Balancing the Summer Reading List

July 14, 2014

My eight-year old daughter Caroline recently made an observation that in her opinion, I simply don’t read enough.  This of course is coming from an up and coming 3rd grader who absolutely loves to read and is currently breezing through J.K. Rowling’s entire Harry Potter series along with countless other books.  Although I will acknowledge that I never was a bookworm growing up, it must be noted that her definition of reading does not include financial journals, academic research studies, personal finance blogs, IRS tax code, or financial planning books. I am impressed that my daughter balances her reading preferences and also reads non-fiction books to learn about various topics ranging from history, Bible stories, and Golden doodles. Continue reading “Balancing the Summer Reading List”

Going Against the Odds

May 30, 2014

I’ve played one sport or another virtually my entire life. And, along with playing, I enjoy watching as well. One of the many things I love about sports is that it is just so unpredictable.   Continue reading “Going Against the Odds”

Memorial Day Isn’t Just BBQ Day

May 26, 2014

Most Americans will be enjoying the long Memorial Day weekend by shopping, cooking out with family and friends, or traveling on vacation to celebrate the unofficial beginning of summer.  But let us not forget that Memorial Day was created as a day to remember all of those Americans who have died while serving our nation. The holiday originated after the Civil War to commemorate Union and Confederate soldiers who died during the war and was originally known as Decoration Day. Memorial Day is now extended to celebrate and honor the lives of all those who died while serving our country. Continue reading “Memorial Day Isn’t Just BBQ Day”

How to Make the Financial Planning Process Work for You

March 10, 2014

I get the unique opportunity to speak with employees taking part in our Ask-A-Planner consultation service offered through their employer as a financial wellness benefit.  Every session is unique and last week was no exception. One moment I was meeting with a recent college grad feeling overwhelmed with student loan debt and a few minutes later, I was talking with a parent trying to save for their kid’s college without overlooking their own retirement savings.  A conversation about establishing an income plan for retirement quickly transitioned to an emotional discussion about the death of a loved one and concerns about protecting one’s family through a well-crafted estate plan.  Continue reading “How to Make the Financial Planning Process Work for You”

Could You Walk Away From $2 Billion?

February 14, 2014

In a move that could go down as one of the more surprising moves I’ve seen from a business in quite a long time, CVS has announced that by October 1st they will no longer carry tobacco products in their stores. That sounded “interesting” when I first heard about it.  And then I heard how much money they made each year in cigarette/tobacco product sales…$2 billion!  Continue reading “Could You Walk Away From $2 Billion?”

Go Simple. Go Small. Go Now.

February 03, 2014

A lot of people have asked me how my wife and I are able to live together and travel around on a small, simple boat only 25 feet long. It’s true that it’s not a lot of space and doesn’t have many creature comforts. And when it comes to boats, there’s always something bigger and fancier with more complex systems to tempt you.   Continue reading “Go Simple. Go Small. Go Now.”

Why Gen X Isn’t Doomed

January 20, 2014

Last week, Financial Finesse released our annual Generational Research Report and all I can say is, “I resemble that remark.”  The good news of our findings is that my generation, Gen X, is getting better across all areas of financial wellness.  The bad news is that we were the hardest hit generation by the Great Recession and we are lagging our counterparts in many areas, especially cash management. Continue reading “Why Gen X Isn’t Doomed”

The Best Laid Plans…

December 27, 2013

As someone who did some online shopping this year, I read this article about gifts that didn’t arrive in time for gift giving and felt a great sigh of relief.  I can’t imagine getting to my mother’s house completely empty handed on Christmas Day.  The people who ordered their gifts online, with a “guaranteed” delivery prior to Christmas, and didn’t receive their items probably didn’t have the joyous holiday they expected. There was probably a bit of anxiety and disappointment mixed in with their holiday. Not that the season should be all about gifts…but the reality of where we are as a society places an undue emphasis on a commercialized Christmas.  (My opinion!)  This article made me think about not just my view of the holiday season, but of life in general. Continue reading “The Best Laid Plans…”

