savings goals

No matter how much solid financial planning we put in, life cannot be reduced down to complete predictability. Indeed, there are always unexpected expenses, large and small, that can crop up. And, you never know when something catastrophic, like a major illness or a job loss, will happen. The reality of unexpected financial situations should [...]

Since passing my CFP® exam, more and more of my friends are coming to me for financial advice. Sometimes they have a specific question, sometimes they want to create a plan to get out of debt, and sometimes they just want some advice on how to manage their finances going forward. No matter what they [...]

We are currently in a time when too much emphasis is placed on grades.  Far too many graduating seniors believe that good grades lead to good jobs which leads to a good life.  However, there are many other attributes necessary for success. What is success?  This post isn’t about equating $200,000 a year and success.  [...]

One of the best ways to avoid dipping your fingers into your savings (especially your emergency fund for non-emergencies) is to automate your savings accounts so that your money flows through your personal economy without much interference from you. When you automate your savings accounts, you can force yourself to practice financial discipline — and [...]

So how are you getting on with your New Year’s resolutions?  Yes that’s right, all those promises that you made to yourself back in January about doing more exercise, eating healthier food and cutting back on spending. We are now more than half-way through the year and for many, those good intentions are long forgotten [...]

Saving money is not always an easy task, and reducing debt can sometimes seem impossible. But fear not! Not only is it possible, with these tips, reducing debt can be a simple, painless process. These small steps will add up quickly to help you reach your debt reduction goals in no time. Photo by HappyHaggis [...]

Not everyone has the time or inclination to master the subject of personal finance. Luckily, it is not always necessary to master it. In the same way you can hire an electrician without understanding the inner workings of home wiring, you can hire a financial advisor to get your money in order. There are all [...]

This is a comparison chart of credit unions, banks, and online savings banks that offers high interest savings account and/or high yield money market account. All bank accounts are NCUA or FDIC insured. Your principal is protected and you’re guarantee a positive nominal return on investment. In addition to the interest rates, we also included [...]

Many people like to dream big and think big. Unfortunately, the sheer amount of effort to accomplish their big goals simply overwhelms them. For instance, take a routine activity like walking across the street. You take one step at a time and you get the job done. But if I ask you to leap across [...]

When Do You Plan To Retire? That was the question our financial advisor asked the very first time we met together.  Since my wife and I were both in our early 20’s, we said 50.  We figured 50 is really old and if we waited much longer we would probably need to do all of [...]