Providing objective, practical and as-needed advice to answer your personal financial questions.
As of June 2020, I am no longer creating new content. Some details may change from year to year, but my approach takes a long view. It is my hope that the concepts and philosophy in the archives prove timeless and helpful.
“Budgeting” has earned itself a negative reputation. People hear the word and think of strict limits, a spartan existence, and the guilt that comes from overspending.
There’s also the idea that your budget should look like other people’s budgets. I regularly get asked what’s a “normal” amount to spending on groceries or rent, or what’s a “normal” amount of savings. And while I understand where the question is coming from, it’s honestly frustrating for me to hear. ... Read More.
Early retirement is a topic that’s generated a lot of buzz over the past few years. More than ever, people are talking about not just retiring a few years early, but actually retiring as early as their 30s and 40s.
It’s an exciting prospect and it is possible with a little bit of luck and a lot of careful planning. There are a number of things to consider before you make the leap and this post will help you get started. ... Read More.
We’ve all heard the stories of people like Warren Buffett, Oprah Winfrey, and Bill Gates giving millions, and even billions, to charitable causes.
And while that’s certainly admirable, it’s hard to relate when you’re trying to balance supporting your family, paying off debt, saving for retirement, and all your other financial responsibilities.
I work with a lot of clients who want to support the causes they believe in, but don’t always have a lot of extra money to spare. And the good news is that there are plenty of ways to give, no matter how much money you have.
Here are six ways to support charitable causes, even on a tight budget. ... Read More.
However you feel about the politics of tax reform, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act is now law and 2018 is the first year you will be dealing with the majority of those changes.
While it's rarely a good idea to make financial decisions solely based on taxes, it is smart to be aware of the tax consequences of your decisions so that you can avoid any unnecessary costs and take advantage of potential tax savings available to you.
With that in mind, here's a quick rundown of some of the major changes included in this new law and how those changes might affect your personal financial situation. ... Read More.
You’re not alone if you’re under estimating just how much you’re spending on your car. For the most part, we as a culture have come to understand the cost of a car in one of two ways:
The sticker price
The monthly payment
And while those numbers are certainly a big part of the equation, they both fail to tell the whole story. The truth is that the ongoing costs of owning a car are so numerous and so significant that addressing just them, and nothing else in your budget, could be enough to put you on track for your biggest financial goals. ... Read More.
Healthcare takes a big bite out of just about every family’s budget, with research showing that the average employee spends $11,685 each year on insurance premiums and out-of-pocket expenses.
While many of those expenses are necessary (I would never recommend going without insurance or medical care), there are some ways to save money while still getting the care you need. ... Read More.
