Toby Keith’s Financial Planning Advice(?)!

Remember that I’m originally from Oklahoma. I grew up listening to country music. This wasn’t my first choice but you didn’t mess with the radio station if my dad was within earshot. Now, I actually enjoy it. I was listening the other day while Toby Keith’s “Somewhere Else” was on and two lines of the lyrics struck a financial or goal planning nerve. Toby had gotten it just right. In...

Update: What you don’t know about your Socia...

The first workshop was held last week. We had a nice discussion, a little fun and everyone learned something. Let’s face it: the Social Security program is run by a huge bureacracy. Is it really surprising that it isn’t as simple as you think it is? Attend this seminar before you set a retirement date – you might change your mind. . . . . (or be better prepared). We will look at the stability of Social...

Fiscal Fitness

  If any of you aren’t sure about what I can do for you and how the fee-only financial planning process works, this may help: I work like a personal trainer does, except I work on your fiscal fitness! The analogy isn’t original and it is a little simplistic but it does make sense. Just like a personal trainer: We have to do an assessment. What kind of shape are you in now? This isn’t to judge you,...

A Resolution Worth Keeping

While most New Year’s resolutions are worth keeping. Those associated with your happiness, health and wealth should receive priority. And, necessarily, as a personal financial planner, I have to advocate for those resolutions relating to your financial security. If you have peace of mind surrounding your financial situation, it makes dealing with the other obstacles life throws your way less overwhelming. The basics...

Accumulation Phase and Distribution Phase Differen...

Have you noticed, as you age, that your body needs a little more recovery time to heal from an injury? We don’t bounce back as easily as when we were kids. Your retirement portfolio has different phases in its life too. And what’s fine in one phase, might not work so well in another.  The two main phases are the accumulation and the distribution phases. I’m going to discuss a few general differences between how you...

Pull Your Head Out (of the Sand)

Do ostriches really hide their heads in the sand when they’re afraid? I’m not sure about ostriches but I know many people do this when confronted with their personal finances. They figure if they ignore the facts, there won’t be a problem. The problem with this behavior is that by not taking a good hard look at your personal finances, you’re probably making an already bad thing worse. I know I’m generalizing, some...