The Real Reason Most Families Never Build Wealth — And What to Do About It
Most families are not struggling because they do not make enough money. They are struggling because of how their money moves. That is a subtle distinction, but it changes everything about how you approach your financial life. The Problem Is Not Income I have worked with families making $50,000 a year and families making $250,000 […]
What Banks Know About Money That Nobody Ever Taught You
Banks are not complicated. They are just very good at something most people never learn — and that gap in knowledge costs the average family thousands of dollars every single year. Here is what banks know that you probably were never taught. Banks Make Money With Your Money Every dollar you deposit into a checking […]
Why Paying Extra on Your Mortgage May Not Be the Smartest Move
Most homeowners have been told the same thing their entire lives: if you want to pay off your mortgage faster, just make extra payments. Pay a little more each month, knock years off your loan, save thousands in interest. It sounds logical. And on the surface the math checks out. But here is what nobody […]
A Matter of Perspective
There once was a blind man who was miraculously given his eyesight. For his entire life he had accomplished everything he needed to do without the benefit of eyesight. Instead of utilizing his vision, he leaned heavily on the use of his other senses. When he was suddenly able to see, he had nothing to […]
Trains, Tickets, and Taxes: All Aboard!
Imagine that there are four people in line to purchase tickets at the train station. One after the other, they each purchase one ticket of the same class, on the same train, bound for the same destination. As they board, they take their seats next to each other and after exchanging pleasantries they begin to […]
Relationships are Fundamental
It’s a funny thing about advice. Everyone seems to have an overabundance of knowing what others should do, and they have no problem telling you about it, especially when monetary gain is a motivating factor. However, there also seems to be an equal lack of understanding about who such advice is given to. If you’re […]
THE PERSONAL ECONOMIC MODEL
One of the communication tools we use when discussing retirement plans is the Personal Economic Model®. Much as a medical doctor would use an anatomical model to convey medical concepts, we use this model to convey financial concepts. This model offers a visual representation of the way money flows through your hands. On the left, […]
Qualified Plans: The Hidden Truth
For many people, the term 401k is synonymous with retirement preparation, and sometimes represents the full extent of their preparedness. Such accounts are often included as part of a benefits package provided by employers, and chances are if you have one, most of your retirement savings are being deposited into this account. Given that it […]
Why My Clients Choose to Work With Me
If you have had any previous experience with a financial advisor, chances are the conversation revolved around how much money do you have, where it’s located, we can do a better job. It would seem that most investment firms share the same singular focus of trying to find better products that earn a higher rate […]
Which Mortgage Option is Best for You?
If what you thought to be true about mortgages turned out not to be true, when would you want to know? It is likely that during your lifetime you will allocate more dollars to the place you are going to sleep than anything else. As such, the potential to transfer your wealth away unknowingly and […]
