5 Simple Steps To Change Your Money Mindset
Change and control go hand in hand. Some changes fall easily into your scope of control, whereas others remain just outside it. You can’t control the weather no matter how much you wish that sunny January morning was actually sparkling snow. But there are other times when it doesn’t feel like you have control over a…
What Makes Your Financial Goals SMART?
It’s easy to get ahead of yourself. When spotting an issue, you might jump into problem-solving mode without even thinking. Say someone is renovating an old house and decides their first step is to paint the front door. This plan doesn’t make sense and is not smart because it’s not prudent to do the finishing…
The Money Tasks You’re Avoiding And How To Make Progress (Part 2)
In our last post, we kicked off our two part series of addressing the money tasks you’re avoiding and the steps you can take to make progress. Today, we’re covering four additional areas that you can make headway in your financial life. 4. Open an IRA How many times have you sat down at the…
The Money Tasks You’re Avoiding And How To Make Progress (Part 1)
Financial wellness is like eating healthy – it’s hard work and no fun but you know it’s good for you. Think about it, you always feel better after a healthy meal instead of a highly-processed one. But building a balanced meal plan takes more time and effort to accomplish. The same is true for a…
What Is a Money Script (And How Does It Impact Your Finances?)
Much of our daily behavior relies on habits. Take your morning routine. Do you jump right out of bed or do you snooze a few cycles? Are you a brush-your-teeth-before-breakfast or after- breakfast type of person? Do you tie your shoes with a single or double loop? Some of these things you might not even notice…
Why Should You Care About Financial Planning?
Money is a tool; a tool that can help you shape, design, and live the life you want. Way too often, people talk about money as the destination, when it’s really a medium to facilitate the journey. Financial planning can take your money game up a notch by bringing clarity, strategy, and intention to your financial…
What You Need To Know About Taxes and Investing
Taxes play an important role in your financial life. Their reach extends far beyond the dreaded April 15 date and come into play much more than once per year. Taxes are actually involved in nearly every financial decision you make, chief among them being investing. Taxes are to investing as textbooks are to education—you can’t…
What is A 401(k) Rollover And How Can It Impact You?
Moving jobs can come with many changes: cleaning out your desk, onboarding and learning a role at your new employer, and adjusting to a different team and office environment. One thing people don’t always think about is what to do with all the money accrued in their 401(k). After all, it is your money! Having…
10 Things to Know About Your 401(k)
If you’re a member of the modern workforce, you likely have access to a 401(k). A 401(k) is a retirement savings vehicle sponsored by your employer. Through your 401(k), you’re able to contribute funds and invest them according to your risk tolerance and retirement timeline. The goal is to grow a sizable retirement nest egg…
What’s a SEP IRA and How Does it Work?
Retirement planning for the self-employed can seem complicated and, often out of reach. Without a traditional workplace 401(k), many business owners and freelancers aren’t sure how to start putting money toward retiring someday. There are, of course, individual options available, specifically Roth and Traditional IRAs. However, their contribution limits may limit your ability to save…
What’s Your “Enough” Number?
Do you remember the ING commercials that asked consumers: What’s your number? The idea was that everyone has a “number” that defines how much they need to retire. While it’s absolutely true that you need to set clear retirement savings goals for yourself, it’s also true that you have a “number” right now as a…
How (and Why) to Invest Intentionally
Do you want to make an impact with your money and learn how to invest intentionally? More and more, millennials and members of Gen X and Y are expressing an interest in using their wealth in a way that aligns with their values. A number of options for intentional financial planning have become popular in…
What’s the Difference Between Saving and Investing?
