The week after Christmas is a strange hodge-podge of activity, isn’t it? We head for home, take down holiday decorations, and return gifts. We worry about how much we overspent…and resolve to “do better” in the coming year.  I’m convinced the week after Christmas is the perfect time to review the year that’s been…and look …

A Financially Perfect 2023? Read More »

Occasionally I get invited to speak to college students about life, money, and success. In fact, I’m scheduled to do that tomorrow.  Here are the four reminders/suggestions I plan to share with them. Die well. Soon after you arrived on campus, you realized, “Not everybody thinks the way I do.” That’s actually a good thing. …

Life Planning for College Students Read More »

A car breaks down on the side of the highway. The couple can’t remember the last time they had an oil change. A man lies nervously in pre-op awaiting a heart-lung transplant. He recalls his first cigarette and wishes he’d never started smoking.  A couple wrangles in divorce court, arguing bitterly over custody and property. …

Preparing Beats Repairing Read More »

I don’t have to remind you we just celebrated Thanksgiving. For many of us, the day was full of family, feasting, football and Friday…endless advertisements about Black Friday and the “don’t you dare miss this” sales that go with it.  One of my family’s simple traditions is to go around the table during the Thanksgiving …

Thankful for Hope in Hard Things Read More »

What’s the most overused phrase in the English language? Here’s a vote for “the new normal.”  (“At the end of the day” runs a close second.) Pundits talk endlessly about “the new normal” in healthcare, politics, foreign relations, sexuality, the climate, the workplace—you name it. One exception is the financial world where I’m seeing a …

Welcome Back to “The Old Normal” Read More »

I grew up watching Let’s Make a Deal with Monty Hall.  Eager audience members would scream wildly, pleading with Monty to pick them to play the game. Once Hall had chosen someone to play, announcer Jay Stewart would bring down what looked to me like a TV dinner trey with a small package on it.  …

Let’s Make a Deal Read More »