How Your “Time Perspective” Can Impact Your Marriage

December 23, 2013

Last week, my wife wrote a blog post to kick off the “couples and money” series.  One of the hot button “budget busters” she talked about was the urge to splurge on non-essential luxury items like clothes, purses, household items, etc. (I thought her timing was perfect for the busiest shopping period of the year.) Admittedly, she isn’t the only one in our household with a taste for big ticket items as I have a long list of wants (definitely not needs) on my list for Santa.  I would love to have a paddleboard, upgraded golf clubs, football season tickets for next season, or a trip to Brazil for the World Cup.  Continue reading “How Your “Time Perspective” Can Impact Your Marriage”

Being Married to the “Money Doc”

December 16, 2013

This week, I will begin a series of blog posts about money and relationships. My wife, Heather (and the real brains of our family), had the idea to start off this series by exposing some lessons that we have learned along the way. Heather is self-employed full-time as an occupational therapist and specializes in working with incredible children who have developmental challenges. Despite occasionally minimizing the role she plays in managing our household finances, the reality is that Heather is also a co-financial planner in our household. Continue reading “Being Married to the “Money Doc””

“Rules of Thumb” Can Make Financial Planning Simpler

November 13, 2013

One of the many hats I wear around the Financial Finesse office is that of a fact checker.  Before we publish an article or release new content, I am frequently asked to verify any factual information it may contain.  In some instances, the information I am asked to verify is absolute. For example, the IRS has recently released 401(k) and IRA contribution limits for 2014: $17,500 (or $23,000 if age 50+) and $5,500 (or $6,500 if age 50+), respectively. At other times, the information we include in our publications is based on generally accepted financial planning principles—what we typically refer to as “rules of thumb.” Continue reading ““Rules of Thumb” Can Make Financial Planning Simpler”

Why I Gave Up My Securities Licenses

November 01, 2013

One of the things I wrestled with prior to making the decision to join Financial Finesse was the fact that they wanted, no….REQUIRED, that I give up my securities licenses. I had studied HARD to pass the Series 7, 63, 65, 24, 8, and 31 at various points along my path. I had to give serious thought to this particular decision. Continue reading “Why I Gave Up My Securities Licenses”

Do You Have a Financial Plan or Financial Gridlock?

October 21, 2013

It is déjà vu all over again with the debt ceiling debate having reared its ugly head once again. In my opinion, when it comes to the financial stability of our nation, it doesn’t matter if you lean to the left, lean to the right or are somewhere in between with your political views (or if you are completely indifferent to political dialogue).  The reality is that something needs to get done to end the gridlock in Washington that impacts every American.  Continue reading “Do You Have a Financial Plan or Financial Gridlock?”

How’s Your Financial Health?

October 16, 2013

I visited my doctor recently for a routine physical. I’m entitled to a physical once a year through my insurance, so I make sure to take advantage of this benefit. When I visit the doctor’s office, he usually asks me if I am experiencing any particular ailments or symptoms, to which I usually reply “Not really, I feel pretty healthy.”  Nevertheless, my doctor checks my blood pressure, temperature, heart rate, weight, and other vital signs.  I’m glad he does this, because while I may FEEL fine, the reality is that there may be something going on inside of me that I am not aware of. Continue reading “How’s Your Financial Health?”

Is it Possible to Think your Way to Financial Success?

October 14, 2013

Think for a moment about how optimistic you are about your personal financial situation.  Are you confident that your financial life will improve over the next 12 months? Your response to these questions provides invaluable insight into your ability to achieve future financial success.  Continue reading “Is it Possible to Think your Way to Financial Success?”

Yes, I’m A Finance Geek

October 08, 2013

I’ve just returned from a girl’s weekend vacation with a group of 5 friends who I have known for ages, a few going back as far as elementary school.  Now we share pictures of grandkids who are about the same age as when some of us first met. Since I’m the number cruncher, I got the task of tallying up the tip and dividing the bill when we went out for a meal, and when the conversation turned to buying new homes or college costs, I was always asked to weigh in with my “professional opinion.”  Continue reading “Yes, I’m A Finance Geek”

A Draining But Fulfilling Choice

October 04, 2013

One of the things that I’ve lived through over the better part of the last decade is going through a relatively ugly divorce and beginning to rebuild my financial and personal lives while being a semi-workaholic.  This point was brought into view very clearly recently in a conversation with a woman that I have started dating. I work a lot!  So does she.  And, I have the added element of traveling a lot for work.  Somehow, we’ve started referring to my travel as being “out to sea.” Continue reading “A Draining But Fulfilling Choice”