Do you know the difference between saving and investing? In the world of financial planning, the terms “investing” and “saving” are sometimes used interchangeably. The ideas are the same – you’re spending time and energy on setting money aside for your future. However, within your financial plan, it’s important to realize the difference between saving…
How to Raise Financially Empowered Children
Do you ever catch yourself falling into negative financial habits that you learned from your parents? The truth is that the “money scripts” you use to make financial decisions as an adult are almost completely formed by age 7. So, some of the good and not-so-good habits you find yourself dealing with as an adult…
Financial Pressure & Benefits of Being a Breadwinning Woman
In today’s world, there’s a lot of pressure on women to succeed both in the workplace and at home. Yet, when people think of a household with dual-income, people often think of the man in a relationship being the family’s primary breadwinner. A breadwinning woman has a varied of different financial pressures and benefits that…
How to Know When It’s Time to Pivot in Your Career (And Financially Pull it Off)
Whether you’re a business owner or a career professional who feels like it’s time for a change, making a pivot can be overwhelming and stressful. There’s a lot of fear before pursuing something new. Change itself is scary enough, but when you add in other question marks about your future salary, growth opportunities, and fulfillment,…
When Should I Exercise My Stock Options?
Stock options are a popular way for organizations to compensate their employees. They’re a convenient and cost-effective way to provide added value for the work that you do. Stock options also provide an incentive for employees to continue doing high-quality work for the company, because they tie a portion of your compensation to the company’s…
How to Analyze a New Job Offer
You got the job – congratulations! Going through an application process is never easy, and when you get an offer letter, it can be emotional – and give you a sense of validation. Whether you’ve just landed the job of your dreams, or you’re switching career paths and excited for a new opportunity to rebuild,…
What Should I Do With My Restricted Stock Units
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) can be an excellent way to grow your wealth. However, like everything with investing, it’s important to understand how they work, and how they fit into your comprehensive financial strategy before moving forward with them. The truth is that RSUs aren’t as cut-and-dry as traditional investing opportunities. They have vesting schedules…
Questions to Ask Before Making a Major Financial Decision
A major financial decision can be a surefire way to completely paralyze us. Even a small financial decision can be intimidating. So, when we’re faced with a major financial decision, the stress compounds. We’re often stuck feeling, well, stuck – and a little trapped. Does this sound like you? If you’re facing a major financial…
How to Have a Stronger Money Relationship with Your Spouse
Picture this: You’re standing in the kitchen with your partner or spouse, avoiding eye contact while a silent and slow tension builds in the air. The mail sits opened on the kitchen table between you. It’s staring at you both, testing you, but neither one of you wants to be the first to acknowledge it….
How to Set Better Money Boundaries
Setting boundaries is a key part of living a happy, healthy life. Boundaries can help you to build stronger and more fulfilling relationships, find rest when you need it, protect yourself emotionally and mentally, and grow your self-awareness. One area of our lives that we’re not always great about setting boundaries with is our finances….
What Should Your Net Worth be at 40?
Do you ever wonder if you’re on track when it comes to your money? A few weeks ago I published a post about what your net worth should be at 30. The truth is, life at 40 is so much different than life at 30, it’s crazy! A decade can change so much when it…
What Do I Do After I Max Out my 401(k)?
Maxing out your 401(k) doesn’t mean you’re done saving. Depending on your retirement goals, you may need to go above and beyond maxing out this account. There are so many different ways for you to save for your future goals (while in some cases also continuing to save money on your taxes). If you have…
How to Become a Millionaire
Do you dream of being a millionaire? Many entrepreneurs and hard-working career professionals have big money goals for themselves. The idea of becoming a millionaire is appealing – but the steps you need to take to get there can be less than clear. Some people might assume that becoming a millionaire isn’t possible without a…
How to Set Income Goals for Your Small Business
Building a business is tough work, and sometimes it can be hard to gauge what income goals you should be reaching for. This lack of clarity stems from two places: 1. Business owners aren’t sure what income goals make sense for their business because they’ve never done this before. It’s tough to know how much…
Best Year-End Money Moves
Most Americans have one thing on their minds this time of year: how to make next year even better! Although we may take a moment to look back on the past 12 months and celebrate our big “wins”, it’s still healthy to look ahead toward growth and improvement. One thing you might be thinking about…
Should I Buy a Rental Property?
