One of our biggest financial goals over the last 18 months was to save up and pay for our own wedding. Over the last year and a half, we saved $1,250 per month — which put us in a position to achieve that goal to pay for the wedding we enjoyed back in June. It…
Financial Planning for Retirement Is an Important Thing, But It’s Not the Only Thing
What do you think of when you hear “financial planning?” If the answer revolves around financial planning for retirement, you’re not wrong… but it might also be an incomplete picture of what proper planning can do for you. Or it might not be the right way to think about the kind of planning that’s best…
The #1 Sign You’re Not Good with Money
There’s one sure way I can tell when someone is not good with money, even when they feel like they’re really nailing it. It’s not having lots of student loans or credit card debt (although those can be tough to deal with, there could be reasonable explanations for someone having debt they’re working to repay)….
Stop Asking How Much You Need to Save Before Having a Baby
Most of my clients are in their 30s and 40s, and many of them are either starting families or adding to them. And many of these soon-to-be parents ask me, “how much do we need to save before having a baby? What should we have in the bank before we start thinking about having kids?”…
5 Money Mistakes I See People Make (That Are Super Easy to Fix)
Working with a financial planner is not always about what I actively do for my clients. Sometimes, it’s about what I stop them from doing. ANd, that can be even more powerful when it comes to your financial future. I’ve prevented a lot of people from making a number of small mistakes that would create a…
How to Run an Investment Advisor Search: 7 Things You Must Know to Find the Right Advisor
Recently, I spoke at an event where the topic was “how to be good with money.” It was a fun conversation and the audience was really engaged and eager to learn. After the event, one attendee approached me to ask a question. “I know I need a financial advisor,” she said. She shared she inherited…
Why You Need to Experience Things Yourself (and Not Just Take Good Advice)
I’m a financial planner. My job is to give financial advice to people and help them plan out the life they want using money as a tool. But I also believe advice isn’t everything. Sometimes, there’s no substitute for your own experiences and life lessons learned. Here’s an example of what I mean: My fiancee…
This Dangerous Habit Is Causing You to Overspend
We all know that comparison is the thief of joy. But is your habit of comparing yourself or your life to other people’s costing you in a more tangible way? As in, costing you actual dollars and cents? If you’re like most people, the answer is probably yes. The Thing You Forget When You Start…
This Is the Best Financial Shortcut There Is: Are You Taking Advantage?
If you’re interested in a financial shortcut, you probably don’t have too much time on your hands. You’re busy, focused on a million things, and you need to get to the good stuff fast so you can get back to work. So I’ll keep this short, and get to the point. I’m going to share…
Before You Set New Goals, You Need to Do This One Thing
Setting goals might sound like the most tedious thing on your to-do list, especially if you’re doing it right and setting SMART goals. Those are goals that are Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Timebound. That means you can’t just say, “I want more money,” and call it a day. Proper goal setting takes a little…