I hate watching all of the Christmas commercials for expensive luxury items.  All of these commercials have the same tired theme.  You can prove your love for your significant other by buying them something ridiculously overpriced.  Even worse are the commercials that employ guilt and jealousy.  They show the wife across the street getting a new luxury car [...]

Continue reading 'No Diamonds or Cars this Christmas' »

Most of the content presented on this blog is about the opportunities available to improve our lives.  In the United States, even during these shaky economic times, we have opportunity that is virtually unlimited.  Any person of sufficient effort and talent can become a millionaire.  Even our poor and disenfranchised are considered wealthy by global standards.  We [...]

Continue reading 'Fighting Global Poverty' »

I had put off writing an article on the bailout up to now; because I wanted see how it would shake out.  Now that the bailout bill has been signed into law, it’s time to weigh in.  Like many Americans, I feel that we have been sold out by our Government.  The very people who are responsible [...]

Continue reading 'Bailing Out the Rich' »

Last month, I did something I have never done in my life.  I quit my job without having another job lined up.  This is something I would have never dreamed of doing a couple of years ago.  I never would have had the courage to put my family at risk.  I would have “played it safe” [...]

Continue reading 'The Courage to Quit' »

I read a statistic today that blew my mind:
21 percent of those with salaries of $100,000 or more are living paycheck to paycheck
What Does a $100K Salary Mean to You?
I remember the days when I was making $21K per year and supporting a family of three. I remember thinking that if I made $100K with my [...]

Continue reading 'Stop Living Paycheck to Paycheck' »

“I can’t afford to save money.”
Everyone seems to have an excuse these days for not saving any money and most are based on this argument of “I can’t afford to save”.  Americans can afford luxury cars, designer clothes, shoes & handbags, exotic vacations, dinners out, booze, cigarettes and $4 cups of coffee, but they just can’t afford [...]

Continue reading 'What’s your Excuse for not Saving Money?' »

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 [...]

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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' »