We, at SMARTEST Wealth Systems, love acronyms. So, for my high-level answer to this question, I’ll “Acronymize” it. Of course, wealth can mean many different things to each of us. It certainly involves more than money, although that’s most people’s immediate interpretation when the word is used. In this post, I’m going to list 5… Continue Reading
It was the mid 1980’s, and life was humming. I had a business that was paying me more in a month than many people were making in a year. I firmly believed I had achieved the American Dream. Ahh, the boundless confidence of inexperience. One Friday our business’ sole supplier called to tell us they… Continue Reading
When it comes to your money…it’s not really about the money. I’ve been an entrepreneur for 4 decades, and a personal finance author and educator for more than 25 years. I’ve seen money, and the pursuit of it, from every angle. My conclusion: it’s not about the money. It’s about the life you want to… Continue Reading
I’m waking up with a good cup of coffee from our home barista machine (we call it Fritz). Anyway, a story comes on the news about a classic hot rod car show in our area this weekend. The cars are beautiful, and the creativity of their builders is impressive. But what is the most fun… Continue Reading
It was a phone call I hoped I’d never get. Just last year I enjoyed a series of conversations with a man who lived across the country from me, but technology allowed me to help him start a Private Family Bank despite the distance. Since we build these banks on highly modified whole life insurance platforms,… Continue Reading
When you look at your bank account, you should feel good about what you see. If you don’t, chances are you’ve been following traditional and popular financial strategies that haven’t evolved with our economy. Just think about the past 10 years alone, and how much has changed in that short timeframe economically. Yet, the “personal… Continue Reading
I’m walking through Costco, and at the end of the aisle is a woman, apparently in her 70’s, handing out food samples. I grab one. It’s a great way to get rid of the “Hungries” that can make you buy food you don’t really need. But as I’m walking away, I turn and watch this woman… Continue Reading
She’s spooked by someone hurrying past. It’s only Dr. Mark, my neighbor, hoofing it to his nearby practice to start another workday. The dog repeats her performance as a few cars drift by on our normally quiet street. So many people off to work. Not me. I’m sipping coffee and recording this drama for you.… Continue Reading
If I asked any group of Americans if they believe their lives would be better if they could increase their income, probably 90+% would respond, “Yes!” But, in the reality of our full financial lives, it’s not just how much money we make. It’s how much money we end up with that determines our financial quality of… Continue Reading
Are you kidding me? Pay for college OR get married? Pay for college OR buy a house? Pay for college OR save for the future? These are actual choices forced on significant numbers of Americans these days. A college education is VERY expensive! Today’s American college graduates carry a combined student loan debt of nearly… Continue Reading