Planning For Your Retirement/Financial Freedom
You can achieve financial freedom, but you need a plan and to be money smart in how you spend, save and invest your money. My aim through Money Smart is to support you along the way with financial education, financial advice and financial coaching.
What to Know About Stock Market Turmoil
The bigger picture is a monumental tug of war between the huge, unresolved, real world problems our economy is facing and the self-serving “things are good” spin from the financial services industry and, until now, from our government. We are facing huge unresolved economic problems that have been building for 15+ years and that our government cannot solve- problems with jobs, housing, burdensome government regulation and mountains of consumer, corporate, and government debt that must be wrung out, and painfully, in the real world. News like today’s should be taken as a reminder and a motivator to put your own financial house in order.
Why Wait for Retirement?
For most people retirement is a bad goal and a misguided life plan. Why should you have to wait until you are sixty-five (or older) before you can live the life you wish? Instead, replace the R-word, retirement, with two new ones: financial freedom. This is the goal to pursue.
Facing Job Loss? Simplify for Dramatic Saving
The money saving tips I offer here are a recipe for simplifying your life, which can offer great rewards. I encourage you to think big and consider taking some major steps to save big money while enjoying a simpler lifestyle. These money saving tips are from the money book, Money Smart by Ted Hunter who is not your typical money management expert.
Morningstar Responds
No one including Morningstar can reliably identify which mutual funds are likely to outperform the market, let alone match it, and so Index Funds are the best way to invest in the stock market.
Fall is Approaching, Time for a Fresh Start
Fall is a time to learn new strategies for reaching your financial goals. Success with money and financial freedom is within your reach. Keep trying, keep learning, and don’t give up. You will be amazed at what you can achieve.
Relationships & Money
Manage money by looking at your financial situation and your future goals honestly, and that is where all couples should begin. Without judgment or resentment, take an honest look at your finances and begin to work out your financial plan for a future of financial freedom. Having a financial plan and eliminating debt are keys to success with money.
What to do Following the S&P Downgrade
My investment advice, sell your stock holdings. Later, when the market drops enough we’ll have a very good investment opportunity. For now, do what you can to spend your money wisely and use the tools I offer in my money book, Money Smart, to manage your money for financial freedom.
What Is Your Debt Ceiling?
It’s time to solve our debt problem, (nationally and personally) and create a plan to eliminate debt for good. Money should add to your happiness, not taking away from it. Be debt free and change the money game in your favor.
The Failure of the Morningstar Rating System
The problem with the Morningstar rating system is that strong short term fund performance is meaningless since the majority of the 4-5 star funds drop to 3 stars or less within a few short years. When the ratings drop, investors are advised to invest their money in the next set of 4-5 star funds. The result is both investment underperformance and additional losses from paying the substantial commissions required by the fund switch. This cycle is extremely damaging and yet is the norm.