Cash Flow versus Budgeting
To me personal budgeting is a lot like dieting. If I diet and blow the diet, I eat even more. If I set a budget and then blow the budget, I spend even more. [Psychologically I already feel badly so…
The #1 Question of 2015
Every year a hot topic surfaces in the world of personal finance. In 2015, “How do I protect my identity?” has been at the top of the list. The answer normally involves paying for a monthly service to monitor credit…
Annuity Advertising; Misleading at Best
During the past five years the #1 question I am hearing from clients and prospective clients relates to an annuity commercial most of us have seen or heard. The annuity promises a bonus up-front of 6-8% on your initial investment…
I see the Light of Retirement
I see the Light of Retirement You are scheduled to retire on July 1st 2015, and the excitement is building, but before you get too excited make sure you have your bases fully covered. Before retiring consider 4 key issues,…
Surviving the Chopping Block
Regardless of the positive trend of the U.S. economy, the threat of being a victim of company downsizing keeps many Americans awake at night pacing, wondering; Am I next? Can my family survive the loss of income? How can I…
Roth IRA’s
Stated simply, if you have cash in banks or assets in taxable brokerage or mutual fund accounts, but you do not have a Roth IRA, you are missing a tremendous opportunity. This article can end on the power of that…
Medical Bill Woes
According to a CNN report, 49.9 million Americans were without medical insurance in 2010. To seal the gap between those insured and uninsured the government signed the Affordable Care Act that requires every American to be covered by medical insurance…
The Foundation of all Financial Planning
When first entering the practice as a personal financial advisor I thought I understood financial decision making. It was easy: 1 plus 1 equals 2; add another 1 and we get 3. Financial Planning was logical and straightforward economics. If…
Using Debt Properly
One of the most common financial questions we receive at The Financial Consulate is, “When is it best to borrow money versus using existing savings?” Oftentimes those in the business of providing financial advice will recommend borrowing money whenever you…
Enjoying Your Work
Given that the average human being spends more time working than in almost any other activity, it is critical that we enjoy our work. Joy is the foundation of a healthy, prosperous and fulfilling life. Unfortunately, most surveys say that…