Year: 2019

How to Establish Financial “Grit” in 2020!

various US currency rolled tightly and lined up together, including a twenty and one hundred dollar bill

What does it take for humans to accomplish goals of great significance?  The answer to this question was recently addressed in a 10-year study conducted by The United States Military Academy at West Point, and the results may surprise you.  While the study found that cognitive and physical abilities aid in the accomplishment of great […]

Debt Management for the Holidays

New research shows that, for the first time, Americans collectively owe four trillion dollars of consumer debt, excluding home mortgages.  That’s such a significant number; it can be meaningless for the average reader, so let’s zoom in a bit. In 1950, the inflation-adjusted median household income was about $30,000, with only about $500 in consumer […]

Fourth Quarter Financial Planning Series: Create More Income

So far in this series, we’ve covered Investments, Taxes, Insurance, and estate planning.  For this final section, I’d like to include ideas for supplementing cash flow. With Thanksgiving behind us, it’s hard not to turn your attention to the Christmas holiday season and all its demands, including the need for more cash flow to buy […]

Fourth Quarter Financial Planning Series: ESTATE PLANNING

Smiling man and woman looking at computer tablet while a man in a suit explains something to them

So far, in this series, we’ve covered Investments, Taxes, and Insurance.  Now let’s look at estate planning with an emphasis on digital assets. Most people understand the importance of having a basic estate plan in place.  Unfortunately, at least one-third of American adults don’t have one.  The reasons vary, but the most dominant is procrastination.  […]

Fourth Quarter Financial Planning Series: REDUCING INSURANCE COSTS

So far, in this series, we’ve covered Investments and Taxes.  Now let’s explore four ways to cut the costs of commonly owned insurance: Homeowners and Auto Insurance– No doubt, we need this coverage, and we need it in adequate amounts.  The trick to slashing premiums 20% or more is through judicial use of deductibles.  Often, […]