Lesson 1 - Investment Advisors are Salespeople
When I started out with my very first investment, I was “recommended” a mutual fund with an 8.5% front-end load.  For those who aren’t familiar with a load, this meant that for every $100 I invested, only $91.50 made it into my account.  The other $8.50 went for [...]

Continue reading '10 Things I Learned From Investing' »

First Things First
If you don’t yet have a financial plan, try my simple Three-Step Financial Plan.  It only takes a few minutes and could make a tremendous difference in your financial future.
What Happens if Your Plan Goes Wrong?
What if you have a solid financial plan and good investments, but the market tanks and you lose a lot of money [...]

Continue reading 'Sticking With Your Financial Plan' »

According to the Associated Press, the World now has 10 million millionaires.
Growth Stats
The great news is that there has been a 6% increase in the number of millionaires worldwide and their wealth increased by 9%, last year.  Whatever your opinion on the morality of accumulating wealth, the fact that wealth is increasing worldwide is of benefit to [...]

Continue reading '10 Million Millionaires' »

Failing to Plan (Planning to Fail)
Many adults have completed a rigorous schedule in college, devised a career path and systematically attend to the needs of their family.  They meticulously plan out weddings, vacations and social events.  What most people have neglected is to create a financial plan.  And, finances are definitely one of the most important things to plan for.  [...]

Continue reading 'Three-Step Financial Plan' »

“Once again this quarter, the rate of foreclosure starts and the percent of loans in the process of foreclosure are the highest recorded since 1979.”
Mortgage Bankers Association
Here are the Grim Statistics

The delinquency rate on residential properties was 6.35%.
The percentage of loans in the foreclosure process was 2.47%.
Loans with foreclosure actions started this quarter were 0.99%.
The [...]

Continue reading 'Over a Million Homes are in Foreclosure' »

One of the most comforting things to have in a crisis is a plan.  Unfortunately, the last thing most people want to do is to think about their debt, so they avoid facing it.  But this is exactly what you must do in order to overcome the negative feelings.  You must create a plan, which establishes your [...]

Continue reading 'Four-Step Debt Evaluation Plan' »

I had dinner this week with a good friend who has been unemployed for a prolonged period of time.  He is bright, talented, enthusiastic and well educated. He is also getting up there in age and has been unfortunate enough to work for a series of companies that have failed. So, he is having a hard time getting [...]

Continue reading 'Surviving Hard Times' »

Being Frugal 
Back in the late ’80s, I worked really hard, but I didn’t earn very much.  I was supporting a family of three on $21K per year, in very expensive San Clemente, California.  We had one old beater car and we didn’t get out much.  Since I grew up in tough middle class conditions in [...]

Continue reading 'Being Frugal vs. More Income' »

Just for fun at tax time, I thought I would indulge myself in a post about taxes and their affect on our finances.  It’s a touchy subject for me, because I despise the way our tax contributions are wasted by our Government.  But, I promise not to go into a rant.
I still believe there is a [...]

Continue reading 'Debt and Taxes - The American Way' »

Everyone is down on real estate as an investment right now.  But, this dismal real estate market is exactly what investors have been waiting for.  And, it’s exactly what home buyers should be hoping for.  Here is an affordable chance to purchase what could be the best investment you will ever make.
Some people will disagree with me.  They [...]

Continue reading 'Top 10 Reasons to Buy a House' »