When your earnings increase, your savings should too, but many people opt for increased discretionary spending instead.
By Kathy Longo, CFP®, CAP®, CDFA®
Monday, 28 September 2020
For this week’s challenge, I want you to think back to the last time you received a pay increase. Did you immediately rework your monthly budget to allocate more of your income to savings? Or, like many people tend to do, did you use your increased income to do something like lease a nicer car or purchase a larger home? If your answer is the latter – increased spending – you may be a victim of Lifestyle Creep.
In times of economic hardship and uncertainty, having a financial safety net can help you weather the storm.
By Kathy Longo, CFP®, CAP®, CDFA®
Monday, 21 September 2020
For this week’s challenge, I am talking about building a financial safety net. The world can become an uncertain place in a short time. This economic volatility can lead to fear and anxiety. Having a financial safety net for an unexpected loss of income can provide you with peace of mind and freedom should the worst-case scenario arise.
It's useful to have a money management system in place, but many families operate with unwritten assumptions rather than a true plan.
By Kathy Longo, CFP®, CAP®, CDFA®
Monday, 14 September 2020
It’s useful to have a money management system in place, but many families operate with unwritten assumptions rather than a true plan. This week, your challenge is to put down on paper – or electronically on your computer or smartphone – the roles each member of your household plays with regard to managing money, as well as the unwritten financial rules you typically follow.
For this week’s challenge, I encourage you and your spouse to get down to brass tacks about your shared financial reality.
By Kathy Longo, CFP®, CAP®, CDFA®
Saturday, 05 September 2020
For this week’s challenge, I encourage you and your spouse to get down to brass tacks about your shared financial reality. Whether you’re on the sharing or receiving end of a financial secret, try to remain calm and work to have a constructive conversation so that you can move forward together.
When you and your spouse are on the same financial page, expect more harmony in your marriage
By Kathy Longo, CFP®, CAP®, CDFA®
Saturday, 29 August 2020
Your challenge for this week is to open up a new kind of financial conversation – not one based on conflict, disappointment, guilt, or any other common feelings that cause couples to argue – but a conversation based on a greater understanding of your partner’s money story.
When we let numbers alone drive our decisions, it can get in the way of our success.
By Kathy Longo, CFP®, CAP®, CDFA®
Saturday, 22 August 2020
For this week’s challenge, think about a number you’ve been fixated on. It could be the number of clients you’d like to have at your business, the age at which you hope to retire, or even the desirable zip code you hope to live in. After you identify your number, ask yourself WHY. Why is this number important? What will it mean for your business, your life, or your family circumstances if you achieve it?
Think back to your earliest money memory and how it shaped your life.
By Kathy Longo, CFP®, CAP®, CDFA®
Saturday, 15 August 2020
This week, we reflect on our earliest money memory. My challenge for you is to think back to your earliest money memory and how it impacted your life. Don't forget to write us a review on your favorite podcast provider as well as on your Amazon Alexa app.
By Kathy Longo, CFP®, CAP®, CDFA®
Saturday, 08 August 2020
The wheel of life represents the nine areas of your life where you spend most of your time. They are Family, Home, Community, Work, Finances, Inner Growth, Learning, and Leisure.
