Many of you know that my Dad was on Hospice care for six years before he died. He had COPD and all his mental faculties were intact, so he was able to live at home where he was comfortable — which was of the utmost importance to those of us close to him. Even with the Hospice care, we supplemented … Read More
It Could Be Worse…
Have you ever had a day when, from the moment you wake up to the time you lay down for bed, everything just seems to be off? Kinda like the planet is conspiring against you in hopes that you’ll have the worst day possible? Of course, we’ve all been there! To make matters worse, when you try to convey your feelings about … Read More
Where the Hell is My Money?
One of the most onerous tasks in all of finance is the dreaded brokerage account transfer. In fact, it is consistently at or near the top of the most common complaints fielded by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). A common source of frustration is the amount of time a transfer takes to … Read More
Investment Management (and Why You Need It)
We were so excited when we bought our first house! It was a place to call our own. A place for our future children and an asset that we could improve upon with paint and some yard work. Fast forward one year, and we realized all that we didn’t know. Painting takes time and effort that we didn’t always have. … Read More
Understanding Investment Strategies
Think about this: We plan for birthdays, holidays, and even vacations; but we don’t give nearly as much consideration to one of the most plan-required tasks of all: Investing. Trying to invest your money without an investment strategy is akin to the Carolina Panthers heading into a football game without a playbook. Sure, there’s a possibility that they could win … Read More
Wait ’til Your Father Gets Home
In a typical family, every member has a distinct role. If mom is the nucleus of a family, dad is the musculo-skeletal system. Dads are all about practicality and getting things done. They are the breadwinner, disciplinarian, coach, and the head of the family. But I want you to realize that the head of every man is Christ, and the … Read More
Get a Grip on Your Paycheck: Managing Your Allowance
Do you remember getting an allowance as a kid? I certainly do! My siblings and I would all wait with Christmas-like anticipation for Sunday evening as this was my Dad’s preferred time to dole out the dollars. I very distinctly remember counting out my change and thinking that I was rich! Sometimes I would even try to do extra chores … Read More
Cut it Out!
Valentine’s Day! A time for hearts, roses, and overspending. Yes, you read that right — overspending! Everyone wants to show their sweetie how much they care, but many times that outward expression can turn into a downward regression into debt. Since we are now safely past the sappiness of the day, it’s time for some Financial Mom tough love. Valentine’s Day, in … Read More
Raising Adults: Graduating into Financial Responsibility
Over the weekend, I finally got around to reading some of the articles that I’d been saving throughout the past few weeks. As pedestrian as it may sound, this was a real feat considering my life has been going full-speed-ahead since the calendar hit 2017. Since my interests are spread over so many different areas, the topics ran the gamut … Read More
Passing the Retirement Exam
As parents, when our kids are young, we know everything. Or, at least they think we do. It wasn’t but a few years ago that I remember being bombarded with ‘mom questions’ to which — nine times out of ten — I was able to answer. (*Pats self on back) My kids were amazed and would often ask ‘How did you know … Read More