Buying a rental property is an exciting idea. Many popular bloggers, podcasters, and HGTV show hosts make it look so easy – but is it really? In the world of Pinterest and Fixer Upper, home renovations and rentals seem easier than ever. Unfortunately, that’s not usually the case. The cost of a home renovation and…
Different Types of Income Streams
There’s a lot of talk in the world of personal finance about the importance of having multiple income streams. On a high level, having multiple streams of income helping you reach your financial goals sounds pretty great. However, it can be tough to know where to start – especially if you’ve only ever worked a…
How Much Do I Need to Retire? 5 Rules of Thumb to Give You Answers
Wondering, “how much do I need to retire?” It’s a good question. But it’s also a tricky question because there’s no one right answer. What you want and when you want it will make the right steps for you to take look much different than what the person next to you needs to do to…
The 5 Big Financial Planning Concerns You’re Forgetting About as an Entrepreneur
Forgetting something? If you’re an entrepreneur, it would be completely understandable if you lost track of a thing or two. You probably have a thousand thoughts running through your mind 24/7. Add in your never-ending to-do list, tasks that need to be outsourced or delegated, and big ideas you want to tackle, and it’s no…
Small Business Retirement Plans: Which is Right for You?
If you own your own small business, there’s no question about it: you’re a go-getter. You’re self-motivated and driven to do big things in your life. You probably don’t wait for anyone to give you permission and you know how to take care of yourself. For the most part, anyway. The truth is, 34% of…
Is a Roth Conversion Right for You?
Wondering if you’re doing all you can to leverage the savings and investment tools at your disposal? If you currently contribute to a traditional IRA, a Roth conversion might be the next step to take to optimize your financial life and further work your wealth. When you do a Roth conversion, you take money from…
How to Read Your Profit and Loss (P&L) Statement
Wondering if you can afford to pay yourself more? Know you need to reduce spending to save more towards your goals, but not entirely sure where you can cut costs? Or maybe you’re thinking about making a new hire or investing in a business coach. Can you afford to do that — or do you…
Should You Participate in Your Employer’s ESPP Plan?
Have access to an ESPP but have no idea how to work it? You’re not alone. This is a type of benefit not offered to everyone, so figuring out the best way to leverage it or fit it into your financial plan can be tough. An employee stock purchase plan, or ESPP, is a benefit…
Your Guide to Employee Stock Options, RSUs, and Incentive Plans
What kind of compensation do you receive from your employer in exchange for doing your job? You might just say, “my paycheck,” but that’s probably not the only kind of compensation you receive. Your company benefits count, too — and can do a lot to help your personal bottom line. Your benefits, for example, might…
The Money Questions You Should Be Asking Your Parents
In addition to opening up with your significant other and getting through some tough money conversations together, you need to be able to communicate about finances with two other important people in your life: Your parents. Yes, it can be awkward to ask your parents about money — especially about their money. (Can you believe…
A Love Letter From Your Finances
There is a technical side to what I do, which I love. I can run projections, talk assumptions and do a mean future retirement projection on a financial calculator. I’m a nerd that likes these things. However, there’s also an emotional and behavioral side of what I do, and after months of anxious (and sometimes…
How to Help Your Parents Financially Without Going Broke
You love your parents and feel grateful for everything they’ve given you in life. And while you care about them deeply, you know that money management isn’t their strong suit. Whether they heavily rely on you or you just want to plan ahead in case they need you one day in the future, figuring out…
How to Know If You’re Sitting on Too Much Cash (and What to do with the Extra)
When you’ve built up a surplus of cash, it’s hard to feel like you’re doing anything wrong. After all, a surplus is indicative of a frugal lifestyle built on a foundation of spending less than you earn. Who could criticize that? But money is more than just a resource you need to stock up –…