In today’s business world, it seems like employers are looking for more leadership and management skills in their young executives than ever before. Some companies are now requiring an MBA at entry level and/or for advancement. Getting your MBA ( Master of Business Administration ) is the most prestigious degree in the business world. With new online programs designed for the working professional, getting to that next level is easier than you may think! Subscribe with your favorite podcast playe...
Jun 08, 2015•31 min
Are you a spender, saver, or a good steward of your money? Are you financially free? The secret to financial freedom is not zero debt, that’s being completely unrealistic! Debt is a necessity of life in our society today. The real secret is Cash Flow! Subscribe with your favorite podcast player Android RSS Join me as my guest, Chris Miles , the Cash Flow Expert , and I discuss all of the things that you need to understand about the relationship between debt and cash flow. Learn the step by step ...
May 18, 2015•36 min
I am continually preaching to my clients that using a Mortgage Broker when shopping for a mortgage will save you money, because a Mortgage Broker is not limited to one supply of money like that of a bank. Dealing with a broker gives you more options and options will always save you money! The same is true when shopping for homeowner’s insurance. An insurance broker has more options and can shop your individual needs with different carriers and find you the best deal possible! Subscribe with your...
May 04, 2015•27 min
We’ve always been taught that it takes money to make money. Why is that? It’s amazing the lies we tell ourselves when it comes to doing something different or stepping outside our comfort zone. Subscribe with your favorite podcast player Android RSS Join me as my guest, Chris Miles , the Cash Flow Expert , and I discuss all the things that are keeping you from making the money that you want and living the life of your dreams. Some of the topics that we will be discussing include: What keeps most...
Apr 20, 2015•32 min
The rich keep getting richer, but most Americans aren’t so lucky! Subscribe with your favorite podcast player Android RSS According to a survey released recently by Bankrate.com , 37% of Americans have credit card debt that equals or exceeds their emergency savings. Not only do they not have enough savings, they’ve used up some portion of their available credit, so they are running out of options when— and I say when— the next unforeseen emergency expense comes calling. For some, it will be heal...
Apr 06, 2015•32 min
Have you ever looked at a $20 bill and thought about where it’s been and how many people have touched it? If you think about it, it’s can be a little unsettling and in reality may make you wonder “What’s in your wallet?” in more ways than one! Subscribe with your favorite podcast player Android RSS The average $20 bill is in circulation for 7.7 years, according to a report issued by the Federal Reserve. It has a longer life span than the $10 or $5 bill based primarily on use, while a $100 will p...
Mar 16, 2015•26 min
Have you ever wanted to invest in the stock market, but it seems just too intimidating? The corrections that we’ve witnessed in the stock market of over 50% twice in the last decade can leave even the most savvy investor wondering what’s next. Quantitative easing, the European markets, and other global factors are still causing vigorous and sometimes unexpected fluctuations in the market! So what’s next? Subscribe with your favorite podcast player Android RSS Join me today as my Guest, Mike Burl...
Mar 02, 2015•27 min
You are a buyer or a seller and you find yourself in need of a Realtor. How do you determine who you should use? Are they a full-time agent or just moonlighting? Do you call on yard signs? Subscribe with your favorite podcast player Android RSS Join me today as my guests, Dr. Bennie Waller and Dr. Scott Wentland , Professors at Longwood University in Finance and Economics, as we discuss what questions you should be asking when hiring a realtor. Some of the topics we will be discussing include: D...
Feb 16, 2015•30 min
Divorce is a difficult, stressful, and emotionally draining time in anyone’s life! Not only are you dealing with the end of a once loving and trusting relationship, you also have to realize how that emotional element can affect your financial stability, credit report, and scores. Just because you may be divorcing your spouse that doesn’t mean you’re divorcing your creditors! Subscribe with your favorite podcast player Android RSS Join me today as my guest, Bill Skillender , Owner of William Skil...
Feb 02, 2015•27 min
With the New Year comes a time of reflection! One of the things that you may be looking at to make a change in 2015 is a way to remove that constant worry of debt. Debt can ruin relationships, your personal health, your dreams, your retirement plans, and your overall financial wealth! Subscribe with your favorite podcast player Android RSS Join me today as my guest, Greg Melia , President of Melia Advisory Group , and I discuss the step by step actions needed to get out of debt this year! Some o...
