Failing to Plan (Planning to Fail)
Many adults have completed a rigorous schedule in college, devised a career path and systematically attend to the needs of their family.  They meticulously plan out weddings, vacations and social events.  What most people have neglected is to create a financial plan.  And, finances are definitely one of the most important things to plan for.  [...]

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“Once again this quarter, the rate of foreclosure starts and the percent of loans in the process of foreclosure are the highest recorded since 1979.”
Mortgage Bankers Association
Here are the Grim Statistics

The delinquency rate on residential properties was 6.35%.
The percentage of loans in the foreclosure process was 2.47%.
Loans with foreclosure actions started this quarter were 0.99%.
The [...]

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One of the most comforting things to have in a crisis is a plan.  Unfortunately, the last thing most people want to do is to think about their debt, so they avoid facing it.  But this is exactly what you must do in order to overcome the negative feelings.  You must create a plan, which establishes your [...]

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I had dinner this week with a good friend who has been unemployed for a prolonged period of time.  He is bright, talented, enthusiastic and well educated. He is also getting up there in age and has been unfortunate enough to work for a series of companies that have failed. So, he is having a hard time getting [...]

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Being Frugal 
Back in the late ’80s, I worked really hard, but I didn’t earn very much.  I was supporting a family of three on $21K per year, in very expensive San Clemente, California.  We had one old beater car and we didn’t get out much.  Since I grew up in tough middle class conditions in [...]

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Just for fun at tax time, I thought I would indulge myself in a post about taxes and their affect on our finances.  It’s a touchy subject for me, because I despise the way our tax contributions are wasted by our Government.  But, I promise not to go into a rant.
I still believe there is a [...]

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Everyone is down on real estate as an investment right now.  But, this dismal real estate market is exactly what investors have been waiting for.  And, it’s exactly what home buyers should be hoping for.  Here is an affordable chance to purchase what could be the best investment you will ever make.
Some people will disagree with me.  They [...]

Continue reading 'Top 10 Reasons to Buy a House' »

Every Investor’s Dream
Every investor dreams about finding the next great stock, like a Walmart or a Google.  If you are an old school investor like me, you may be thinking about finding a “10-bagger”, as Peter Lynch would call it.  Picking just one great stock could change your entire fortune.
Why this Rarely Happens for Most [...]

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One of the most appealing aspects of financial planning, is the promise that one day I may become financially independent.  That doesn’t necessarily mean that I will stop working.  It simply means that one day, I will be in a position to choose my contribution to society, without concern for my income and expenses.  For me, money [...]

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Here is the worst financial advice I have ever heard:
“It’s better to rent instead of buying a house and then you can invest the difference in the stock market.”
Logic Behind the Advice
Often, this advice comes from someone who has “Run the Numbers” and determined mathematically that you will be ahead if you invest the difference between [...]

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