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Make 2019 the Year of Good Habits

Habits are the center of our daily existence.  90% of what we do everyday is habit based. How you start your day, your visit to your computer, IPad or cell phone, exercise or not, what or where you like to eat, how you relate to people and…
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Our Story

My wife, Soni, and I celebrated 23 years of marriage recently and I thought I would share what some of the key financial decisions we made along the way and the impact they had on our family. The themes are consistent: Figure out what is…
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Declined for Life Insurance

One phone call with a woman on the other end saying I was “declined” for coverage really had my head spinning.  A little over a month ago I applied for more life insurance, (the kind with the rider that allows you to get an advance on your…
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It's Never Too Early

The Time Value of Money is the oldest, wisest concept ever created for investors. Wait until you see what you could create by saving less than $7 a day toward college for an unborn baby! The real power of this concept comes from rate of return…
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What Matters Most

“I don’t really care” is my first response to many questions these days.  Like the book, “Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff”, right now, due to a medical issue in my family, almost everything seems like “small or unimportant stuff”. Why…
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Mini Van Beats Jet for Family Time

Last week our family embarked on yet another vacation.  We packed our luggage (mainly beach wear) and five bodies into our 2004 Toyota Sienna (195,000 miles and counting) for a long drive. This year's last minute idea was to go to Naples…
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Paid Off Credit Cards Killing Financial Success?

  Most of my clients tell me this isn’t true, because they pay their card balance off in full each month. I say, "That’s part of the problem!" We all have a propensity to spend up to what we know we can afford to pay off each…
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Loving More Effectively

5 Love Languages is a "difference maker" book. Ever wonder why your spouse or child doesn’t appreciate it when you go out of your way to show your love to them? I just finished reading a terrific book that should be required reading…
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Does 4% Retirement Rule Make Sense For You Today?

The most important and anxious questions I answer for my clients are:  "How much money will I have at retirement and will that be enough to live on? Of course, there are many variables in that calculation, one of the biggest is choosing…
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Money vs. Memories: The Cost of Being Too Frugal

Being frugal all the time can cost you plenty in the form of memories. Life is too short to not splurge a little for memorable experiences, even if it means being less frugal and paying extra for special activities or events. There are 365 days…

The Real Griswold's "Quest for Fun"

Chevy Chase as Clark Griswold in the “Vacation” movie was one of the more memorable comedy films I can remember. Like the Griswold's, our family has always embraced the “family road trip” and this year we took it to a new level by…
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ROTH VS. TRADITIONAL IRA...8 Important Comparisons

Roth vs. Traditional IRA 8 Important Comparisons Roth vs Traditional IRA? Deciding which retirement account type may fit your needs is an important step in retirement planning. The comparisons below provide an overview of the differences…

Wheat is the Reason for Your Waistline

Eating a large quantity of wheat is a major reason for the belly you have today.  Lose the wheat; lose the belly fat. Today's wheat is not the wheat your grandparents ate. It is processed and has a very negative impact on your body and health.…
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Father/Son Journey Continues

Yes, I am living vicariously through my son, Jake's, youth baseball career.  It's been a fun, interesting, and at times an exasperating experience so far.  Did I mention, expensive? We just spent the past five days in Ft. Myers as he traveled…