Jan 19, 2015•30 min
Women face special challenges when planning for retirement. Because their careers are often interrupted to care for children or elderly parents, they may spend less time in the workforce and earn less money than men in the same age group. As a result, their retirement plan balances, Social Security benefits, and pension benefits are often lower. In addition to earning less, women generally live longer than men, and they face the reality of stretching limited retirement savings and benefits over ...
Jan 05, 2015•29 min
Roughly one in three people who received data-breach notification letters in 2013 – 2014 became victims of fraud! A ratio that continues to worsen from 2012 and 2011 levels. Due to large Department Store (i.e. Home Depot and Target) data breaches, more than 13 million U.S. consumers were victimized by identity fraud in 2013, while overall loses on existing debit and credit card accounts surged 45% to about $16 billion. Subscribe with your favorite podcast player Android RSS The standard technolo...
Dec 29, 2014•28 min
Is this a want or a need? A question that I have begun to ask myself each time I need to make a money decision and it’s amazing the difference that it’s making in my life. Being financially successful, isn’t always about making MORE money. It’s about keeping the money that you’ve got! Don’t let seemingly endless dollars slip through your fingers with unnecessary fees and unconscious spending . Even in business…making wise business decisions is critical to the health of your business and your cas...
Dec 22, 2014•31 min
BUYING A HOME is usually one of the biggest dreams we have as adults. But signing and closing on a mortgage loan is really just the beginning of your homeowner responsibilities! Once you close, it’s always important to factor into your life the unpredictable or unexpected things that can show up and sometimes blindside you if you’re not prepared. Subscribe with your favorite podcast player Android RSS Items such as: A sudden illness or family emergency A loss of job Change in your family or rela...
Dec 15, 2014•24 min
It’s that time of year again when everyone is busy shopping and preparing for Christmas. I know for me, the stress of trying to get everything done between Thanksgiving and Christmas can be overwhelming! You’re trying to share your time, gifts, and good wishes with everyone you care about and the Christmas spending can get out-of-control! The media, TV, commercialism, and large retailers make us believe the more expensive the gift the more you love! Leaving consumers feeling pressured that they ...
Dec 08, 2014•29 min
Join me today as my guest, Harris Glasser , Author of the best-selling book “It’s My Money & I Want it!” and I discuss how Harris’ lifetime experience as a successful entrepreneur in a variety of successful businesses has taught him how to easily deal with various financial situations, so that you can keep that hard earned cash! This is Part 2 of a 3-part series and today’s topic is all about “Navigating the World of Business.” Subscribe with your favorite podcast player Android RSS Some of ...
Dec 01, 2014•32 min
We’ve heard so much about foreclosures in the news, especially during the mortgage/credit crisis, but are foreclosures still impacting our markets today? The short answer is…Yes! Some areas more than others, but regardless of where you live, a foreclosure in your neighborhood will impact the resale value of your home and maybe even the perception of your entire neighborhood! Subscribe with your favorite podcast player Android RSS Join me as my guest, Scott Wentland, Professor of Economics at Lon...
Nov 24, 2014•33 min
Buying a home can be one of the most challenging investments we make in our lifetime. The complexity of the transaction combined with your own unique financial goals and the lender’s depth of knowledge can leave everyone in a state of confusion. The solution is understanding how to determine the best lender and loan for your long or short-term goals. Unfortunately, with this roller coaster economy, a large percentage of consumers are not only losing sleep over financial concerns and unanswered q...
Nov 17, 2014•32 min
Money affects every element of our lives, but are you in control of your money or is your money controlling you? I’m not talking about budgeting, though having a budget or plan is important. I’m talking about being able to identify your wants from your needs… and that can take some thought! What early life lessons have shaped your view of money and how you use it? Are you using it at its highest and best use? The trick to having more money isn’t always making more money, it’s keeping the money t...
Nov 10, 2014•31 min
We continually talk about the importance of a reliable cash flow when it comes to financial security and growing wealth. And while I believe in diversified investments, I have always believed that you can never go wrong with real estate . The important thing to remember though is that it’s usually a long-term investment. An investment that rides the waves, both ebb and flow, of our fluctuating economic tides. Subscribe with your favorite podcast player Android RSS Join me today as my guest, Kath...
