When you’re working on a big project at work, having all of the data and all the documents that you need in one place makes your job a lot easier, leaves you less stressed than if you had to search for everything and get data from multiple different sources, and helps you to get the job done on time with accuracy. When you’re at home cooking dinner for your family, knowing where all of the utensils, dishes, and ingredients are makes things much easier on you and helps you to get dinner on the table when it needs to be. When you’re doing a project around the house, knowing where your tools are helps you get the job done efficiently without having to waste time searching for them.
Plan
We’re Engaged!
6 minute read
I asked my best friend to marry me and she said yes! I think, at least. It’s still up in the air as to what she said while sobbing.
Binge Spending
3 minute read
A quick Google search tells me that I either may have just made that term up, or I have no idea what I’m talking about. Either way, I’m sticking with it. I’m not talking about Compulsive Buying Disorder (CBD), which is a mental health issue that can wreak havoc on your financial situation and that I’m not qualified to discuss. I’m talking about something that I’ve witnessed which is (hopefully) less impactful on your financial situation than CBD but could still have a negative effect.
Digital Asset Planning
3 minute read
Death isn’t something that we want to think about often. But, sometimes it’s something that is important for us to consider. You probably came across this post through some form of social media whether that be Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, or Twitter. Have you ever thought about what would happen to these accounts when you pass away? Who would have control over them? Who would be able to login to your phone or computer to retrieve usernames and passwords?
Want to Travel the World for 10 Months? Live Below Your Means
2 minute read
I love hearing stories from people who have been able to fulfill their dreams by being financially wise and living below their means. Last week, I spoke to a gentleman at the gym who told me a story about something that he and his wife did that I thought was amazing. The reason that they were able to accomplish such an awesome goal is simple – they live below their means.
Do You Know The Differences Between a Financial Planner and a Financial Salesperson?
4 minute read
I’m a financial planner, but that may not mean what you think. Typically, when I tell people that I’m a financial planner the idea that they have in their mind is that I buy and sell stocks and bonds for their investment portfolio. If that’s not what they think, then they think that I have some product to sell them. Although the company that I work for, Market Street Wealth Management Advisors, does manage clients’ investment portfolios, neither of those things is what I do. Unfortunately, the terms “financial planner”, “financial advisor”, “investment advisor”, or any other iteration, are not protected and clearly defined so that the public actually understands what they mean and their differences.
What’s the Best Way to Pay Off Debt?
3 minute read
Some people absolutely hate the debt that they have and want to get rid of it as soon as possible. Some people (dangerously) have no clue how much debt they have and would rather pretend that it’s not there than to be proactive and do something about it. If you’re one of those people who want to get rid of your debt, then what’s the right way to go about doing so? Do you pay down the highest balance first or the debt with the highest interest rate first? Should you actually be paying down your debt more aggressively than required?
The Millennial Mentality
2 minute read
The other day, I saw a comment on a Facebook post by a person born into Generation X (born 1966-1976) talking about the “Millennial mentality” and how the generation demonstrates an air of entitlement and lack of respect for authority. This was only a couple of days after I read a J.D. Power report titled Millennials are Better Prepared for Retirement than Their Parents, J.D. Power Finds.
Using the Dependent Care FSA to Save Money on Child Care Expenses
2 minute read
Raising a kid is expensive. Really expensive. According to a United States Department of Agriculture study published in 2017, it would cost an average of $233,610 to raise a child born into a middle-income family in 2015 through age 17. That’s a lot of money.
Can money buy happiness? It depends on what you do with your money.
2 minute read
XY Planning Network published an article this week titled Can Money Buy Happiness? Maybe Says Elizabeth Dunn which made me think of a couple of similar conversations that I had this week. One of those conversations was with a friend who is my age and one was with a gentleman at the gym who I talk to most days of the week and who is about my father’s age.
