Good habits and systems can lead to great results. In this episode, I will share five of the most impactful (and simple) money systems that can help you significantly improve your financial health.
You try to make a positive impact in the world by buying local, investing responsibly, supporting minority-owned businesses, recycling, re-using, donating, the list goes on and on. But what if you're feeling overwhelmed in the pursuit of ethical perfection as a consumer? Let's discuss.
With geopolitical conflicts and inflation, it's natural to look for "safe haven" investments. Gold is one that often holds interest to some. We'll talk through some facts about gold to help you think through whether it makes sense for you.
U.S. Treasury Series I Saving Bonds, commonly called I Bonds, can be a great supplement to your investment & savings plan. Let's unpack I Bonds and discuss how they work.
The common wisdom is that you buy life insurance when someone else is financially dependent on you. But does it make sense to get it before you need it?
Are you curious what documents and other information might be needed when engaging in a financial planning relationship? We'll talk through the list and explain why each document is important.
Did you know that you have the option to take funds from your 401(k) as a loan? There are pros and cons to doing this and it should be considered carefully. We'll discuss how it works and all the details you need to think through when evaluating a 401(k) loan.
Running a business is hard. And cash flow can be challenging at times. Or maybe you're struggling to expand. Does using debt make sense? Let's discuss the pros and cons.
Starting a business can seem like a daunting concept. But it can be more accessible than you might think. We'll walk through the steps to take action and get a service business off the ground for less than $1,000. Related Resource: https://www.elevationfinancial.com/my-favorite-easy-to-launch-service-business-ideas
Interest in digital assets (a.k.a. cryptocurrency) continues to grow. But if you're still learning about it, you may be wondering: "how to I actually invest in crypto?" We'll cover the most common ways to buy and invest in digital assets.
We've talked about budgeting methods before but this time we will dig into one of the most popular: reverse budgeting. This budgeting style is great for people who hate budgeting. We'll talk about how to set it up for automation and how to track cash flow within this framework.
Most of us are trained to see investing and retirement saving as very binary: either it's in cash or it's our 401(k). Short-term or long-term. But there's a lot of "medium-term" in between. And we can work with that by making use of investment buckets.
“Money Script” is a term coined by Dr. Brad Klontz, a thought leader in the world of financial therapy. Basically, money scripts are your unconscious beliefs about money, often rooted in childhood, that affect your adult behaviors and perspectives. We'll discuss the different Money Scripts and what you can learn from them.
It comes up a lot in discussions about investing: "how do I choose socially-responsible investments"? Many are confused and frustrated by the "greenwashing" that occurs in the industry and feel stuck when it comes to choosing investments. We'll unpack it in this episode and discuss how to evaluate socially-responsible investments including some free tools for analysis.
No, we're not talking about your favorite salsa or party dip. We're talking about investing in "dips" in the market, or "buying low". Is this a good strategy? Let's find out.
Let's face it, strict zero-based budgeting is not for everyone. No matter how beautiful and seductive your friends make YNAB (or Mint, or spreadsheets, or whatever) sound, you're just not going to do it. So what's the alternative? Are you doomed to a life of financial anarchy? Have no fear. There is hope for your cash flow even if you're not on the budget bandwagon.
Every year, I do Chris Brogan's "Three Words" exercise to start the new year with purpose. I've done it for many years now and I am 100% in love with it. I'll share how I did last year and what my words are going to be this year. And I'll share how you can do it, too.
I'm indulging myself a bit for the last episode of the year. I'm going to give you a detailed description of what it looks like to work with me as a client.
Buying a home can be an exciting life transition. But before getting starry-eyed and falling in love with your dream house, it's a good idea to get your financial ducks in a row so you're ready to sign on the dotted line. Dynamic Senior Loan Officer, Brittany Green joins us today to explain how to get in shape to be a solid home buyer and avoid snags and obstacles.
When I'm choosing mutual funds and ETFs for investments, there are some specific things I look at when screening. I'll share those elements and how I use them to choose funds.
The concept of "estate planning" or even a Last Will & Testament can often seem like an abstract and far-off thing to many of us. But there is a basic set of estate planning documents that are important for all of us to have. Jeff Heinzmann from Heinzmann Law Office walks us through these documents and how they work.
The HSA (Health Savings Account) is a feature of certain health insurance plans and they can make sense for many folks who are choosing plans during open enrollment. We will unpack how an HSA works, discuss the "triple tax benefit" features, and get into the details of what makes this account so useful, even as a supplemental retirement account.
Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) concerns are important to many investors who want to align their money with a positive impact in the world. We'll cover the basics of ESG investing for those who are less familiar with the topic.
Navigating health insurance can be a challenge. Even more so if you're a business owner. Our guest, Matthew Allen has built a business on helping solo and small business owners find opportunities they didn't know existed and design efficient and cost-effective health insurance plans. Matt outlines some ways business owners can find better options beyond the typical plans.
Financial planning doesn't have to be complicated. Even so, it can feel overwhelming at times. Here is the easiest financial plan in the world to implement even if you never work with a financial advisor.
The SEP is a pretty popular retirement plan among solo business owners and they are often recommended by accountants. But what if I told you there were reasons to choose a Solo 401(k)?
As a solo or small business owner, you're in business to make money. But how are you paying yourself? We'll talk through the logistics and concepts around properly paying yourself in your business.
It's easy to have S&P envy when the market is doing well. And we often get stuck on trying to beat the market as our primary goal, making a diversified portfolio seem "boring" in comparison. But that doesn't tell the whole story.
It's not uncommon to have more than one source of income. Some people have more than one job while others have a "day job" and a side hustle they are starting. Others are "parallel entrepreneurs" with more than one business. We'll discuss techniques for managing multiple ventures more effectively.
We all like to believe that we'll live forever and remain in good health along the way. But the reality is, we sometimes need a little help later in life. And this can come with a cost. We'll talk through some long-term care scenarios and why it's important to consider them in your financial plan.
