Generation X is the current “Squeeze” generation. You may have children in or about to go into college. You may have parents who need or will soon need your physical and perhaps financial help. And, oh yeah, you have your own hopes and dreams. All these demands will take money…your money. And, if that wasn’t… Continue Reading
It was bright and sunny this morning, with temps in the low 90s, when Lois and I walked out our front door for our regular 2.5-mile morning walk. A typical Arizona summer morning. We walk a route through our palm-lined neighborhood, which gets us within about a mile and a half of the Luke Air… Continue Reading
You and I are created to succeed. It’s the world around us and the world in us that war against our success. In the 3rd book from the Apostle John in the Bible, God tells us, “I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.” In… Continue Reading
Financial advisor, Michael Kitces, says, “The modern retirement portfolio will really rely on four pillars for retirement income – interest, dividends, capital gains, and principal.” Most Americans can add Social Security as a 5th retirement income pillar, and in this article, we’ll examine these 5 post-employment income sources, their tax consequences, and how they might… Continue Reading
We’ve all heard the Aesop Fable about the Tortoise and the Hare. A hare ridicules a slow-moving tortoise until the tortoise challenges the boastful rabbit to a race. The hare soon leaves the tortoise in the dust, and is so confident of winning, he stops to take a nap. However, when the hare awakes, he… Continue Reading
According to an excellent blog article by Financial Advisor, Michael Kitces, there are 3 common ways people retire: An extended semi-retirement Traditional retirement Mini-retirements What’s eye-opening in his presentation is the effect these choices have on how much you’ll need to save, depending on which “retirement” you plan to do. I’ve included one of Kitces’… Continue Reading
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