregnant, I was a nervous wreck. I did what every pregnant woman should not do. I found every article I could on every worse-case scenario imaginable about daycare. Continue reading “The Value of Your EAP Program”

Don’t Leave Any Money On The Table

June 02, 2015

A few days ago, I was meeting with a friend that just changed jobs. She was excited about the pay, her new co-workers and the shorter commute to work. As she started talking, I mentioned that she should take advantage of all the benefits her company offers and not leave any extra money on the table. Continue reading “Don’t Leave Any Money On The Table”

Don’t Let Car Problems Wreck Your Finances

May 26, 2015

Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you had to dip into your savings account or worse, pull out that credit card that you just paid off and use it for sudden car problems? When my husband and I were struggling financially, there were few areas in our finances that brought us to our knees the way that a potential car problem did. As my husband and I were reminiscing (really shuddering), he told me that if he had to talk to a couple struggling to manage their finances and their cars the following is what he would tell them: Continue reading “Don’t Let Car Problems Wreck Your Finances”

What Is Your Family Vision?

May 19, 2015

Okay, I am somewhat of a geek. One of my favorite channels is HGTV. I am fascinated by how they can turn a home that looks like something out of a horror movie into a dream home. Continue reading “What Is Your Family Vision?”