The number-one thing you can know about the stock market is that it’s unpredictable. Think of it like a wild bull — and I don’t mean “wildly successful bull market” where everyone is always making money. I mean literally a wild bull: a large, powerful entity that has zero interest in your personal concerns, happiness,…
Suffering from Job Burnout? How to Prevent Your Career from Running Your Life
It happens to all of us from time to time. You get down. You feel tired. You’re overworked and overwhelmed. Dealing with work stress is something we all experience — but sometimes that stress devolves into something much worse if it goes on for long enough. If you let you career run your life for…
Got a Cash Windfall? Take These Steps So You Don’t Screw It Up
Who doesn’t love the idea of suddenly, unexpectedly coming into a lot of cash? Although this idea of a cash windfall sounds great in theory, the reality isn’t always quite as fantastic. Receiving a lot of money — especially when you didn’t know or expect it — can also introduce a lot of financial complexity…
The 3 Factors That Set Financially Successful People Apart from Those Who Struggle
Ever wonder what it really takes to become wealthy? Assuming you don’t have a very rich relative who leaves you a lot of cash or you’re not on track to be the next Silicon Valley tech startup wunderkind, then you’re probably taking the same path most of the rest of us take: Earn a strong…
3 Ways to Use a Personal Finance System to Help You Do More with Your Money
Part of the value of building out a complete financial plan for yourself is that in doing so, you create a process for moving from where you are right now to where you want to be in the future. What actually moves you from Point A to Point B? The smart, strategic, intentional actions you…
How We Balance Frugality with the Reality of YOLO and FOMO
I have to be honest with you: I can’t help but cringe when I see so-called “financial advice” that is focused exclusively around crazy ways to go great lengths to save a few dollars here and there. But on the flipside, I also know that you need to prioritize your savings and investments if you…
How to Leverage an HSA Account to Grow Your Wealth: A Real-Life Example
Have you considered a high deductible health plan, or HDHP, as an option for your health insurance? Many people shy away from plans with high deductibles because if you go to the doctor’s office often, require procedures not considered “preventative care”, or end up in the hospital overnight, you may be on the hook for…
How Much House Equity Are You REALLY Building?
One of the big arguments for home ownership or buying a house goes something like this: “When you rent, you’re just throwing money away because you’re not building house equity. With your own home, though, that’s exactly what happens when you pay your mortgage: you’re building equity.” At first glance, this seems like it could…
Financial Advisor Vs Planner: What’s the Difference?
“Are you a financial advisor, or a financial planner?” I’ve had a handful of people ask me this at events I’ve attended or spoken at, and I can understand why people pose the question. You don’t just have to figure out the differences between a financial advisor vs planner. There are countless different titles people…
Fund Your Financial Goals with This Easy Strategy
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…