Nov 03, 2014•33 min
For a Senior homeowner, there comes a time when the family home is no longer a good fit for their needs. The home may be too large, too expensive, or too much work to maintain and the Senior needs to downsize. Subscribe with your favorite podcast player Android RSS Join me today as my guest, Sam Benson , a Walnut Creek California Real Estate Broker , and I discuss the strategy and process involved in senior downsizing. Is a smaller home an option? Or is an “over 55” development, an independent l...
Oct 27, 2014•27 min
How do you create real everlasting wealth? The kind of wealth that is here today and tomorrow! Subscribe with your favorite podcast player Android RSS Join me today as my guest, Chris Miles also known as “The Cash Flow Expert” and I discuss the 3 steps to everlasting wealth. It’s all about working smarter not harder and mindset plays a big part to your success! Learn how cash flow, savings, and the right secure investments will change your life! Real estate is always a long-term secure investmen...
Oct 20, 2014•32 min
When I’m working with a client on a new home purchase , one of the first things I recommend to them at application is to start shopping for homeowner’s insurance. There are so many things to think about when shopping for insurance and building a lasting relationship with your agent! Not only do you want to have the right coverage, but you also want to work with someone that’s going to be there when you need them! So many people seem to leave this critical part of the home buying process to the l...
Oct 13, 2014•32 min
Every day, I speak with potential home buyers looking for their piece of the real estate dream. But with a tight inventory and lower priced homes in short supply, prices continue to climb and we are back to the days, pre-credit crisis, when multiple offer situations were a normal part of business! Clients tell me that they find a house that they’re interested in and it’s gone before they have a chance to make an offer or they’re in a multiple offer scenario with prices quickly rising above the l...
Oct 06, 2014•33 min
Manufactured Homes can be a lower cost option for many home buyers, especially those looking for acreage. But…they are a unique product type and come with a separate set of lending requirements. Due to the credit crisis these last few years, lenders are being a lot more critical and cautious when it comes to what they consider to be higher risk properties. With all the different levels of manufacturing quality, age, economic life elements, and the fact that a lot of these properties are bought b...
Sep 29, 2014•32 min
In the past, retirement used to be constructed like a 3-legged stool with pension, social security and savings. But in today’s environment many companies are doing away with pensions and social security is being delayed, taxed or potentially reduced! This is requiring consumers to save more now to ensure that they will have a sufficient cash flow for retirement down the road. Subscribe with your favorite podcast player Android RSS Join me today for an exciting, but a little scary discussion, on ...
Sep 22, 2014•34 min
With the continued tightening of underwriting guidelines by lenders, an appraisal is the most critical component in determining risk by the lender. But…from a consumer point-of-view, I am continually asked, “Is an appraisal really necessary?” I don’t believe that most consumers really understand what an appraisal actually is, what it includes, and how a lender will evaluate that information when approving or denying a loan! Subscribe with your favorite podcast player Android RSS Join me today as...
Sep 15, 2014•30 min
Join me today for another episode of “Ask Karen” where I dedicate the entire show to answering your questions. We’ve been getting a ton of questions from Facebook, LinkedIn, and my blog and I’m sure we’ve got the answers that you’ve been looking for! Subscribe with your favorite podcast player Android RSS The topics we will be covering today include: · What is a full-documented loan? · When does it make sense to refinance? · What is a conforming loan? · What is the difference between a pre-appro...
Sep 08, 2014•31 min
Very few options remain in this new real estate economy when it comes to zero down payment options, but the USDA Guaranteed Rural Housing Loan may just be the home loan program that you are looking for. It can be the perfect option for low to moderate income home buyers and the best part is…you don’t have to be a first-time home buyer! The program is also available to repeat buyers as long as you qualify under the program income and property guidelines. Don’t wait another minute just because you...
Sep 01, 2014•29 min
Did you know…It’s a fact that many people fail to get the best deal possible when shopping for a home loan? It’s true…and they end up paying more in upfront fees and unnecessary interest that can last the entire life of their home loan, primarily, because they don’t know the proper questions to ask when interviewing a lender. Yes…YOU heard me right! You get to interview the lender , not the other way around! Subscribe with your favorite podcast player Android RSS In the past, consumers have been...
Aug 25, 2014•28 min
